Fireworks | Fireworks Classes | Fireworks FAQ

Macromedia Fireworks

1. What does Fireworks do?
2. Can I build a Web site in Fireworks?
3. Does Fireworks run on Windows 2000?
4. How do Fireworks and Dreamweaver work together?
5. How is Fireworks better than Photoshop/Imageready?
6. How much does Fireworks cost for purchase or upgrade?
7. Can I use Fireworks with FrontPage?
8. What scanners have been tested with Fireworks?
9. Does Fireworks support the EPS or PDF file format?
10. How does Fireworks create rollovers?
11. How is Fireworks used to create animated GIFs?
12. Can Fireworks files be used across Macintosh and Windows platforms?

Fireworks is used by professional Web developers and graphic artists to design, edit, and optimize graphics for the Web. Images may be sliced and each slice may be individually optimized for best quality and fastest download. Additionally Fireworks has the ability to export JavaScript which controls such functions as preloading images, swapping images for rollovers and controlling the interaction of swapped images to allow the user to create Nav Bars. Frames in Fireworks are used to implement the export of animated GIFs as well.

Though it is certainly possible to generate HTML files that link to each other using Fireworks, Fireworks is not an HTML editor and does not have any FTP capabilities. Many users work with the Dreamweaver 3/Fireworks 3 Studio to develop their Web sites, because the two products are integrated to provide a complete Web construction set. Dreamweaver allows users to insert various kinds of Web content into HTML pages as well as set tag information. Manipulation of the portion of a document allow pages to be found by search engines, page properties such as background color/image and page margins to be set. Powerful FTP capabilities are also included in Dreamweaver, allowing users to upload files and sync their local files to the server's time stamp.

Fireworks and Dreamweaver were developed to work hand in hand to allow the Web designer to go from concept to final Web site quickly and easily. Fireworks handles the creation, editing and optimizing of graphic content for the Web site, performing basic JavaScript export functions such as rollovers and Nav Bars. Dreamweaver is a graphical HTML editing environment that allows users to insert advanced behaviors as well as various kinds of Web content, much like a Desktop Publishing program would for print. Dreamweaver has the ability to publish files via FTP or Local Server to the Web. Users can launch and edit graphics in Fireworks from Dreamweaver and HTML tables in Dreamweaver can be updated using Fireworks.

Fireworks' vector environment allows the user constant control of Web graphics from start to finish. Photoshop, though an excellent image editing program, does not include Web capabilities. ImageReady must be used in conjunction with Photoshop to provide slicing, file optimization and rollover functionality. Fireworks is specifically designed to create Web graphics from beginning to end, and does not require additional programs to construct, optimize or add JavaScript behaviors. Fireworks generates images, HTML and JavaScript that is smaller than Photoshop/ImageReady and GoLive, providing a more competitive solution to the needs of Web developers for small, high quality files that quickly download.

The retail price of Fireworks is $199 US. The upgrade price is $99 US. Fireworks may be purchased through any of a number of channels including Electronic Download, the Macromedia Online Store, as part of the Dreamweaver 3/Fireworks 3 Suite, by calling Macromedia's sales line at 1(800)457-1774, or from any of a number of our distributors. Upgrade information is also available, outlining prices for users with earlier versions of Fireworks. International dealers are also listed on the Macromedia Web site.

Yes! Fireworks HTML and images should be exported into the FrontPage 2000 Web directory and subdirectories. Once exported to these locations using the FrontPage HTML style, the files can be opened in the FrontPage Editor and further edits may be made from there. Because FrontPage does not actively support JavaScript, Fireworks HTML exported using the FrontPage style will have all of the JavaScript in the instead of the Users can easily move the JavaScript into the head of the HTML file in the HTML window in FrontPage. For information on inserting FrontPage HTML, see Fireworks Generated HTML code with FrontPage (TechNote 13515).

Fireworks uses Photoshop plug-in technology and TWAIN on the Macintosh and Windows platforms. A list of scanners and digital cameras that have been tested with Fireworks 2 and 3 is available at: Scanners and digital cameras verified as working with Fireworks 2 and 3 (TechNote 13733). Users are encouraged to maintain the most current drivers for their scanners to work properly with Fireworks.

Fireworks neither imports nor exports EPS or PDF files. These formats are used mainly for print output and thus are not supported in the current version. Fireworks files can be exported to PNG 32 with Matte Alpha and then opened in Photoshop and saved as an EPS. Paths can be exported as Illustrator format as well and imported into Photoshop and used as clipping paths in Photoshop. If desired, Fireworks files can be printed to file using a PostScript printer and then Acrobat Distiller can be used to generate a PDF file from the PostScript file.

Rollovers in Fireworks are created by placing artwork into different frames, then drawing a slice object over the artwork. Many different behaviors are available, and one or more can be added to the slice to attach a mouse event to the A HREF tag. Fireworks generates an HTML table, and the slices are assembled within the table's cells. The mouse event attached to the anchor tag calls a modular JavaScript located in the HEAD of the HTML document. Fireworks 3 has a Button Editor that allows users to quickly create a Button Symbol which can be reused in a document to create Nav Bars.

Animated GIFs in Fireworks are created by generating a sequence of frames that contain different content in each subsequent frame. Users can set Frame Delay and Looping properties to control the speed and looping behavior of the animated GIF. An additional feature in Fireworks is the ability to tween objects that have been converted to symbols. This allows the user to quickly build animations that contain tweened motion, opacity and effect settings. Onion skinning may be used to allow the user maximum control over the animation process.

Yes! You can share your Fireworks PNG (Portable Network Graphics) files with other Fireworks users on either Macintosh or Windows platforms. The source PNG file is always editable. The fonts used for text in the Fireworks file will of course not be identical to those used on another platform so users are advised to have the same fonts installed on their platform as those used on the platform on which the file was created.

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