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Fireworks
4 Expert Edge
"A
Great How-To Book!"
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Title:
Fireworks
4 Expert Edge
Author: Jeffrey Bardzell and Lisa Lopuck
Publisher: Osborne McGraw-Hill http://www.osborne.com
Publication Date: July 2001
Pages: 416
ISBN: 0-07-213146-2
Price: $39.99
Fireworks
4 Expert Edge,
gives you an inside look at professional design. You gain the "expert
edge" with this guide written by designers, for designers! Based
on the design of the Habitat for Humanity International Partners Web site,
this professional how-to guide follows the entire workflow of an internationally
renowned team of designers as they build a high profile, real-world site.
You learn the technical and collaborative strategies used by the pros--starting
at the beginning and examining each step of the process. The use of JavaScript
Command Scripts as a powerful creativity-enhancing tool is explained with
clear, easy-to-follow examples that even non-programmers can understand.
In the pages of this expert-level instructional guide, you will discover
the power and flexibility of Fireworks. The authors also examine the latest
features of the software, including pop-up menus, selective JPEG compression,
batch processing, and more. By the end of the book, you will know how
to integrate Fireworks seamlessly with Flash, Dreamweaver, HTML, and DHTML,
and you will see how Fireworks facilitates working in groups. Best of
all, you will learn with concrete examples based on real-world projects.
Fireworks 4 Expert Edge is written by working professionals who know how
to communicate clearly and effectively. Jeffrey Bardzell, co-founder of
Flash-Guru and allecto.net, is a multimedia instructional developer for
Indiana University. His publications and presentations include such diverse
topics as Flash, e-learning, and education policy. Lisa Lopuck is the
founder of eHandsOn, an online learning company that connects students
to design experts. She is a best-selling author, and has managed Web development
for clients including Microsoft, Sony, Fox, and National Geographic. |
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Advanced Beginning to Advanced computer users.
The book is not a beginner's book. The authors assume that you understand
the basic operations of the program--how to draw a square, how to add a
drop-shadow to text, how to draw a slice. The book was written to serve
two primary purposes: (1) to serve as a reference and inspiration for intermediate
and advanced users; and (2) to provide real-world training to ambitious
learners. |
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Inside
you'll find information on the following:
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Discover the power and flexibility of Fireworks;
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Examine the latest features, including pop-up menus, selective JPEG
compression, batch processing, and more;
- Learn
with concrete examples from real-world projects;
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Use JavaScript commands as a powerful creativity-enhancing tool;
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Recreate graphic images with imported Photoshop layers, vector tools,
custom color palettes, and more;
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Integrate Fireworks with Flash, Dreamweaver, HTML, and DHTML;
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See examples and ideas in 16-page,full-color insert;
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Master advanced techniques with help from 12 hours of free online training
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How
The Book Is Organized |
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Fireworks
4 Expert Edge consists of: an Introduction; 14 chapters and is divided
into three parts. Each chapter is broken down into several parts:
- Basic
concepts, tasks, and dialogs, to provide an orientation.
- Advanced
tasks, combinations of features, and real-world ideas.
- A
step-by-step tutorial, in most cases with an online version hosted by
www.expertedge.com, which exemplifies
in project form many of the tasks and features covered in the main chapter.
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Introduction |
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Introduction:
The book begins with a special Introduction which includes an overview
of the book. |
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Part
I: Setting Foundation |
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Chapters
1 through 3
are in
- Chapter
1: Fireworks' Place in the Web Design Workflow:
Introduces you to: Understanding Vector Graphics; What is Fireworks;
How Does Fireworks Compare with Photoshop; Integrating Fireworks Compare
with Photoshop and ImageReady; and Integrating Fireworks with Other
Programs. There is one online tutorial on: Building a Web Illustration.
- Chapter
2: Designing Web Graphics:
Learn about: Building a Whole Web Page in Fireworks; Basic Vector and
Bitmap Building Tools; Organizing Content with Layers and Frames; Building
Master Design Templates for Speed and Consistency; and Building a Quick
Design Presentation. There is one Real World discussion: Fireworks in
Site Development Workflows.
- Chapter
3: Collaborative Workflow:
Introduces you to: The Team-Oriented Design Process; Optimizing the
Creative Workflow; and Automating Fireworks. There is one online tutorial
on: Creating and Distributing a Master Design Repository.
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Part
II: Designing Web Graphics |
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Chapters
4 through 10
focus on image editing to bring you to an intermediate level.
- Chapter
4: Strategies for Building a Complete Web Page:
Looks at: One Page at a Time; Modular Page Design; Preparing Your Page
Layout; and Thinking in Pieces. There is one online tutorial on: Building
Better Tables with Fireworks and Dreamweaver.
- Chapter
5: Building Vector Graphics:
Covers: Fireworks' Vector Drawing Capabilities; Building Vector Graphics;
Working with Color, and Masks, and Effects. There is one Real World
discussion on: Illustrating with Fireworks; and one online tutorial
on: Building a CD Illustration.
- Chapter
6: Working with Bitmap Graphics:
Offers information on: Fireworks' Bitmap Drawing and Editing Capabilities;
Working with Imported Bitmap Graphics; and Working with Selections.
There is one online tutorial on: Creating a Textured Packaging Design.
- Chapter
7: Optimizing Web Graphics:
Covers: Authoring vs. Exported Web Graphics; Understanding File Optimization;
and Optimizing and Exporting Graphics. There is one online tutorial
on: Exporting a Banner.
- Chapter
8:
Optimization: Beyond the Basics:
Discusses: Using the Export Wizard; Using the Export Preview; Slicing
Graphics for Optimization; Using Selective JPEG Compression; and Exporting
a Transparent GIF.
- Chapter
9:
Animating with Fireworks: Provides
information on: Frame-by-Frame Animation; Symbols and Instances; Live
Animation Effects; and Exporting Animation. There is one online tutorial
on: Building an Animated Ad Banner.
- Chapter
10:
Flash Integration: Focuses on What
Is Flash; From Fireworks to Flash; and From Flash to Fireworks: Creating
Animated GIFs. There is one online tutorial on: Replicating Fireworks
Disjoint Rollovers in Flash.
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Part
III: Applying Effects to Your Images |
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Chapter
11 through 14
provide more advanced techniques.
- Chapter
11:
Building Interactive Pages: Discusses:
Fireworks Web Objects; Adding and Managing Links; Adding JavaScript
Behaviors; and Creating Button Symbols. There is one Real World discussion
on: Building Custom Pop-Up Menus.
- Chapter
12:
From Fireworks to HTML and Beyond:
Covers: Understanding Fireworks HTML; Exporting Fireworks HTML; Importing
Fireworks HTML into GUI-Based HTML Editors; and Power User Strategies
for Importing and Using Fireworks HTML. There is one online tutorial
on: Using Slice Along Guides to Create Entire HTML Pages.
- Chapter
13:
Fireworks and Dreamweaver Integration:
Looks at: Dreamweaver and Fireworks Integration Overview; Basic Integration
Techniques; Modifying Tables and Other Complex Fireworks Elements; and
Advanced Integration Topics. There is one Real World discussion on:
Using Fireworks to Build a Front-End for Database-Driven Sites; and
one online tutorial on: Creating a DHTML Drag-and-Drop Puzzle.
- Chapter
14:
Automating and Extending Fireworks:
Focuses on: What Does "Automating and Extending Fireworks"
Mean; Automating Fireworks; and Taking Command of Fireworks. There is
one tutorial on: Creating Command Scripts in Fireworks.
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Fireworks
4 Expert Edge
is a well thought out book that makes learning Fireworks 4 easy and fun.
It is packed with illustrations and examples. You can't go wrong with this
book. |
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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 font
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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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