Fireworks for Graphic Creation and Editing

Fireworks is a powerful graphics design and editing application that works well with Dreamweaver, Word, PowerPoint, and any areas wherein a picture needs creating or editing. The native file type for Fireworks is png, which keeps layers intact for editing ease. Other smaller file formats such as jpg, gif, and a flattened png can be exported. These last formats make editing graphics more difficult, but archiving the original png file solves that dilemma.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore the Fireworks interface and setup necessary panels
• Use the Fireworks drawing tools to create simple shape with solid, pattern, and gradient fills
• Understand saving as a png file and exporting as a gif, jpg, flattened png, etc.
• Modify a graphic from the Web
• Create a banner, add text, images, and apply effects
• Explore creating and combining layers by using punch, union, etc.
• Design rollover buttons and add effects
• Create a masked layer
• Arrange text around an oval or another shape
• Use paste into for buttons or other shapes
• Bring graphics modified/created with Fireworks into PowerPoint, Word, and Dreamweaver
• Create a drop-down menu to use on a Web site for navigation (enrichment)
• Create an animated gif (enrichment)

Other Resources:

• Adobe Video Workshop - Adobe
• Fireworks Online Tutorial - Adobe
• Adobe Fireworks Basic Tutorials - Tutorialized
• Fireworks Tutorials - Adobe
• Macromedia Fireworks MX 2004 Visual QuickStart Guide, Author: Sandee Cohen, ISBN: 032122051X
• VCU Libraries Search - Books and Media