Working with Bitmaps

Bitmaps are graphics composed of small colored squares called pixels, which combine like the tiles of a mosaic to create an image. Examples of bitmap graphics include photographs, scanned images, and graphics created from paint programs. They are sometimes referred to as raster images.

Macromedia Fireworks 8 combines the functionality of photo-editing, vector-drawing, and painting applications. You can create bitmap images by drawing and painting with bitmap tools, by converting vector objects to bitmap images, or by opening or importing images.

Fireworks has a powerful set of Live Filters for tone and color adjustment, as well as a number of ways to retouch your bitmap images, including cropping, feathering, and duplicating or cloning images. In addition, Fireworks has a set of image-retouching tools—Blur, Sharpen, Dodge, Burn, and Smudge.T

The Bitmap section of the Tools panel contains bitmap selection and editing tools. To edit the pixels of a bitmap in your document, you can select a tool from the Bitmap section. Unlike in previous versions of Fireworks, you do not need to deliberately switch between bitmap mode and vector mode, but you can still work with bitmaps, vector objects, and text. Switching to the appropriate mode is as simple as selecting a vector or bitmap tool from the Tools panel.

You can create bitmap graphics by using the Fireworks bitmap drawing and painting tools, by cutting or copying and pasting pixel selections, or by converting a vector image into a bitmap object. Another way to create a bitmap object is to insert an empty bitmap image in your document and then draw, paint, or fill it. When you create a new bitmap object, it is added to the current layer. In the Layers panel with layers expanded, you can see a thumbnail and name for each bitmap object under the layer on which it resides. Although some bitmap applications consider each bitmap object a layer, Fireworks organizes bitmap objects, vector objects, and text as separate objects that reside on layers.

To create a new bitmap object:
1. Select the Brush or Pencil tool from the Bitmap section of the Tools panel.
2. Paint or draw with the Brush or Pencil tool to create bitmap objects on the canvas. A new bitmap object is added to the current layer in the Layers panel.

To create an empty bitmap object, do one of the following:
■ Click the New Bitmap Image button in the Layers panel.
■ Select Edit > Insert > Empty Bitmap.
■ Draw a selection marquee, starting in a blank area of the canvas, and fill it. An empty bitmap is added to the current layer in the Layers panel. If the empty bitmap is deselected before any pixels have been drawn, imported, or otherwise placed on it, the empty bitmap object automatically disappears from the Layers panel and the document.

To convert selected vector objects to a bitmap image, do one of the following:
■ Select Modify > Flatten Selection.
■ Select Flatten Selection from the Layers panel Options menu. A vector-to-bitmap conversion is irreversible, except when Edit > Undo or undoing actions in the History panel is still an option. Bitmap images cannot be converted to vector objects.

Working with Vector Objects

A vector object is a computer graphic whose shape is defined by a path. The shape of a vector path is determined by points that are plotted along the path. A vector object’s stroke color follows the path. Its fill occupies the area inside the path. The stroke and fill typically determine how the graphic looks when published in print or on the web.

Macromedia Fireworks 8 has many tools for drawing and editing vector objects using a variety of techniques. With the basic shape tools, you can quickly draw straight lines, circles and ellipses, squares and rectangles, stars, and any equilateral polygon with 3 to 360 sides.

You can draw freeform vector paths with the Vector Path and Pen tools. Using the Pen tool, you can draw complex shapes with smooth curves and straight lines by plotting points one by one.

Fireworks offers several methods for editing the vector objects you have drawn. You can change an object’s shape by moving, adding, or deleting points. You can use point handles to change the shape of adjacent path segments. Freeform tools let you alter the shape of objects by editing paths directly. You can also edit Auto Shapes using their predefined editing methods.

Commands on the Modify menu give you more options for editing objects, including combining objects to create a single object, creating an object from the intersection of several objects, and expanding the stroke of an object. You can also import graphics and manipulate them using these commands.

Drawing vector objects
Fireworks has many tools for drawing vector objects. With these you can draw basic shapes, freeform paths, and complex shapes by plotting points one by one. You can also draw Auto Shapes, which are vector object groups that have special controls for adjusting their attributes.

Drawing basic lines, rectangles, and ellipses
You can use the Line, Rectangle, or Ellipse tool to draw basic shapes quickly. The Rectangle tool draws rectangles as grouped objects. To move a rectangle corner point independently, you must ungroup the rectangle or use the Subselection tool. To draw a basic rectangle with beveled, chamfered, or rounded corners, see the following procedure.

To draw a line, rectangle, or ellipse:
1. Select the Line, Rectangle, or Ellipse tool from the Tools panel.
2. If desired, set the stroke and fill attributes in the Property inspector.
3. Drag on the canvas to draw the shape. For the Line tool, Shift-drag to constrain lines to 45° increments. For the Rectangle or Ellipse tool, Shift-drag to constrain shapes to squares or circles.

To draw a line, rectangle, or ellipse from a specific center point:
■ Position the pointer at the intended center point and Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Macintosh) the drawing tool.

To constrain a shape and draw from the center point:
■ Position the pointer at the intended center point and Shift-Alt-drag (Windows) or Shift-Option-drag (Macintosh) the drawing tool.

To adjust the position of a basic shape as you draw it:
■ While holding down the mouse button, press and hold the Spacebar, then drag the object to another location on the canvas. Release the Spacebar to continue drawing the object.

To resize a selected line, rectangle, or ellipse, do one of the following:
■ Enter new width (W) or height (H) values in the Property inspector or the Info panel.
■ In the Select section of the Tools panel, select the Scale tool and drag a corner transform handle. This resizes the object proportionally.
■ Drag a corner point on a rectangle.

Drawing basic rounded rectangles
You can draw rectangles with rounded corners by using the Rounded Rectangle tool, or by using the Roundness option in the Property inspector to adjust the roundness of the corners of a selected rectangle. The Rounded Rectangle tool draws rectangles as grouped objects. To move rounded rectangle points independently, you must ungroup the rectangle or use the Subselection tool.

To draw a rectangle with rounded corners:
1. From the Rectangle tool pop-up menu, select the Rounded Rectangle tool.
2. Drag the canvas to draw the rectangle.

To round the corners of a selected rectangle:
■ In the Property inspector, enter a value from 0 to 100 in the Roundness box and press Enter, or drag the pop-up slider.

Drawing basic polygons and stars
With the Polygon tool, you can draw any equilateral polygon or star, from a triangle to a polygon or star with 360 sides. NOTE You can also resize an object proportionally by selecting Modify > Transform > Scale and dragging a corner transform handle, or by selecting Modify > Transform > Numeric Transform and entering new dimensions. For more information on resizing and scaling objects

To draw a polygon:
1. In the Vector section of the Tools panel, select the Polygon tool, which is one of the basic shape drawing tools.
2. In the Property inspector, do one of the following to specify the number of sides for the polygon:
■ Use the Sides pop-up slider to select 3 to 25 sides.
■ Enter a number from 3 to 360 in the Sides text box.
3. Drag to draw the polygon. To constrain a polygon’s orientation to increments of 45°, hold down Shift as you draw. The Polygon tool always draws from a center point.

To draw a star:
1. Select the Polygon tool.
2. In the Property inspector, select Star from the Shape pop-up menu.
3. In the Sides text box, enter the number of points for the star.
4. In the Angle text box, select Automatic or enter a value. Values closer to 0 result in long, thin points; values closer to 100 result in short, stubby points.
5. Drag the canvas to draw the star. To constrain a star’s orientation to increments of 45°, hold down Shift as you drag. The Polygon tool always draws from a center point.

Drawing Auto Shapes
Auto Shapes are intelligent vector object groups that adhere to specialized rules to simplify the creation and editing of common visual elements. Auto Shape tools draw object groups. Unlike other object groups, selected Auto Shapes have diamond-shaped control points in addition to the object group handles. Each control point is associated with a particular visual property of the shape. Dragging a control point alters only the associated visual property. Most Auto Shape control points have tooltips that describe how they affect the Auto Shape. Move the pointer over a control point to see a tooltip that describes the property governed by that control point. Auto Shape tools create shapes in preset orientations. For example, the Arrow tool draws arrows horizontally. You can transform Auto Shapes to change their orientation.Although each Auto Shape tool in the Tools panel uses the same easy drawing method, the editable attributes for each Auto Shape are different.

Arrow draws object groups that appear as simple arrows of any proportions. Using control points, you can adjust the arrowhead flare, the tail length and width, and the tip length.

Beveled Rectangle draws object groups that appear as rectangles with beveled corners. Using control points, you can edit the amount of bevel for all corners together, or change the bevel of individual corners.

Chamfer Rectangle draws object groups that appear as rectangles with chamfers, corners that are rounded to the inside of the rectangle. You can edit the chamfer radius of all corners together, or change the chamfer radius of individual corners.

Connector Line draws object groups that appear as three-segment connector lines, such as those used to connect the elements of a flowchart or organizational chart. Using control points, you can edit the end points for the first and third sections of the connector line, as well as the location of the second section, which connects the first and last sections.
Doughnut draws object groups that appear as filled rings. Using control points, you can adjust the inner perimeter or split the shape into pieces.

L-Shape draws object groups that appear as right-angled corner shapes. Using control points, you can edit the length and width of the horizontal and vertical sections, as well as the curvature of the corner.

Pie draws object groups that appear as pie charts. Using control points, you can split the shape into pieces.

Smart Polygon draws object groups that appear as equilateral polygons with 3 to 25 sides. Using control points, you can resize and rotate, add or remove segments, increase or decrease the number of sides, or add an inner polygon to the shape.

Rounded Rectangle draws object groups that appear as rectangles with rounded corners. Using control points, you can edit the roundness of all corners together, or change the roundness of individual corners.

Spiral draws object groups that appear as open spirals. Using control points, you can edit the number of spiral rotations, and you can determine whether the spiral is open or closed.

Star draws object groups that appear as stars with any number of points from 3 to 25. Using control points, you can add or remove points, and you can adjust the inner and outer angles of the points.