Useful Books and Software

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Fireworks is designed from the ground up to be a Web graphics creation package. It is both a vector drawing tool and a bitmap graphics editor, and the different graphic types easily mix on any layer. All objects, whether shapes or text, are editable at any point of production, offering enormous design flexibility. Fireworks also supports layers for maintaining separate elements, and a history palette which can be used to undo numerous steps or to create replayable actions.

If creating art within Fireworks isn't appealing, or if you are given material from another designer, not to worry. Fireworks imports most popular formats (including layered native Photoshop files) and keeps layers intact. Fireworks also supports TWAIN-compliant scanners, making it easy to import material from the real world.

Most of the palettes and tools are similar to more popular packages, and most of the expected keyboard commands are present. But as one begins to use and explore Fireworks, the Web-specific features emerge. The slices tool is for specifying how an image will be broken down for use in building it in an HTML table matrix. The sweet feature here is that the slices can be exported automatically, and there is an option for generating the HTML code as well that assembles these slices in a table.

The software handles big features--like optimizing the file size of graphics--well. At any stage during creation, Fireworks shows dynamic previews of the original file, as well as how it will look compressed to JPEG format or dithered down to GIF format. A statistics bar at the bottom of the window lists the file size and the probable download time at a given connection speed.

Fireworks is a fast and flexible tool for creating Web graphics, and Macromedia is determined to make it the only Web graphics tool needed by any Web designer. They are certainly on the right track. --Mike Caputo

Fireworks 3 brings efficiency to Web graphics production. Quickly create buttons, animations, and page comps. Everything remains editable, including files from leading graphics applications. Save production time with the History panel, step-by-step button maker, and the Library. Integrate Fireworks code seamlessly into Dreamweaver and other leading HTML editors. Only Fireworks lets you script the entire application to automate workflow.

Publisher: Macromedia
Author: Macromedia
Release Date:
ISBN/EAN: 0044431317436

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The workspace offers bitmap editing, precise text control, automation, and extensibility, allowing for rapid production and easy updates. Broad support for file formats, new standards like XHTML, and Section 508 compliance ensure that output matches current and future needs.

Share files across graphics applications, including Macromedia Flash, Macromedia FreeHand, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator. Create vector graphics for Flash, export SWF files, and open graphics directly from within Flash. Open, edit, and export Photoshop graphics while retaining layers, masks, and text properties. Fireworks also integrates seamlessly with such editors as Macromedia Dreamweaver and Microsoft FrontPage.

Publisher: Macromedia
Author: Macromedia
Release Date: 2002-06-11
ISBN/EAN: 0044431690027

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Stay focused on the code in Dreamweaver 8 with Code Collapse. See what's new in Dreamweaver 8

Flash Professional 8 features integrated and stand-alone video encoding and support for alpha transparency. See what's new in Flash Professional 8

Fireworks 8 sports new batch image processing options. See what's new in Fireworks 8

Contribute 3 frees designers and developers from web maintenance.

Macromedia Studio 8 is the essential software suite used to design, develop and maintain interactive online experiences. Combining the latest releases of Dreamweaver, Flash Professional, Fireworks, Contribute and FlashPaper, Studio 8 offers web designers and developers a new level of expressiveness, efficiency and simplified workflow. In short, Studio 8 is a must-have suite for start-to-finish design, development and maintenance of websites, applications, games, interactive presentations, and mobile content.

Expressing Creativity with Efficiency
Studio 8 offers the broadest range of creative tools for expressiveness and creation of vibrant interactive media, websites, or applications. Enhanced tools let you use advanced graphics, text, animation, video, and audio tools with precision control and quality. From simple animated graphics to sophisticated interactive experiences, Studio 8 provides a full suite of tools for limitless creativity that allow you to get more done. Studio 8 also speeds the design, development, and maintenance process with reliable round-tripping between Macromedia products, integration with third-party products, and key features such as batch processing, batch encoding, and general performance enhancements to speed up your projects. Support for both Windows and Mac OS X enables Studio 8 to deliver projects on the platform of choice. This allows you to deliver projects that support the widest range of operating systems, browsers, and server technologies. Develop applications using HTML, XHTML, XML, ColdFusion, ASP, ASP.NET, JSP, or PHP with drag-and-drop visual tools and components, code libraries, and extensive code-editing support.

Studio 8 Applications
Included with Studio 8 is Dreamweaver 8, the industry-leading web development tool that enables users to efficiently design, develop and maintain standards-based websites and applications. Dreamweaver is the quintessential and standard-setting web development application available today. Flash Professional 8 is the industry's most advanced authoring environment for creating interactive websites, digital experiences and mobile content. Flash Professional is the industry's most advanced authoring environment for creating interactive websites, digital experiences and mobile content. With Flash Professional, you can design and author interactive content rich with video, graphics, and animation for truly unique, engaging websites, presentations or mobile content.

Also included with Studio 8 is Fireworks 8. Fireworks lets you balance maximum image quality with minimum compression size as you create, edit and optimize images for the web with precise control. Create animated rollovers and pop-up menus with Firework's intuitive visual tools, and utilize round-trip editing capabilities with Dreamweaver and Flash Professional for even greater efficiency. Contribute 3 helps to free designers and developers from web maintenance, allowing others to easily update content in a controlled environment that preserves the integrity of the website. Contribute 3 makes website maintenance easy and lets everyone in an organization publish to websites and bring them alive with up-to-date information. Simply put, there is no easier or more affordable way to keep web content current and relevant. Contribute 3 redefines web publishing, making it an activity open to everybody, every day. And finally, FlashPaper 2 lets anyone easily convert documents, presentations, spreadsheets and other file types into Macromedia Flash documents or PDF files with a single click.

A True All-in-One Tool
Studio 8 makes the best practices of web design and development available to everyone, from users working on their first website to those developing advanced web applications. Design and develop with confidence that Studio projects will integrate with and support the latest technologies, platforms, operating systems, and industry standards from CSS and XML to the latest Flash Player 8 client runtime. Studio 8 makes integrating video into projects easier than ever. Drag and drop Flash Video in Dreamweaver 8 to quickly incorporate video to websites and applications. The new high-quality video encoder in Flash Professional 8 is integrated (or works standalone) for distributed batch encoding.

Plus, new run-time support for Alpha channels, embedded cue points in Flash Video files, and the improved, easily-skinnable video playback component will engage more viewers. Going from on-screen to online is effortless using many nonlinear editing systems that export natively to the Flash Video format. Deliver rich content efficiently and consistently with the Flash standard file format (SWF); its structure (and compact size) is optimized for streaming to web users at all connection speeds. The Macromedia Flash Player, installed on over 98 percent of desktops globally, reaches the widest possible audience. Studio 8 parallels the introduction of Flash Player 8, which now hosts more interactive features, lightweight experiences, better performance, and easy auto-updating for the ultimate viewing experience.

Studio 8 also works and plays well with others. In addition to its integrated workflows across Macromedia products, Studio 8 supports optimized workflows with third-party applications. Import graphical elements, EPS and PDF files from Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Creative Suite. Add content from Microsoft Office products with design accuracy using the improved copy and paste in Dreamweaver, or use FlashPaper to convert Microsoft files into PDF or FlashPaper files with one click.


Upgrade only; previous installation required

Studio 8 is the essential software suite for designing, developing and maintaining interactive online experiences. Combining the latest release of Dreamweaver, Flash Professional, Fireworks, Contribute, and FlashPaper, Studio 8 offers web designers and developers a new level of expressiveness, efficiency, and simplified workflow to create websites, interactive experiences, and mobile content. Support for Windows and Mac OS X enables Studio to deliver projects on a wide range of operating systems, browsers, and server technologies

Publisher: Adobe
Author: Adobe
Release Date: 2006-01-23
ISBN/EAN: 0718659574994

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Fireworks' strengths lie in its focus on the creation and optimization of bitmapped and vector Web graphics. Files are easily integrated into Macromedia Flash and Dreamweaver, and importing/exporting Adobe PhotoShop and Illustrator files is a breeze, especially with the program's improved layer-mask handling and a new Color Fill Live effect. Version 4 rolls out a new interface that Flash, Dreamweaver, and FreeHand users will recognize. Tabbed menus allow for customization and keep the screen tidy while organizing elements. New tools for adding interactive elements--rollovers, navigation bars, and pop-up menus--are a very welcome sight. And a Live Animation feature creates frame-based GIF animations, using symbols, instances, and tweening features familiar to Flash users. With built-in HTML and JavaScript capabilities, version 4 delivers the goods to the Web-graphics design community.

Like we mentioned, Dreamweaver users will fully realize Fireworks' full potential. These two programs assimilate perfectly, creating the most powerful Web-editing suite available today. --Eric Twelker--This review refers to the Windows version of Fireworks 4.0.

Macromedia Fireworks 4 delivers a robust solution for Web design professionals who seek a standard way to create and optimize Web graphics. Quickly create resolution-independent vectors, edit bitmap images, and create GIF animations with multiple frames in a professional environment. Fireworks 4 Web graphics workflow is optimized for creating advanced interactivity. Easily develop buttons, rollover effects, and sophisticated navigation schemes with multilevel pop-up menus in a step-by-step visual environment. Support for multiple file formats and common design standards lets you quickly design and produce graphics, HTML, and JavaScript that can be moved seamlessly between popular graphics and HTML applications, such as Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Flash and Dreamweaver. Use accessible controls to reposition, redirect, and reanimate simple animations across multiple frames from within the Fireworks workspace. Quickly set up and execute batch processes, including commands, by using the step-by-step Batch Processing Wizard. Edit and update HTML and JavaScript code and graphics from Dreamweaver, while maintaining edits to your table. Use enhanced setup and export of HTML/JavaScript and images to customize automatic file naming, table handling, and other output options.

Publisher: Macromedia
Author: Macromedia
Release Date: 2000-12-16
ISBN/EAN: 0044431990578

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Fireworks 8 lets you balance maximum image quality with minimum compression size -- to create, edit and optimize images for the web with precise control. Take creative control with seamless vector and bitmap editing in an integrated environment. Make graphics look their best under any delivery scenario with optimization features like export, preview, cross-platform gamma preview, and selective JPG compression. Automatically generate graphics and JavaScript for buttons, interactive interfaces, and pop-up menus without learning how to write code. Produce highly optimized files that still look great -- and get top-quality design results, every time. Recognize ActionScript color values when copied from Flash into FireWorks Save As command for saving bitmaps as GIF, TIFF, or JPEG Evolved logic for determining the default folders in each dialog Over 25 new blend modes, perspective shadow and solid shadow Mock up mobile interfaces with bitmap interface components New buttons, animations, themes and assets AutoShape properties Edit text on path points Recent fonts and multiple marquee selections improvement and optimization Group consecutive nudges as one move Improved tablet support for path scrubber tools&stroke pressure sensitivity Lock objects into the layers panel

Publisher: Adobe
Author: Adobe
Release Date: 2006-01-23
ISBN/EAN: 0718659576158

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Fireworks' strengths lie in its focus on the creation and optimization of bitmapped and vector Web graphics. Files are integrated easily into Macromedia Flash and Dreamweaver, and importing/exporting Adobe PhotoShop and Illustrator files is a breeze, especially with the program's improved layer-mask handling and a new Color Fill Live effect. Version 4 rolls out a new interface that Flash, Dreamweaver, and FreeHand users will recognize. Tabbed menus allow for customization and keep the screen tidy while organizing elements. New tools for adding interactive elements--rollovers, navigation bars, and pop-up menus--are a very welcome sight. And a Live Animation feature creates frame-based GIF animations, using symbols, instances, and tweening features familiar to Flash users. With built-in HTML and JavaScript capabilities, version 4 delivers the goods to the Web-graphics design community.

Like we mentioned, Dreamweaver users will fully realize Fireworks' full potential. These two programs assimilate perfectly, creating the most powerful Web-editing suite available today. --Eric Twelker

Macromedia Fireworks 4 delivers a robust solution for Web design professionals who seek a standard way to create and optimize Web graphics. Quickly create resolution-independent vectors, edit bitmap images, and create GIF animations with multiple frames in a professional environment. Fireworks 4 Web graphics workflow is optimized for creating advanced interactivity. Easily develop buttons, rollover effects, and sophisticated navigation schemes with multilevel pop-up menus in a step-by-step visual environment. Support for multiple file formats and common design standards lets you quickly design and produce graphics, HTML, and JavaScript that can be moved seamlessly between popular graphics and HTML applications, such as Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Flash and Dreamweaver. Use accessible controls to reposition, redirect, and reanimate simple animations across multiple frames from within the Fireworks workspace. Quickly set up and execute batch processes, including commands, by using the step-by-step Batch Processing Wizard. Edit and update HTML and JavaScript code and graphics from Dreamweaver, while maintaining edits to your table. Use enhanced setup and export of HTML/JavaScript and images to customize automatic file naming, table handling, and other output options.

Publisher: Macromedia
Author: Macromedia
Release Date: 2000-12-16
ISBN/EAN: 0044431990684

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