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Fireworks
4 Bible
"Packed
with Time-Saving Tips and Real-Work Examples!"
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Title:
Fireworks
4 Bible
Author: Joseph
Lowery with Simon White
Publisher:
Hungry Minds, Inc. http://www.hungryminds.com
Publication Date: 2001
Pages: 918
with CD
ISBN: 0-7645-3570-6
Price:
$49.99
Fireworks
4 Bible, by Joseph Lowery,
is an excellent reference book. Fireworks is a massive program and Fireworks
4 Bible is a massive book that covers the subject in depth. The range
of Web designers extends from first-generation artists drawn to the Internet
possibilities, to print professionals who want to expand their creative
horizons. This book talks to all those groups, offering solutions to to
everyday graphics problems, as well as providing a complete reference
for the program. It's appropriate for both PC and Macintosh users. As
with other Bible series books, it includes a CD-ROM with all sorts of
demo software, and free goodies.
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Beginning to advanced computer users.
The book is great for everyone, from raw beginner to full-fledged professional.
The early chapters present the basics for beginners, and all the chapters
contain clearly written steps for the tasks you need to perform. Advanced
designers will appreciate the later chapters that deal with animation and
programming. See image to the left for a view of a file from the CD showing
how you how a cow texture style can work on a plain circle as well as on
text. |
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Inside
you'll find information on the following:
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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 batch processing;
- 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;
- Speed
up production with new round-trip workflow features, including total
Photoshop integration.
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How
The Book Is Organized |
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Fireworks
4 Bible is divided into seven major, task-oriented parts, with 26 chapters
and a set of appendixes.
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Part
I: Seeing the Fireworks |
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Chapters
1 through 4
gives you an overview of the Fireworks philosophy and design. They take
you all the way from setting up documents to getting the most out of Fireworks.
The opening chapters give you a full reference to the Fireworks interface
and all of its customizable features. Chapter 1 will be of special interest
to users of previous versions of Fireworks; it's a complete guide to all
the newly added features in Fireworks 4. Later chapters in Part I provide
an overview of everything that Fireworks can do.
- Chapter
1: Welcome to Fireworks:
Mastering Fireworks--the Next-Generation Graphics Package; Getting the
Best of Both Pixels and Paths; Linking to the Web; Examining Production
Tools; Learning What's New in Fireworks 4. See image to the left for
a view of a file from the CD showing how you can reuse simple shapes
as you create and modify graphics in Fireworks.
- Chapter
2: Understanding the Interface:
Examining the Fireworks Environment; Understanding the Document Window;
Exploring the Tools Panel; Accessing Toolbars (Windows Only); Managing
the Floating Panels; Using the Menus.
- Chapter
3: Customizing Your Environment:
Setting Preferences; Adjusting the HTML Setup; Selecting Print Options;
Personalizing Keyboard Shortcuts.
- Chapter
4: Setting Up Documents:
Creating New Documents; Opening Existing Images; Storing Files; Modifying
Canvases.
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Part
II: Mastering the Tools |
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Chapters
5 through 10
help you master the tools in Fireworks. The Early chapters in Part II
cover all the essentials, from basic object creation, to full-blown photo
manipulation. Color is a key component of any graphic designer's tool
kit, and color on the Web requires special attention, as you'll see in
Chapter 7. The object-oriented nature of Fireworks is explored in chapters
on creating simple strokes and combining paths in a variety of ways to
help you make more sophisticated graphics. Fireworks excels at creating
graphical text for the Web--you'll see how in Chapter 10.
- Chapter
5:
Creating Vector Objects: Understanding
Vector Objects in Fireworks; Examining Paths; Starting from Shapes;
Drawing Lines and Freeform Paths; Constructing Bezier Curves.
- Chapter
6:
Working with Bitmaps: Understanding
Bitmaps in Fireworks; Fireworks Technique--Limiting Your Drawing Area;
Making Pixel Selections; Applying Vector Tools to Bitmaps; Converting
a Vector into a Bitmap.
- Chapter
7:
Managing Color: Working with Color
on the Web; Mixing Colors; Selecting Swatches of Color; Fireworks Technique--Converting
Pantone Colors to Web-Safe Colors.
- Chapter
8:
Choosing Strokes: Using the Stroke
Panel; Working with the Built-in Strokes; Creating New Strokes; Fireworks
Technique--Making Dotted Lines; Orienting the Stroke.
- Chapter
9:
Structuring Paths: Transforming
Objects Visually; Transforming Objects Numerically; Fireworks Technique--Creating
Perspective; Managing Points and Paths; Editing Paths. See image to
the left for a view of a file from the CD showing how you can use the
Expand Stroke command in Fireworks to change strokes to fills.
- Chapter
10:
Composing with Text: Using the Text
Editor; Re-Editing Text; Importing Text; Transforming Text; Fireworks
Technique--Cookie-Cutter Text; Fireworks Technique--A Font Safety Net;
Using the Text on a Path Command; Fireworks Technique--Masking Images
with Text.
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Part
III: Achieving Effects |
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Chapter
11 through 13
look at Fireworks graphics in depth in this part. The first chapter deals
with using fills and textures. Chapter 12 explores the exciting world
of Fireworks Live Effects and Xtras. Chapter 13 explains the Fireworks
methods for arranging and compositing multiple objects in order to achieve
stunning results.
- Chapter
11:
Using Fills and Textures: Using
Built-in Fills; Managing Gradients; Fireworks Technique--Making Transparent
Gradients; Using Patterns; Fireworks Technique--Creating Seamless Patterns;
Adding Texture to Your Fills; Filling with the Paint Bucket Tool.
- Chapter
12:
Creating Live Effects and Xtras:
Understanding Fireworks Effects; Working with Included Live Effects;
Fireworks Technique--Making Perspective Shadows; Managing Live Effects;
Reading All About Xtras; Using Third-Party, Photoshop-Compatible Filters.
- Chapter
13:
Arranging and Compositing Objects:
Using Layers; Aligning and Distributing Objects; Looking at Layout Assistance;
Grouping Objects; Working with Alpha Masks; Examining Opacity and Blending;
Fireworks Technique--Feathering Selections; Fireworks Technique--Applied
Compositing. See image to the left for a view of a file from the CD
showing how you can get blend a gradient-filled object and adjust the
gradient to simulate a light source.
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Part
IV: Coordinating Workflow |
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Chapters
14 through 19
are dedicated to helping you streamline your workflow efficiently, as
you acquire images via scanning or importing, manipulate them in Fireworks,
and then optimize them on export, either for the Web or for import into
other creative tools, such as Macromedia Director or Flash.
- Chapter
14:
Capturing and Importing: Introducing
Image Captures; Scanning Pages; Examining the Scanning Process; Looking
at Digital Cameras; Inserting Objects from Other Applications; Importing
External Files; Making Screen Captures; Opening Animations.
- Chapter
15:
Exporting and Optimizing: Exploring
Optimization Features; Exporting Indexed Color; Exporting Photographic
Images; Working in the Export Preview; Using the Export Wizards; Examining
Additional Export Options.
- Chapter
16:
Working with Fireworks Styles: Understanding
Styles; Applying Styles; Creating New Styles; Managing Styles; Fireworks
Technique--Isolating Patterns and Textures from Styles. See image to
the left for a view of a file from the CD showing how you can apply
different styles to the same object to give you a wide range of choices.
- Chapter
17:
Using Symbols and Libraries: Understanding
Symbols and Instances; Introducing the Library Panel; Making and Modifying
Symbols; Working with Buttons; Managing Libraries.
- Chapter
18:
Updating and Maintaining Web Graphics:
Using Preview in Browser; Managing Links with the URL Panel; Updating
Graphics with Find and Replace; Working with the Project Log; Batch
Processing Graphics Files.
- Chapter
19:
Automating Workflow with Commands and the History
Panel : Running Built-in Commands; Enhancing Productivity
with the History Panel; Managing the Commands Menu.
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Part
V: Entering the Web
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Chapters
20 through 22
explain the basics of Web interactivity for those designers unfamiliar
with the territory and also offer specific step-by-step instructions for
linking JavaScript behaviors to graphics. If you work with Dreamweaver
(or work with someone who does), you'll want to check out Chapter 22 in
order to get the most out of the integration possibilities between Fireworks
and Dreamweaver.
- Chapter
20:
Mastering Image Maps and Slices:
Understanding Image Maps and Hotspots; Using the Hotspot Tools; Exporting
Image Map Code; Understanding Slices; Slicing Images in Fireworks; Exporting
Slices; Fireworks Technique--Exporting Dreamweaver Library Items; Fireworks
Technique--Animating a Slice. See image to the left for a view of a
file from the CD showing how you can use the three Hotspot tools to
draw rectangle, polygon, and circle hotspots.
- Chapter
21:
Activating Fireworks with Behaviors:
Understanding Behaviors; Using the Behaviors Panel; Creating Rollovers;
Exporting Rollovers for the Web; Looking at Nav Bar Behavior; Examining
Advanced Rollover Techniques; Working with Pop-Up Menus; Using Drag-and-Drop
Behaviors.
- Chapter
22:Integrating
with Dreamweaver: Overviewing Integration; Optimizing Images
from Dreamweaver; Editing Images from Dreamweaver; Exporting Dreamweaver
Code; Using Fireworks Behaviors in Dreamweaver; Fireworks Technique--Creating
a Web Photo Album; Making Hybrid Commands.
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Part
VI: Animating with Fireworks |
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Chapters
23 through 24
show you how to create animations in Fireworks.
- Chapter
23:
Applying Animation Techniques: Understanding
Web Animation; Using the Fireworks Animation Toolkit; Examining Web
Design with Animated GIF Images; Tweening Graphic Symbols; Using Animation
Symbols.
- Chapter
24:
Animating Banner Ads: Understanding
Banner Ad Basics; Fireworks Technique--Creating a Banner Ad; Fireworks
Technique--Using Blur to Save Frames. See image to the left for a view
of a file from the CD showing design elements from a Web page reused
for a banner ad.
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Part
VII: Programming with Fireworks |
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Chapters
25 through 26
look at customizing Fireworks and also cover the extensive Fireworks JavaScript
API.
- Chapter
25:
Customizing Fireworks: Using the
HTML and JavaScript Engine; Examining the Configuration Folder; Looking
at the Fireworks 4 Preferences File.
- Chapter
26:
Enjoying the Fireworks API: Examining
Nonstandard Data Types; Looking at Global Methods; Exploring the Fireworks
Global Object; Dissecting Hotspot Objects; Looking at Slice Objects;
Accessing the Fireworks API.
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Appendixes
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- Appendix
A: A Web Primer: A place to get a good grounding
on the ways of the Web.
- Appendix
B: Keyboard Shortcuts: A handy reference guide
to productivity-boosting keyboard shortcuts on both Macintosh and Windows
systems.
- Appendix
A: What's on the CD-ROM: The CD-ROM contains
the following.
- Fully
functioning trial versions of Macromedia's Fireworks 4, Dreamweaver
4, Dreamweaver UltraDev 4, Flash 5, and FreeHand 9.
- Fireworks-compatible
filters from the leading manufacturer of such tools, Alien Skin.
- A
time-limited demo of Pantone's ColorWeb Pro.
- Sample
online courses in both Fireworks and Dreamweaver from eHandsOn.
- A
wide range of commands, strokes, gradients, textures, and custom
HTML templates from designers to make your work more productive.
- Several
sample graphics from the book.
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Fireworks
4 Bible
covers every feature in complete detail. It does an excellent job of explaining
the complexity and robustness of Fireworks 4. It's a good value for the
money. |
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For
running Fireworks 4, you need:
PC:
- Intel
Pentium processor (Pentium II recommended)
- Windows
95/98 or NT version 4.0, 2000, XP or later
- 64
MB of available RAM
- 800
x 600, 256-color display (1024 x 768, millions of colors recommended)
- 80
MB of available hard disk
- Adobe
Type manager Version 4 or later with Type 1 fonts
Mac:
- Power
Macintosh Processor (G3 or higher recommended)
- MacOS
8.6, 9.X or OSX
- 64
MB of available RAM
- 800
x 600, 256-color display (1024 x768, millions of colors recommended)
- 80
MB of available hard disk
- Adobe
Type Manager Version 4 or later with Type 1 fonts
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Graphics:
Adobe Photoshop 6.0
Web Page Design: Macromedia Dreamweaver
4.0
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This
site is (c) Copyright 2001, by PC Cafe Online. All World Wide Rights Reserved
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