Fireworks 8: a first look
Published: 09 Aug 2005
Macromedia is attempting to simplify the new Fireworks 8 to serve people with little or no programming knowledge who want to create rollover buttons and pop-ups for Web sites, as well as to spare designers from making roundtrips to and from Flash and Dreamweaver for tweaks.
Among the highlights: Fireworks 8 will recognise ActionScript colours and let vectors preserve filters, fills, blends and strokes from Flash 8. You can also use Save As to export work to multiple file formats, such as those for Dreamweaver and Photoshop.
Fireworks 8 promises to introduce dynamic, CSS pop-up windows that you can edit in Dreamweaver, and it imports more file formats, including QuickTime Image, MacPaint, SGI and JPEG 2000.
Other advertised enhancements include more control over AutoShapes and content creation for mobile devices. Users will recognise Fireworks' familiar interface, but in this version, tabs and panels aspire to add more control. A new status bar and log file, plus the ability to check the size of files while saving them, are among the improved batch processes within Fireworks 8.
Fireworks 8 will cost £249, or £129 for an upgrade from Fireworks MX 2004 or any earlier version. Stay tuned for our rating and more details once Fireworks 8.0 hits the market.
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