Fireworks MX
Macintosh and Windows

A vector object is a computer graphic with a shape defined by its path which is determined by the connections between points. A vector object’s stroke color follows the path and its fill color occupies the area inside the path. Properties of vector objects, including the position of its points can be edited and vector objects can be resized without losing resolution.

Click a tool in the Vector section of the Tools panel then change the tool properties in the Properties panel before using the tool, if you like. Specific options depend on the tool you choose. For example only the polygon tool provides a Shape field in the Properties panel.

After you draw or type with a tool in the document window and while you still have that object selected, the Properties panel changes to pertain to that object. Whenever a vector object is selected you can edit its properties by changing the fields in the Properties panel.

Color is selected by clicking on a color well to see a palette window with an eyedropper tool. You can either type the hexadecimal code for the color you want, choose a color from the palette, or click a color anywhere in Fireworks to select that color. This symbol represents transparency. Shapes have two color wells, one for the fill color and one for the stroke (perimeter or path).

Besides color, objects that you draw can have pattern or texture. Some objects have separate color and other settings for the stroke (perimeter) and for the fill (interior area). All of these settings are controlled in the Properties panel.

Each object that you create with the vector tools appears as a separate thumbnail item in the Layers panel. Objects in the document window can be selected by clicking their thumbnails in the Layers panel. Selected objects can be named in the Properties panel or in the Layers panel.

The tools listed below are the most common. For help with using other tools please check the Fireworks Help menu for instructions.

• Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygon: These tools are all found in the same sub-menu. Click and draw in the document window. To constrain the object to a circle rather than an oval or a square rather than a rectangle hold down the SHIFT key while you draw the object. To draw from a center point, hold down the ALT key (Windows) or OPTION key (Mac).
• Line : Click and draw on the in the document window. To constrain the line to an angle of zero 45 or 90 degrees, hold down the SHIFT key while you draw.
• Pen : Click to place individual connected points or click-drag for curve-points. Terminate the object by double-clicking at the last point or closing the shape. Curve-points include adjacent lines with handles that can be dragged to alter the curve.
• Vector Path (found in the Pen sub-menu): Drag the mouse to draw a path. The resulting line will consist of connected points.
• Knife : Click and drag to divide an object into two separate objects.

Click a tool in the Bitmap section of the Tools panel then change the tool properties in the Properties panel before using the tool, if you like. Specific options depend on the tool you choose. There are several types of tools in this area for selecting and changing pixels in addition to bitmap drawing tools.

Each bitmap object has a thumbnail item in the Layers panel. If you select an existing bitmap object (by clicking the object in the document window or clicking its thumbnail) then use a bitmap tool, you will be editing the selected object. As long as you continue to use bitmap tools, you will still be working on the same bitmap object. If you want to start a new, separate bitmap object, first complete the one you are working on by deselecting it (Edit > Deselect).

Several of the Bitmap tools provide different ways to select pixels or alter the color of selected pixels (magic wand, marquee, lasso, rubber stamp) and are generally used to touch up photographic images. Wellesley IS recommends the use of Photoshop for this type of editing, however if you'd like to try to use these tools, the Fireworks MX help files (Help > Using Fireworks) will guide you.

Bitmap drawing tools are:

• Brush or Pencil : Drag around the workspace with the mouse to draw. The stroke will follow the mouse pointer.
• Eraser : Drag across the part of a bitmap object you want to erase. The Properties panel lets you change the shape and size of the eraser. This tool won't work on vector objects.

Text can be added to any graphic including photographic images and is treated like any other object. You can select colors,textures or patterns, apply effects and change the shape of the text box.

Select the Text tool in the vector section of the Tools panel and make any changes you like in the Properties panel (font, size, color etc.) Then click on the canvas to place your insertion point. The blinking insertion point will be inside of an empty text box with handles. Type your text. When you are done you can select the text box with the pointer tool and move it or change its shape as you would any other object

To edit the content of text that has already been placed, first double-click it to get an insertion point then make your changes. You can also highlight any part of the text to change its font or size. Bold, italics, underlining and alignment are also available.

To fill the selected text with something other than solid color (pattern, texture or gradient) click the color well in the Properties panel then click the Fill Options button.