Fireworks Tips

Fireworks Tips

Web design & graphic design tips for Fireworks

Adobe Fireworks (Macromedia Fireworks prior to version 8) is a fantastic graphic design software for designing both websites and web graphics. From our vast experience in using Fireworks here are some useful tips and tricks for anyone using Fireworks.

Important: This tutorial has been upgraded - goto Adobe Fireworks Tips for the latest.

A must read article series is our latest version of Design a Website in our CSS Website Design Guide!

[Our Original Tutorial follows]

Fireworks Tips and Tricks

Some cool tips that you could use:

• Feather an image using Eraser Tool and set the Edges as smooth and transparent.

• Use Onion Skinning to view two or more frames on the workspace area at once, which is useful for editing the frames in Frame-by-Frame animations.

• Using Rectangle you can create Rounded Rectangle by setting the value for Rectangle roundness in the properties panel which is displayed under the stroke category.

• After applying the Filter Effect, you can rearrange the order by clicking and dragging the effect up/down.

• In Fireworks you have several Special Characters where you can use it Logo’s, Ad’s, Copyright, etc.  You can find the Special Characters in Window (Window >> Special Characters).

• Press the Alt key and, the down arrow once or drag, to duplicate a graphic easily.

• When using the vector shapes and auto shapes in Fireworks MX, you can modify the shape's properties uniformly by dragging the yellow points (handles).

• Similarly, the properties of individual corner points in the shape can be modified by keeping the Alt key pressed and then dragging the corresponding point.

• Try the in-built graphic behaviors that come with Fireworks: Rollover Buttons or Images and Advanced Rollovers (Swap Images).

• Set the Transparency of Images or Shapes so that the background shows through.

• Try the various effects given in the Effect Panel of the Properties Window. They include the popular Inner/Outer Bevel, Drop Shadow and Glow.

• Use Ctrl+Shift+v to paste a graphic inside any vector shape.

• Use Curves to give your designs a fun look.

• We cannot use bitmap tools to vector objects directly. If you want to use,convert vector to bitmap. Easy short cut is Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Z (Flatten image).

• If you want to break a text, use the key Ctrl+Shift+P (text will be in grouped objects) and press Ctrl+Shift+G (to un group the objects).

• Always keep undo steps to 200(go to Edit >> Preferences >> General tab >> Undo Steps:200).

• Apply gradient colors to your text using text masking effects look more attractive.

• When you resize any vector or bitmap images , use Shift for equal proportion of dimensions.

• If you want to copy any gradient effects, just copy the effect (vector) then go to Edit >> Paste Attributes (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+v). For auto shapes select the gradient effect using Subselection tool and copy the effect.

Congratulations! You have now learnt some fireworks tips and tricks.

Software Required

Adobe Fireworks: Since this tutorial covers a core feature of Fireworks any version of it will do.

Software Required

Adobe Fireworks: Since this tutorial covers a core feature of Adobe Fireworks, any version of it will do.

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