Entered CNET Catalog: 05/01/2002
SKU: FWW060D000
Manufacturer: Adobe Systems
Manufacturer description
Macromedia Fireworks MX is the easiest way to create, optimize, and export interactive graphics in a single, Web-centric environment. Fireworks MX is a key component in Macromedia Studio MX, which combines the latest versions of market-leading Macromedia tools to provide developers with a streamlined, integrated product family focused on increasing developer productivity and return on investment. Fireworks MX delivers a streamlined environment for creating everything from simple graphical buttons to sophisticated rollover effects. It simplifies navigation creation with easier pop-up menu creation and even more control. Users can deliver both horizontal and vertical JavaScript pop-up menus that work with tabbed button bar appearances and other creative layouts, and pop-up menu attributes are all customizable including spacing, borders, and color shading. Wizards enable users to quickly create sophisticated web navigation by automatically generating the graphics and JavaScript. Fireworks MX can automatically generate data-driven graphics by dynamically linking to XML content as well as automate repetitive graphics creation by connecting a graphic file with variables to an XML file. Fireworks MX also features support for XHTML and accessibility, through the ability to ensure the accompanying XHTML is Section 508 compliant. Fireworks MX features Roundtrip XHTML with Macromedia Dreamweaver MX. The product also simplifies the intelligent exporting of graphics and HTML to leading applications with a single click, automatically outputting the specific file formats required for Macromedia Flash MX, Dreamweaver MX, Macromedia FreeHand, Macromedia Director, and third-party products.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 05/01/2002
True to its name, Macromedia Fireworks lets you build vibrant Web graphics in a flash. And now, it's easier to use than ever. In addition to its more intuitive interface, Fireworks MX's new Property Inspector and quick-access special effects further simplify the editing process. Sure, designers who already use a number of Adobe products may prefer ImageReady/Photoshop's seamless integration. But based on our preview of the release candidate, when it comes to creating static images, Fireworks is easier to use. If you're an intermediate or advanced designer who wants quick, elegant-looking Web graphics, buy Fireworks ASAP. (Updated 5/30/02)
True to its name, Macromedia Fireworks lets you build vibrant Web graphics in a flash. And now, it's easier to use than ever. In addition to its more intuitive interface, Fireworks MX's new Property Inspector and quick-access special effects further simplify the editing process. Sure, designers who already use a number of Adobe products may prefer ImageReady/Photoshop's seamless integration. But based on our preview of the release candidate, when it comes to creating static images, Fireworks is easier to use. If you're an intermediate or advanced designer who wants quick, elegant-looking Web graphics, buy Fireworks ASAP.
A real time-saver
Fireworks MX's streamlined interface looks similar to that of past editions--its primary toolbar, on the left of the screen, contains various tool panels, including Bitmap, Vector, Color, and View. The right-hand panel contains libraries and toolsets, including Layers and Frames. However, now, Fireworks lets you pull any toolset off the panel for easier access to its menus, then collapse or dock that toolset again to save space.
The new Fireworks saves editing time, too. For example, select any object, text, or image, and the new context-sensitive Property Inspector, similar to those in Flash and Dreamweaver, displays all of the adjustable settings that are specific to that item, such as image size and color, so that you don't have to hunt for them. No more unnecessary fidgeting with tools and palettes. Good riddance to the text editor dialog box, too. You can now type text directly onto the screen and set attributes such as font or size in the Property Inspector.
Standard image editing
Web mastery
Another nifty Web feature: Once you divide an image into distinct slices, or easily downloadable pieces, Fireworks lets you attach behaviors to each. To turn a slice into a pop-up menu, for example, just select the slice, choose Modify > Pop-up Menu > Add Pop-up Menu, then assign URLs to your menu items.
And although Fireworks isn't a dedicated Web animator, it can create some basic animation. For example, you can make an object or bitmap travel across the screen, specifying the number of frames you want, the straight path for your image to travel, and whether it resizes, rotates, or fades. We do wish, however, that Fireworks let you create curvy animation paths.
Once you've completed your document, Fireworks' Edit menu lets you preview it in a browser and copy its HTML code to a file. Then, you can use the Quick Export button to save it in FreeHand (AI*), Flash (SWF), and Photoshop (PSD) formats; or HTML files tailored for Dreamweaver, GoLive, and FrontPage.
Conditional support
Despite its broad feature set, Fireworks is remarkably easy to master. We recommend it as a primary static-graphics app for all graphically inclined Web designers.
Ready to create some snazzy Web images? Fireworks imports all major graphics formats, including GIF, JPEG, and BMP, and works with both vector and bitmap images. It also packs a generous assortment of vector-drawing tools, such as a Bezier pen, which lets you define and modify the shape of a curve, and geometric primitives, such as ovals, rectangles, and polygons, for creating objects from scratch. As for bitmap tools, the brush, pencil, eyedropper, and other implements let you edit images as you would in any image editor. To add special effects to your images, Fireworks has a few bread-and-butter filters, including blur, sharpen, and color adjustment.
Standard feature set aside, Fireworks' cutting-edge Web tools leave the competition in the dust. To create symbols, copies of an object that help you manage repeating graphics, for instance, just right-click an object and choose Convert To Symbol. From the Symbols library, you can then drag and drop the same symbol over and over.
Although Fireworks MX is complex, novices shouldn't worry. The app's comprehensive help files are accurate, concise, and easy to read. You can find help files specifically for the Fireworks MX preview release at the Macromedia site. In the meantime, phone or e-mail the tech folks during your 90-day complimentary support period. Thereafter, you must either pay $25 per incident or purchase Fireworks' Bronze ($95), Silver ($125), or Gold ($650) support packages.
User opinions
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User Rating: 
10/10
WOW!!!!!!!!!
Pros: everything a person could want, and more
Cons: cons? what cons?
I have tried to use Adobe, but had trouble getting what i want out of the program. This , along with dreamweaver and flash, is the perfect program you need to get a website moving, or just to mess around and have some fun with those pictures of your friends!
User Rating: 
8/10
Best Web Graphics Tool!
Pros: Interoperability with entire Macromedia Studio MX suite.
Cons: None that I can think of.
User Rating: 
9/10
My only web graphics tool... i just dont't need another.
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User Rating: 9/10
I adore Macromedia Products!
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User Rating: 8/10
Stellar!!
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User Rating: 10/10
The best VECTOR EDITOR OUT THERE
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User Rating: 8/10
better and cheaper than photoshop
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User Rating: 10/10
Incredibl 'Nuff said!
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User Rating: 9/10
Wonderful improvements, affordable
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User Rating: 9/10
Playin with Fire
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User Rating: 9/10
Stable software that delivers
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User Rating: 9/10
Not Photoshop but who wants it to be?
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User Rating: 
7/10
Behaves like Photoshop but Photoshop 7.0 has more power
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User Rating: 
6/10
No Photoshop
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User Rating: 8/10
The Boss
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User Rating: 6/10
Trialware FWorks MX somewhat unstable
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Fireworks MX specifications
- General
- Category Creativity application
- Subcategory Creativity - animation
- Language(s) English
- Localization North America
- Localization English
- Software
- License Type Complete package
- License Qty 1 user
- Platform Windows
- Min Supported Color Depth 8-bit (256 colors)
- Distribution Media CD-ROM
- Package Type Retail
- System Requirements
- OS Required Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition , Microsoft Windows 2000 , Microsoft Windows XP , Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 , Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
- Min Processor Type Intel Pentium - 300.0 MHz
- Min RAM Size 64.0 MB
- Min Hard Drive Space 80.0 MB
- Peripheral / Interface Devices SVGA monitor , CD-ROM
