Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed WORKING WITH OBJECTS

Chapter 2 2 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Work with vector tools Modify multiple vector objects Modify color Apply filters to objects and text Apply a style to text Chapter Lessons

Chapter 2 3 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Can modify vector object properties with great flexibility Can alter appearance by grouping, combining paths, or adjusting alignment Can apply a solid color, gradient color, or a texture Understanding Vector Objects

Chapter 2 4 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Can adjust the stroke appearance Stroke, Fill, and Filters sections on the Property inspector Changing the order in which effects appear in the Filters list on the Property inspector Understanding Vector Objects

Chapter 2 5 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Work with Vector Tools In this lesson, you will: –Create paths and objects using vector tools –Modify paths and objects using vector tools

Chapter 2 6 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Understanding Vector Tools and Paths Vector object can be –Straight or curved path –Combination of open, closed, straight, or curved paths Path segments connect anchor points –Path is always editable by adding, deleting, or moving points

Chapter 2 7 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Understanding Vector Tools and Paths Drag point handles to adjust curve Corner point Curve points FIGURE 1 Points on paths

Chapter 2 8 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Using the Pen Tool and the Subselection Tool Pen tool –Add or delete points on a path Subselection tool –Move points on a path Both tools –Convert corner and curve points to each other –Modify point handles to adjust curves

Chapter 2 9 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Using the Pen Tool and the Subselection Tool Bézier curves: two-dimensional curves in a vector object Path scrubber tools –Alter a path’s appearance based on pressure and speed of stroke

Chapter 2 10 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Modify Multiple Vector Objects In this lesson, you will: –Create, copy, align, and combine paths of vector objects using the Punch command –Group objects

Chapter 2 11 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Aligning and Grouping Objects Align and distribute objects using –Align commands on Modify menu –Align panel Group objects into single object –Group command on Modify menu –Can ungroup at any time –Can modify properties for entire group

Chapter 2 12 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Combining the Paths of Multiple Objects Combine Paths commands: applied to two or more ungrouped vector objects –Join –Split –Union –Intersect –Punch –Crop

Chapter 2 13 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Original objects Union path is sum of all paths Join includes all points of all paths Combining the Paths of Multiple Objects FIGURE 10 Sample Combine Path commands

Chapter 2 14 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Crop uses area of top path to remove those below Intersect area is common to all paths Punch outlines top object through path Combining the Paths of Multiple Objects FIGURE 10 Sample Combine Path commands (continued)

Chapter 2 15 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Paths combined with Punch command Grouped objects Combining the Paths of Multiple Objects FIGURE 18 Grouped objects

Chapter 2 16 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Modify Color In this lesson, you will: –Apply a gradient fill to an object –Modify a gradient fill

Chapter 2 17 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Understanding Fills and Gradients Fill types available –Solid –Gradient –Web Dither –Pattern

Chapter 2 18 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Understanding Fills and Gradients Pattern fills: bitmap images with complex schemes and textures –Can use preset patterns –Can create a new pattern FIGURE 19 Pattern Categories

Chapter 2 19 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Understanding Fills and Gradients Gradient: two or more colors that blend into each in a fixed design –Gradient tool on the Tools panel –Edit Gradient pop-up window modifies gradient, colors, opacity, and transitions

Chapter 2 20 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Round handles adjust gradient placement Square handles adjust gradient width Understanding Fills and Gradients FIGURE 25 Adjusting fill handles

Chapter 2 21 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Apply Filters to Objects and Text In this lesson, you will: –Add filters to objects, including text –Change the order of filters in the Filters list

Chapter 2 22 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Understanding Filters Apply to any object from the Filters section of the Property inspector Known as Live Effects because you can edit them Similar to filters, labs, or renders in other programs Can change order of filters in the Filters list

Chapter 2 23 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed FIGURE 27 Filter categories Understanding Filters

Chapter 2 24 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Using the Filters menu Contains commands that correspond to many features in the Filters section Not editable after you apply them Can only undo the action of applying a filter during current work session

Chapter 2 25 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Filters and File Size Enabled filters generally contribute to increased file size Disabling a filter instead of deleting it does not significantly add to file size Some filters decrease file size –For example: Blur, Blur More, Gaussian Blur filters

Chapter 2 26 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Understanding Transparency Can adjust the transparency of an image or effect Controlled by opacity settings on Property inspector –100%: completely opaque –0%: completely transparent

Chapter 2 27 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Apply a Style to Text In this lesson, you will: –Apply a style to text –Add a new text style to the Styles list

Chapter 2 28 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Using Styles in Documents Styles: preset attributes, such as color and texture Applied to objects and text Can create a custom style and add it to Styles panel FIGURE 33 Style samples

Chapter 2 29 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Selected properties will be applied when style is applied FIGURE 38 New Style dialog box Using Styles in Documents

Chapter 2 30 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Using Plug-ins Plug-in: adds features to an application Can install plug-ins from other software applications into Fireworks Plug-ins are platform-specific

Chapter 2 31 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Using Adobe Photoshop Plug-ins and Features Preferences dialog box –Folders tab contains options for Photoshop plug-ins, textures, and patterns –Import tab allows you to determine how Fireworks translates Photoshop layers and text

Chapter 2 32 Macromedia Fireworks 8 Revealed Chapter 2 Tasks Work with vector tools Modify multiple vector objects Modify color Apply filters to objects and text Apply a style to text