Useful Books and Software

As with others in the series, the Fireworks 3 Bible works well both for beginners who need guidance in learning the software and experienced users looking for a good reference manual. Although the book isn't tutorial-based, you perform step-by-step tasks along the way, and the index is thorough enough to help you find solutions to problems.

The book is not written as a face-off between Fireworks and other applications, but you'll quickly discover tasks for which Fireworks has the edge, particularly in Web production. For example, methods for creating hot spots and sliced GIFs are similar to those in Photoshop/ImageReady, but here we learn how to use the Fireworks Insert > Hotspot or Insert > Slice option to encompass an entire object instantly, including all of the drop shadow or other effects. A single click + key combination wins over a click + drag any day.

Fireworks is included in the Dreamweaver Studio package, and the construction of the application fits the Macromedia model. This is most apparent when creating rollovers; Fireworks uses Behaviors, while ImageReady uses layers and a rollover/animation panel. Lowery is adept at explaining the whys along with the hows, and the chapter on activating Fireworks with Behaviors clearly explains this method and gives a firm foundation on how Behaviors work in Dreamweaver, Flash, and, on a much larger scale, Director.

There's not much to complain about in this excellent book, except for a small but confusing organizational choice in the step-by-step instructions: a more intuitive organization would have been to have the "Notes," which offer advice and caveats, precede the step to which they refer, instead of following it. Otherwise, Fireworks 3 Bible is as comprehensive as it is well written, and it might just convert those die-hard Illustrator/Photoshop/ImageReady Web designers. --Angelynn Grant

Topics covered: Tools and interface, including new tools in version 3; learning the Fireworks way of creating graphics; using Live Effects and Xtras; methods for optimizing workflow and having a consistent look in images, for example, by using Library, Commands, and History palettes; integrating work with Dreamweaver; basic GIF animation techniques, and customizing Fireworks with JavaScript Application Programming Interface. CD-ROM contains both trial and demo versions of relevant software and filters, along with extra commands, templates, textures, and other art.

Publisher: Wiley
Author: Joseph W. Lowery
Release Date: 2000-01-15
ISBN/EAN: 0764534750 / 9780764534751

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Fireworks MX: From Zero To Hero is intended for the majority of readers who don't need to be told when to jump, or ask how high. If you’re new to Fireworks MX, this book will provide you with a fast learning curve to get you swiftly up to speed, and progressing towards the creativity you want to achieve; and if you already have some familiarity with any version of Fireworks, it'll provide many, many exercises and case studies that will extend your knowledge of techniques, tips, and tricks. In addition, the book serves as a handy reference to a reader of any level.
Structured in 3 distinctive sections, the aim of this book is to provide as much knowledge and as many skills and techniques as can be fitted into 450 pages.

Section One: Fireworks MX Primer. This section will get you familiar with the major tools and functionality of Fireworks MX, by example, and simple-to-understand explanation, and in fewer than 200 pages.

Section Two: Projects. Here you’re introduced to case studies and examples that will give you practical, hands-on experience and provide exposure to the more complex tools in Fireworks MX - learning by experience. As well as practicing your new found skills, this is also the place where you’ll learn many tips and tricks of the trade.

Section Three: Real-World. In this section we look at Fireworks MX as it’s used in the real world of professional design – not just as a standalone application, but as part of the formation of the designers creative toolbox.

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The Learning series provides readers with a total-immersion, hands-on tutorial that walks them step-by-step, mouse-click by mouse-click, keystroke by keystroke through all the features of the software application. The well-illustrated, spiral-bound text contains easy-to-read, appealingly formatted procedural explanations and step-by-step exercises in a multi-part Lesson format.

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