The pointer tool

The first and most important tool is your "pointer tool". This tool allows you to select and move vectors, images and objects. It can also be used to resize boxes and text boxes. The pointer icon looks like this:

• Clicking on an item will select it, from there you can edit the selected item. 
• By clicking and dragging you can select multiple items. 
• By holding shift you can select or deselect multiple items by clicking on them. 
• Boxes and text boxes may be resized by selecting the box by clicking on it and then clicking on the corner of the box and dragging to the size you require.
• When using another tool the pointer tool may be temporarily selected by holding cmd.
• Ctrl + click will effectively right click and present you with a pop up menu for that item.
• Holding Alt will temporarily select the Subselection tool. 

The toolbar

The toolbar is your first stop once you have decided on your layout. The toolbar looks like this:

The toolbar can be moved around by clicking and dragging on the dark grey bar at the top. If you accidentally remove your toolbar, don't panic, it can be returned by clicking Window > Tools. If this does not work (sometimes Fireworks can be temperamental), clicking Window > Workspace layouts and then your preferred layout will reset the toolbars and therefore return your tools. 

Workspace Layouts.

With a new document open you have several options as to how you see your workspace. by clicking Window > Workspace Layouts, here you have three choices: 

• Expanded mode
• Iconic mode
• Iconic mode With Panel names

For my tutorials I will be working with Iconic mode. You should try out other workspace layouts and find your personal favourite.

Creating a new document

To create a new document is very easy, you select File > New. You will then be presented with a box regarding the canvas properties. I will look like this:

It is important to note that at this point Fireworks will auto detect the size of whatever is on your clipboard (whatever you have copied), and will set the canvas size to fit this. 

When determining the canvas size in pixels resolution is redundant and need not be changed. If however you have changed the units of canvas size to centimetres, to create an A4 page for example, resolution is very important. 

Resolution in this sense is how many pixels or dots there are per inch of paper. If you are designing for a screen, to make things simple, standard resolution is 72 dpi or 72 dots per inch for macs and 96 dpi for PCs however it is individual to every monitor. 

Either way if you make a 20cm canvas and set the resolution to 200 dpi, when whatever you make on that canvas is displayed on a screen it will be far bigger than 20cm across as 1 inch of your image is now spread over three inches.

If however you are designing for print a printer will up - res or down - res to keep the size consistent. Most print shops agree that standard resolution for non - pixelated printing is 300 dpi.

The Canvas colour section presents you with three options:

         White

         Transparent

         Custom

White is self explanatory in that you are presented with a standard white canvas. Transparent creates a canvas that looks like a grey and white chequered flag. Once saved as a .PNG  the canvas will not exist. For example, if you created an image for an icon that consisted of the letter P. When used as an icon you will be able to see through the eye of the P to anything behind it. Custom will present you with a swatch table from which you can chose the colour of your canvas.

          So in short: 

When determining canvas size in pixels: 

• Resolution doesn't matter. 

When determining pixel size in units of size (i.e. inches or centimetres):

• For print the recommended standard resolution is 300dpi
• For screen the simplified standard resolution is 72dpi for Mac and 96dpi for PCs.

When choosing canvas colour:

• Transparent allows you to see through the canvas once the file is saved.
• Custom allows you any colour.

Breakfasthut Graphics

My name is Nick and I've been designing for around three years. Learnt a lot whist doing it and thought i would share a bit of my knowledge. In this blog I'm going to document the functions of Adobe Fireworks starting with the most basic things and working my way on to more complex things.

- Nick