Importing, Grouping, and Layers – Lesson 31 Importing, Grouping, and Layers Lesson 3

2 Importing, Grouping, and Layers – Lesson 3 Objectives Import objects. Adjust import settings. Group and ungroup objects. Change the order of objects within a layer. Use the Info panel. Create and use layers.

3 Importing, Grouping, and Layers – Lesson 3 Import objects into Fireworks MX 2004 Although Macromedia Fireworks MX 2004 can be used to create images, you can also import existing images into your document. Fireworks supports these image formats: PNG, GIF, JPEG, PICT, BMP, TIFF, ASCII, RTF Fireworks can also import images from the following software products: Adobe PhotoShop 3, 4, and 5; Adobe Illustrator 7; FreeHand 7, 8, 9, and 10

4 Importing, Grouping, and Layers – Lesson 3 How to import an image Open an existing document or create a new Fireworks document. Click the File menu, then click the Import option to open the Import dialog box. Locate the drive/folder/file and double-click the file name. The pointer changes to a corner angle. Move the pointer into the canvas and click to place the imported image. It will be placed on the currently selected layer. You can move the image to any area of the canvas.

5 Importing, Grouping, and Layers – Lesson 3 Import a vector file When you choose to import a vector file from the Import dialog box, the Vector File Options dialog box shown here will open when you double-click the file name. You can select numerous options in this box that affect the imported file. Options for scale, dimensions, and resolution are set in the upper area of the box. The File conversion area is for options on handling multi- page documents.

6 Importing, Grouping, and Layers – Lesson 3 Group objects You can create complex graphics in Fireworks that are actually several small objects grouped together. Grouping an object makes it easier to move or resize than having to work with each individual object separately. Two or more grouped objects can then be grouped together to form a nested object.

7 Importing, Grouping, and Layers – Lesson 3 Group all objects on the canvas You can create one large grouped object by selecting everything on the canvas as part of the group. To do so: Click the Pointer tool. Click in one corner of the canvas and then drag to the opposite corner. All objects are selected and have selection handles around them. Click the Modify menu, then click Group. One set of selection handles now represents the entire group. Objects can also be ungrouped from the Modify menu if you want to edit the individual pieces.

8 Importing, Grouping, and Layers – Lesson 3 Arrange the stacking order of objects on a layer When multiple objects reside on the same layer, they are stacked. You can see and change the stacking order in the Layers panel. You can drag objects in front of or behind other objects in the stacking order. You can also use the Arrange commands to change the stacking order.

9 Importing, Grouping, and Layers – Lesson 3 Use the Arrange commands You can use the Subselection tool to select one object in a grouped object. You can then use the Arrange commands to move the object forward or backward in the stacking order. With the object selected, click the Modify menu, then Arrange. Choose from the following options: Send to Back – Sends the object to the back of the layer. Bring to Front – Brings it to the front of the layer. Send Backward – Sends it back one level on the same layer. Bring Forward – Brings it forward one level on the layer.

10 Importing, Grouping, and Layers – Lesson 3 Use the Info panel The Info panel provides information about the dimensions of a selected object. It shows the exact coordinates of the pointer as you drag it across the canvas. It can be used to resize an object by changing the width and height dimensions shown in the panel.

11 Importing, Grouping, and Layers – Lesson 3 The Info panel This figure shows the Info panel. If it is not visible in your document window, click the Window menu and then Info to open it. When you select an object, this panel will show its current dimensions. You can change them in this panel if desired. If the bottom half of the panel is not visible, click and drag the bottom border of the panel down to display the lower half of the box.

12 Importing, Grouping, and Layers – Lesson 3 Work with Fireworks layers A layer can be thought of as a transparent plane where you can create and place objects. Placing an object on a layer in front of or behind an object on a different layer can affect how the object is seen. Layers can be turned on or off, collapsed to get them out of view, or locked to prevent them from being updated accidentally.

13 Importing, Grouping, and Layers – Lesson 3 Manipulate layers Collapse or expand a layer by clicking on the plus sign (to expand it) or the minus sign (to collapse it). Hide a layer by clicking the eye icon next to the name, or show an invisible layer by clicking the empty spot where the eye icon used to be. Lock a layer by clicking in the blank space between the eye icon and the layer name (a padlock appears), or click the padlock icon to unlock a locked layer.

14 Importing, Grouping, and Layers – Lesson 3 The Layers panel This figure shows the Layers panel for a layer named Layer 1 and also shows two objects on that layer. The layer itself can be collapsed or expanded, locked or unlocked, shown or hidden, or those same actions can be performed for any object on the layer. Click here to collapse or expand. Or here to show or hide. Or here to lock or unlock.

15 Importing, Grouping, and Layers – Lesson 3 Add and arrange layers Add new layers at any time by clicking the New/Duplicate Layer button and assigning a new name to the layer. You can then import a new object to the layer or drag an object from an existing layer to the new layer. Rearrange the layers by dragging them up or down in the Layers panel. Click the thumbnail image of the layer to be moved and drag it up or down in the panel. As you drag, a black line appears above or below the layer it is being dragged over. The layer will be placed according to where the black line is located when you release the mouse button.

16 Importing, Grouping, and Layers – Lesson 3 Summary In this lesson, you learned to: Import objects. Adjust import settings. Group and ungroup objects. Change the order of objects within a layer. Use the Info panel. Create and use layers.