Amazon.com Review
Many digital designers, even fans of Macromedia Dreamweaver, use Adobe Photoshop/ImageReady and Illustrator for image creation and manipulation, and constantly go back and forth between applications. In this latest Bible, Dreamweaver power user Joseph Lowery proved to himself that Macromedia Fireworks, which handles both vector and bitmap art, is an effective replacement for those applications, increasing both productivity and creativity.
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.
From the Back Cover
If Fireworks 3 can do it, you can do it too… From vector drawing to bit map editing to animations, Fireworks 3 puts all the Web graphics tools you need into a single, cohesive package. Packed with timesaving tips and real-world examples — including 16 pages of color illustrations — this comprehensive guide shows you how to make the most of Fireworks, whether you're looking for an in-depth tutorial on program fundamentals or savvy advice on the new workflow management tools and enhanced Dreamweaver integration. Inside, you'll find complete coverage of Fireworks 3
- Master the basics, from object creation to full-blown photo manipulation
- Enhance your images with sophisticated fills, filters, Xtras, layers, and Live Effects
- Automate repetitive tasks with the new Library, Commands, and History panel
- Build in interactivity using hotspots, slices, and JavaScript Behaviors — no coding required
- Get up to speed fast on GIF animation and create state-of-the-art banner ads
- Boost productivity by customizing Fireworks — or using it in tandem with Dreamweaver
Bonus CD-ROM
- Trial versions of Fireworks 3, Dreamweaver 3, Freehand 9, and Flash 4
- Samples of eHandsOn Training for Fireworks and Dreamweaver
- Demos of Xenofex, Xaos Filters, and ColorWeb Pro
- Fireworks Commands, templates, textures, gradients, strokes, and images
Shareware programs are fully functional, free trial versions of copyrighted programs. If you like particular programs, register with their authors for a nominal fee and receive licenses, enhanced versions, and technical support. Freeware programs are free, copyrighted games, applications, and utilities. You can copy them to as many PCs as you like—free—but they have no technical support. www.idgbooks.com System Requirements: Pentium class PC, 133 MHz or greater, running Windows 9x NT (SP3) or later. Power PC running OS 8.1 or later; 32MB RAM; 100MB hard disk space
