Menu Bar
The menu bar (see Figure 3.44) is chock full of
commands that enable you to do everything from opening a file to
applying sophisticated effects to your images. Because an
encyclopedia could be written on just this topic alone, the
following sections simply summarize the important commands in each
menu.
File Menu
The File menu in Fireworks is similar to that of
just about every other program. As the
name
suggests, commands in
this menu affect whole files or documents. Some special File menu
commands include the following:
-
Reconstitute
Table
Used to integrate Fireworks files with web pages in
Dreamweaver by allowing you to easily update the table structure
used in the HTML pages.
-
Batch Process
Enables you to automate a series of customizable commands, such as
image resizing, on a large
group
of files, all with the click of a
couple
buttons
.
Edit Menu
The Edit menu contains a few specialized
commands for inserting Fireworks objects. Some unique Fireworks
commands include the following:
-
Insert Fireworks
Objects
Enables you to insert objects such as a New Button,
Symbol, Hotspot, Slice, Layer, or Frame.
-
Clipboard
Variations
Enables you to Copy HTML Code, Paste Inside,
Paste As Mask, and Paste Attributes.
-
Preferences
Enables you to customize your workspace. Editing Preferences are
discussed later in this chapter.
View Menu
The View menu is home to commands that control
how you look at your workspace. In addition to the typical
magnification, ruler, and guides commands is the Windows/Macintosh
Gamma command. Computers that run Windows and Macintosh operating
systems use different gamma settings, which typically results in
Windows screens being darker than their Mac counterparts. Big
whoop, you say. Well, what can happen is that the graphic that
looks fine on your Windows monitor appears slightly washed out on
the Macintosh monitor. Likewise, the graphic that works on a
Macintosh monitor is
darker
on the Windows screen. Use the
Windows/Macintosh Gamma command to toggle between the two gamma
settings and see whether there is a difference on your
graphics.
Select Menu
The Select menu is split into five
categories:
-
Vector
path
and
selection tools
Used to select and edit vector points and
paths.
-
Pixel selection
tools
Used to modify pixels of similar colors, feather
selections, or invert selections.
-
Pixel region
selection tools
Used to expand, contract, and smooth
selected
regions
of pixels.
-
Convert Marquee to
Path command
Transforms the existing shape of the Marquee
into a path that can be edited and reshaped like any other
Fireworks object.
-
Save Bitmap
Selection tools
Used to save and restore single bitmap
selections.
Modify Menu
The Modify menu is the most frequently used menu
in Fireworks. This menu contains commands that enable you to alter
canvas and object attributes, stacking order, and grouping. Other
commands of interest include the following:
-
Pop-Up Menu
Launches a wizard that enables you to create pop-up
menus
.
-
Masks
Provides several masking effects in a submenu.
-
Combine Paths
Gives you the Join, Split, Union, Intersect, Punch, and Crop
commands that allow you to play with ways to combine separate
shapes
.
Text Menu
The Text menu provides common commands for
modifying font, style, paragraph settings, alignment, and even
spelling. Some unique commands include
Commands Menu
The Commands menu is where you can really see
the flexibility of Fireworks. Within the Commands menu are several
ready-made commands, or macros, that you can use to make your life
simpler. You can also create your own commands if you have the
programming know-how.
Some interesting commands included in Fireworks
are
-
Convert to
Grayscale
Found in the Creative submenu, this is similar to
the popular command found in Photoshop.
-
Add Picture
Frame
Found in the Creative submenu, this command adds a
textured frame around the canvas.
-
Resize Selected
Objects
Provides a pop-up window that gives you a graphical
interface with which to resize an object (see Figure 3.46). Nothing
really special about this, except it looks cool.
-
Twist and
Fade
Also found in the Creative submenu, this third-party
command enables you to create a vortex effect with any vector or
bitmap graphic (see Figure 3.47). Be careful, though. It's
addictive
and resource
intensive
and could lock up the program if
you call for too many steps.
Filters Menu
The Filters menu contains all the bitmap
filters. Included are filters that handle
color
adjustment,
blurring, levels, curves, the sharpness of a mask, the amount of
noise applied to an image, and so on. After it is applied to an
image, a filter effect cannot be removed unless you use the Undo
command (Edit, Undo Filter Image).
Window Menu
The Window menu provides a list of all the
panels and
toolbars
available in Fireworks. Think of it as your
interface repositoryjust click on any of the selections in this
menu and the appropriate panel or pop-up is displayed.
Help Menu
Learn to appreciate the guidance and wisdom
found within the Help menu. Here you can find the entire Fireworks
8 manual in HTML format. You can search for answers to those aching
questions about how to draw those pesky Bezier curves with the Pen
tool.
You can also access online support from the
Fireworks Help Center, as well as exchange ideas on the Macromedia
Online Forums. Visiting the forums becomes a daily part of your
life if you're interested in expanding your Fireworks
capabilities.
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