How-To Guides:
Basic Image Editing in Macromedia Fireworks

Fireworks is an image editing program available in both the Windows and Macintosh labs at the ECC in our college. (Presently we have Fireworks v3 in the Windows lab and Fireworks v2 in the Macintosh lab.) These directions explain how to use Fireworks to:

  1. File Saving / Access in the labs
  2. Crop an image
  3. Resize an image
  4. Delete or cover up parts of an image
  5. Add Text to an image
  6. Save image as a JPEG file

When you first open Fireworks, if it asks you to register, click the DON'T ASK ME AGAIN box and click LATER.

1. File Saving / File Access in the labs

Computers in labs are setup with security software that permits file saving in three different locations:

  1. On the network in the PUBLIC folder
  2. On a floppy disk
  3. On a zip disk (if you are using a computer with a zip drive - ask a lab proctor for help locating one if needed)

The advantage of saving in the public folder is that data saved there can be accessed from ANY computer in either lab (Windows or Macintosh). The disadvantage is that there is no security protection for files you save in the Public folder: anyone in either lab could accidentally or intentionally delete, change, or move your files.

CREATE YOUR OWN FOLDER in the Public Folder first before you begin work. Save all your work into that folder to keep it organized.

Save backup copies of your work (saved in the Public folder) on a Zip disk!

Open your saved image from the Public Folder

In Fireworks, choose FILE - OPEN.

  1. Windows: Click on ‘down arrow’ to select the desktop, then select the PUBLIC folder and click Open:
  2. Macintosh: Click DESKTOP and then open the PUBLIC folder:

 

2. Crop an Image

  2. Select the Crop tool  from the toolbar. You may have to click on the marquee tool and hold down the mouse to select it: (For Macintosh Fireworks version 2.0 the crop tool is under the black selection arrow)
  3. Click and drag to select the part of the image you want to KEEP.
  4. If desired, move the cursor to a 'handle' on the edge of the crop selection, then click and drag to stretch the selection.
  5. Press the ENTER key to crop the image.
  6. Save the modified file (your old file will be overwritten).

3. Resize an Image

Hint: Limit the width of images you will use in your portfolio to 550 pixels. Images wider than that will not fully display when a person's monitor resolution is set to 640 x 480 pixels.

  1. Open your saved image from the Public Folder (see above steps)
  2. Windows Fireworks 3.0:
    1. From the MODIFY menu, choose IMAGE SIZE:
    2. Change the options as desired.
  3. Macintosh Fireworks 2.0:
    1. From the MODIFY menu, choose DOCUMENT - IMAGE SIZE
    2. Change the options as desired.
  4. Remember:
    1. Images LOSE RESOLUTION as they get bigger with an image size adjustment.
    2. Image quality will generally be better when you make the size SMALLER rather than larger.
  5. Click OK to apply the changes.

4. Delete or cover up parts of an image

  1. Open your saved image from the Public Folder (see above steps)
  2. Either select the marquee tool (insert) or oval selection tool
  3. Click and drag to select the part of the image you want to CHANGE.
  4. Press the DELETE key to erase the selected pixels
  5. Select a fill color (next to the paint bucket icon) and click on the fill tool:
  6. Click inside the deleted area to fill it with the selected color.

5. Add Text to an image

  1. Click on the text tool
  2. Increase the size of your canvas if desired (MODIFY menu, choose CANVAS SIZE).
  3. Choose the desired fill color for the letters
  4. Click on your image where you want to insert text
  5. Type your text, changing font/size options as desired.
  6. Click OK.
  7. With the black selection arrow, move the text where you want it.
  8. Double click the text to edit it again if needed.

6. Save image as a JPEG file

JPEG is an image format that can include millions of colors, but has good compression so the size of the file is reduced compared to other formats. (More info about image file types is available.)

  1. To save in JPEG format in Fireworks, you must EXPORT your image as a JPG file.
  2. Windows Fireworks 3.0:
    1. From the WINDOW menu choose OPTIMIZE
    2. On the OPTIMIZE window (upper right side of the screen) click on SETTINGS and choose JPEG SMALLER FILE
    3. From the FILE menu, choose EXPORT.
    4. Name the file and save it in your public folder.
  3. Macintosh Fireworks 2.0:
    1. From the FILE menu choose EXPORT
    2. In the upper right corner, click on the popup menu under SAVED SETTINS and choose JPEG - Smaller File:
    3. Click NEXT to display the file saving dialog window.
    4. Name the file and save it in your public folder.
  4. You can optionally save your original file in Fireworks as a PNG file, but this is NOT necessary. The PNG format WILL preserve the editable text, which is handy if you might need to make changes to the text on the file in the future.

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