Entered CNET Catalog: 03/20/2007
SKU: CNETADOBEFIREWORKSCS3
Manufacturer: Adobe Systems
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User opinions
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User Rating: 
2/10
Doesn't load, no help from Adobe site
Pros: Great for slideshows, image mapping navigation, and other web apps.
Cons: HOWEVER, Fireworks won't open unless all your Dreamweaver site definitions are configured perfectly. NO INFORMATION on where to find conflicts, NO FIXES or even MENTION on Adobe's website.
Review:
After much searching, an online user forum fix erased all Dreamweaver site definitions. This obviously disabled site updates, all the userids and login information. Given a choice between Fireworks and Dreamweaver's built in FTP, I had to sacrifice Fireworks.
Bad, bad BAD Adobe. Hope CS4 fixes the glitch, or at least ADDRESSES this issue if it recurrs, somewhere on their Tech Forum. So far, zero.
Bad, bad BAD Adobe. Hope CS4 fixes the glitch, or at least ADDRESSES this issue if it recurrs, somewhere on their Tech Forum. So far, zero.
User Rating: 
9/10
A whole set of features for Fireworks CS3
Pros: The feature set is huge and many
Cons: Performance
Review:
I have recently started using Fireworks and looking at the product history CS3 seemed like a jumbo release with many features making its way into the product and also the magnitude of each feature was huge.
I will look at some which I use almost on a daily basis.
1.Pages feature: This allows us to create multiple images within the same png file. Now is very easy for designers to mockup their design in a single file rather than managing multiple png files for each web page. The ability to create master page and share layer across pages for inheriting objects among all child pages is very helpful. Sharing of layers is also possible across child pages.This enables users to share certain set of objects under one page across multiple child pages.
2. The hierarchy of layers is real nice feature addition. This feature really helps in organizing the objects on the canvas and then giving the layer a self explanatory name makes it even more helpful.
3.The 9 slice scaling feature is a huge enhancement to prevent the objects from getting distorted. User can set the guides on area of object whose appearence should be maintained on vertical or horizontal scaling. Beest part is that the attributes of the objects are scaled through an option and this feature can be applied to both vector and bitmap objects.
4.Rich Symbols is a real timesaver. This is accessible through the Common Library Panel. Once it is dragged on the canvas, there is another panel, Symbol Properties which allows for editing of this symbol by setting a predefied set of properties in the symbol properties panel.
5.Metadata support has also been added to Fireworks CS3 png files. But the disadvantage is that the metadata format is Adobe proprietery, so any generic application will not be able to read it.
6.PS Live Effects: Photoshop Live effects have been built into Fireworks for greater breadth of effects which can be applied to the objects.
7.Some Blend modes are also added.
With such a huge set of features and their weight, I think fireworks CS3 is a must buy for website designers. They will not regret their decision.
Job well done Adobe Fireworks Team!
I will look at some which I use almost on a daily basis.
1.Pages feature: This allows us to create multiple images within the same png file. Now is very easy for designers to mockup their design in a single file rather than managing multiple png files for each web page. The ability to create master page and share layer across pages for inheriting objects among all child pages is very helpful. Sharing of layers is also possible across child pages.This enables users to share certain set of objects under one page across multiple child pages.
2. The hierarchy of layers is real nice feature addition. This feature really helps in organizing the objects on the canvas and then giving the layer a self explanatory name makes it even more helpful.
3.The 9 slice scaling feature is a huge enhancement to prevent the objects from getting distorted. User can set the guides on area of object whose appearence should be maintained on vertical or horizontal scaling. Beest part is that the attributes of the objects are scaled through an option and this feature can be applied to both vector and bitmap objects.
4.Rich Symbols is a real timesaver. This is accessible through the Common Library Panel. Once it is dragged on the canvas, there is another panel, Symbol Properties which allows for editing of this symbol by setting a predefied set of properties in the symbol properties panel.
5.Metadata support has also been added to Fireworks CS3 png files. But the disadvantage is that the metadata format is Adobe proprietery, so any generic application will not be able to read it.
6.PS Live Effects: Photoshop Live effects have been built into Fireworks for greater breadth of effects which can be applied to the objects.
7.Some Blend modes are also added.
With such a huge set of features and their weight, I think fireworks CS3 is a must buy for website designers. They will not regret their decision.
Job well done Adobe Fireworks Team!
