Macromedia Fireworks - Tool Information


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Macromedia Fireworks

Latest Version:
MX

Developer:
Macromedia

Category:
Graphics > 2D

Platform:
Windows 98, 2000, XP, NT4, or MacOS 9.1+

License:
Commercial, 30-day time-trial, List Price $299

Rating:
8.5 (3 votes)

Date added:
Nov 5th, 2000

Last updated:
Jun 2nd, 2002

Review:
Macromedia Fireworks is geared towards web graphics production unlike its archrival Photoshop which is mainly an all-around image editing program (and arguably the best one). While Photoshop has some powerful built-in features to create graphics for the web such as saving optimized images and slicing, ImageReady, once a separate product, but now bundled with Photoshop is needed for additional functionality such as rollovers, and animated GIFs. But what really sets Fireworks apart is its almost seamless integration of vector and bitmap tools that greatly, if not completely reduces the need to switch to a vector-based program such as Adobe Illustrator or Macromedia Freehand in the middle of the work.

Fireworks can import Photoshop files and retain the layer structure intact, and can export them back. It also provides complete text control, a button and pop-up menu maker, a library to store commonly used images, a history palette to go back and forth between user's steps, and support for external XML files to automatically change the texts in your graphics. The program is tightly integrated with Flash and Dreamweaver.

User reviews:

tpbor (2) - Jul 8th, 2003

Features
10

Usability
9

Performance
8

Documentation
6

Personal Slant
10

Overall 8.6

I've been using Fireworks since 2.0 and love it. When it comes to creating web graphics nothing else touches it's ease of use and features (even Photoshop). Fireworks was made for the web - Photoshop wasn't - those features were thrown in afterwards.

Don't get me wrong I love photoshop and use it for my digital photo retouching, but when it comes to web graphics Fireworks does the job and does it well.

My only gripe is that Fireworks can be quite the resource hog. At least 256 MB of RAM is needed to run effectively and I would recommend at least 512 MB. The more the better.

sho-maaan (29) - Jun 2nd, 2002

Features
7

Usability
8

Performance
9

Documentation
6

Personal Slant
7

Overall 7.4

I always want to use this tool, in all my work

Hannibal Smith (31) - May 22nd, 2002

Features
8

Usability
10

Performance
10

Documentation
10

Personal Slant
9

Overall 9.4

I use Macromedia Fireworks for all my graphic needs. It took me less than a hour to learn the program. The features aren't as powerful as PhotoShop, however, Fireworks is just so easy to use.

[zoom in screenshot - 52K]

(27,328K - Windows)

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1643

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