Price: $34.99 as of 11/23/2009 13:46 EST
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Binding: CD-ROM
Brand: Macromedia
EAN: 0044431317436
Format: CD-ROM
Label: Macromedia
Manufacturer: Macromedia
Model: FWM30D01
MPN: FWM30D01
Platform: Windows 95, Windows Me, Windows 98, Unix, Linux, Mac, Windows NT, Windows 2000
Publisher: Macromedia
Studio: Macromedia
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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com Review:
Building graphics for a Web site often involves the use of several different tools: one for building vector-based images, one for bitmapped images, and still another for incorporating these images into an HTML document. Macromedia's Fireworks 3.0 is all of these tools--and more--rolled into one.
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
Amazon.com Product Description:
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.
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
This may be a powerful software package but it is extremely difficult to learn. The documentation is incomplete and full of errors. The help files utilize some archaic navigation system that renders them useless. I have gotten very little use out of this program because in addition to inadequate tutorials the user interface is not at all intuitive....
Rating:  -
Adobe and Macromedia have gone to war and it's the consumer who benefits.
Fireworks is one of those nearly perfect programs that come up when there's good, healthy competition among the software companies. Though I'm a long-time Adobe follower, I have to hand it to Macromedia on this one. More powerful and versatile than ImageReady, Fireworks is like a Photoshop LE, Illustrator LE (not that there is such a product), and HTML editor all rolled into one as well as being ambassador between all the graphics and web products you could possibly purchase.
Works as both bitmap editor and vector drawing program as well as hacking out your code if you need it. HTML and pictures will go to any program or from any program.
But Fireworks is more than just the assembly garage (though not having to switch between so many programs and diluting your RAM in the process is NICE). It can handle both types of images more than competently and sometimes even better than Photoshop and Illustrator themselves (not like I'm endorsing those programs here. I just happen to use them also). Live previews as you edit, the wonderful option of being able to undo or change ANYTHING long after the history palette has forgotten all about what you did. Even *filters* (which you can import from PS) are undoable long after they've been first applied. This editability (real word?) is my favorite thing about FW. So flexible and powerful, it's perfect for web designers who constantly change their minds or for that page/ image update you wanna do down the line.
The only minus I've found so far is that you can't redraw or specify the direction you want your gradient to flow. At least I haven't found it so far. Supports PS filters, Illustrator paths, exports to Flash too, and will write code for any one of many HTML editors. A must-have for anyone even remotely serious about web graphics. For those not wanting to spend a fortune on software, this is a more than solid choice and you really can do without the others. There are a lot of choices out there. Make the right one.
Treat yourself and get the FW/ Dreamweaver bundle if you're in the market for an editor also. DW's the best HTML editor, too. Hooray for Macromedia! Adobe will be hard-pressed to keep up.
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