Short Order Fireworks 2.0 Book

Short Order Macromedia Fireworks 2 describes Fireworks as the Swiss Army knife of Web-graphics programs--it does everything for you. Since it can work with both vector and bitmap graphics, you no longer have to have a drawing and painting application open simultaneously. You can also apply 3-D effects to images or create GIF animations with the software. And Fireworks helps optimize and export graphics for the Web, including any necessary HTML and JavaScript. Standalone task-oriented lessons on all these features make it easy for readers to follow along while sitting at the computer. Supplementary tips and notes show shortcuts and alternate commands and give insight and background information on how the application works. Introductory chapters cover opening documents, optimizing images, and batch processing. Middle chapters go over all the Fireworks tools that make it good at creating and manipulating images for the Web (including customization of the palettes, textures, and brushes). Next the book shows how to create image maps, 3-D rollover buttons (including "toggle groups" perfect for navigational bars), sliced GIFs, and GIF animations. The final chapter shows how to use Fireworks as your main graphics application, exporting art for use in Director or Flash, preparing artwork for print, and other uses. The presentations, even in the later chapters, break each step down into simple procedures. Beginners with some experience with Photoshop and Illustrator won't have any trouble following along. The explanations are clear and concise (with several screen shots and illustrations per lesson), and users can easily substitute their own projects and artwork into the steps. Plus the book lies flat on the desk and shows only a few steps per spread--think of it as a good graphics "cookbook." You'll learn how to use Fireworks, and you'll get your work done in the process. (Note: changes in Fireworks 3 affect some lessons.) --Angelynn Grant Topics covered: Step-by-step instruction on using Fireworks 2, including creating, manipulating, and optimizing art for the Web; batch processing; working with vector and bitmap images; retouching scanned images; working with text; customizing palettes and tools; creating images maps, rollovers and GIF animations; and using Fireworks for other uses beyond the Web.Read More