Adobe Fireworks

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Fireworks

Adobe Fireworks CS6 Icon.png
Basic data

developer Adobe
Current  version CS6 (12)
(May 7, 2012)
operating system Windows , Mac OS X
programming language C ++
category Graphics software
License Proprietary
German speaking Yes
www.adobe.com

Adobe Fireworks [ əˌdoʊbiːfaɪəwɝks ] is a graphics program , the raster graphics and vector graphics can edit and create. It is developed by the Adobe company (formerly Macromedia ). With this program files from all important graphic formats can be imported, vector and bitmap-based images can be edited and interactive graphics can be created. Fireworks graphics can be exported to Dreamweaver and Adobe Flash , as well as third-party applications.

Fireworks is mainly used in web design to create web graphics and websites, with the HTML code being generated automatically. The program is available for Mac OS X and Windows systems.

During the 2013 MAX conference, Adobe announced that, in addition to the Creative Suite (CS), the further development of Fireworks will also be discontinued. Since then, only bug fixes and security updates have been delivered. Besides Encore, the application is the only application in the Creative Suite that has not been converted from CS to Creative Cloud (CC).

Combination of vector graphics and bitmaps

Fireworks focuses on the combined processing of pixel and vector graphics. It thus closes the gap between Photoshop (primarily for pixel graphics) and Illustrator (primarily for vector graphics).

Fireworks can apply a so-called live filter to a shape defined by vectors (display effects that are generated dynamically without changing the original graphics), overlay a bitmap and integrate the whole thing as a mask in another object. Every change can be edited reversibly, including all filter settings.

Levels

Fireworks provides multilevel editing and the application of filters to the layer objects. Different objects (bitmap or vectors) can be arranged on several frames and on several levels.

pages

Using the pages palette it is possible to create, design and link several pages of a complete website. It is possible to make layout changes on all pages via the master page.

Styles

The styles palette gives you the option of accessing predefined styles and creating your own. Similar to Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), these styles can be changed across all pages on all pages.

General library

The general library offers access to typical layout elements that are required again and again in screen design, such as scroll bars, form fields, buttons (in Windows and Mac look).

HTML export

For the creation of HTML pages there is the possibility of defining slices and rollovers and automatically exporting the corresponding HTML code and the cut graphics.

Rapid prototyping

Since version CS4, Fireworks has offered the option of generating interactive PDFs, Flash slideshows and Adobe AIR prototypes in addition to HTML and CSS export.

File format

By default, Adobe Fireworks uses the PNG format. A lot of additional information, such as B. levels, color values ​​for color gradients, etc., stored in so-called optional data blocks ("chunks"). This sometimes increases the file size considerably. This information is lost if the file is edited with another graphics editing program.

history

  • 1998: Macromedia Fireworks
  • 1999: Macromedia Fireworks 2
Available as a single product and in a package with Dreamweaver 2 as "Dreamweaver 2 Fireworks 2 Studio"
  • 2000: Macromedia Fireworks 3
Available as a single product, in a package with Dreamweaver 3 ("Dreamweaver 3 Fireworks 3 Studio"), in a package with Dreamweaver UltraDev ("Dreamweaver UltraDev Fireworks 3 Studio"), and in a package with Director 8, Shockwave Multiuser Server 2 and SoundForge XP (" Director 8 Shockwave Studio ")
  • 2001: Macromedia Fireworks 4
Available as a single product, in a package with Dreamweaver 4 ("Dreamweaver 4 Fireworks 4 Studio"), in a package with Dreamweaver UltraDev 4 ("UltraDev 4 Fireworks 4 Studio"), in a package with Director 8, Shockwave Multiuser Server 2 and SoundForge XP (" Director 8 Shockwave Studio with Fireworks 4 "), and in a package with Director 8.5, Shockwave Multiuser Server 3 and SoundForge XP (" Director 8.5 Shockwave Studio ")
  • 2002: Macromedia Fireworks 6 aka Macromedia Fireworks MX
Available as a single product and in a package with Dreamweaver MX, Flash MX, FreeHand MX and ColdFusion MX (Developer Edition) as “Macromedia Studio MX”. Version number 5 was skipped in order to achieve uniform versioning for the products Fireworks, Dreamweaver and Flash, and in marketing and the product name further reinforced by the abbreviation "MX". FreeHand MX was version number 11.
  • 2004: Macromedia Fireworks 7 aka Macromedia Fireworks MX 2004
Available as a single product and as a package with Dreamweaver MX 2004, Flash MX Professional 2004, FreeHand MX and ColdFusion MX 6.1 (Developer Edition) as “Macromedia Studio MX 2004”. This version was the first to have a software activation to protect against black copies .
  • 2005: Macromedia Fireworks 8
Available as a single product and as a package with Dreamweaver 8, Flash Professional 8, Contribute 3 and FlashPaper 2 as "Macromedia Studio 8".
  • 2007: Adobe Fireworks 9 aka Adobe Fireworks CS3
Available as a single product and as part of the individual editions of Adobe Creative Suite 3. After the acquisition of Macromedia by Adobe in 2005 and the subsequent merger , the “Macromedia Studio” series was combined with the “Adobe Creative Suite” so that since then there has only been the Adobe Creative Suite as a large common package. This is tailored to different areas of application in different editions, which differ in the composition of the programs. In addition, the so-called “Master Collection” is available, which combines all CS3 programs in one overall package.
  • 2008: Adobe Fireworks 10.0 aka Adobe Fireworks CS4
Combines a new unified user interface with many other new functions, including a. an improved color gradient view, HTML and CSS export as well as closer cooperation with other file formats (Illustrator, ...). Available as a single product and part of the following Creative Suite 4 editions: "Design Premium", "Web Premium", "Web Standard" and "Master Collection".
  • 2010 Adobe Fireworks CS5
Tool set for graphics has been optimized, including a. pixel-perfect rendering and integration with the Adobe Flash platform. Fireworks CS5 is also available as a single product and as a collective product.
  • 2012 Adobe Fireworks CS6

Export file formats

Fireworks can export the following file formats:

  • . PNG
  • . JPG
  • . GIF
  • . TIFF
  • . BMP
  • . SWF
  • .LBI (Dreamweaver)
  • . HTML
  • . CSS
  • Lotus Domino
  • . AI Adobe Illustrator
  • . PSD Adobe Photoshop
  • . PDF
  • Interactive PDF
  • .FXG (Flash Exchange Graphic) XML-based exchange format for Flash, Flash Catalyst, Photoshop, Illustrator and Fireworks

Literature selection

  • Susanne Rupp: Workshop Fireworks CS3: Designing websites professionally. dpunkt.verlag GmbH, Heidelberg, ISBN 3898644758 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ hvoltmer: The Future of Adobe Fireworks. In: Adobe Blogs, Fireworks. Adobe Inc. , May 6, 2013, accessed May 17, 2013 .
  2. ↑ Adobe Creative Suite 4 editions