Drawing objects:
Generally, a computer graphic is either a vector drawing or a bitmap image. Applications such as Macromedia FreeHand create vector drawings. Applications such as Photoshop create bitmap images.
Paths and points are the basic elements of vector graphics. As you draw, the vector path and its points are generated automatically. When magnified, a vector graphic looks the same, only bigger.
In contrast, a bitmap image is a matrix of pixels that forms an image, like the tiles of a mosaic. A bitmap image becomes more granulated, and ultimately unrecognizable, as magnification reveals the individual pixels.
Fireworks blurs the distinction between vector graphics and bitmap image graphics. Objects drawn in Fireworks have editable vector paths, yet magnifying a Fireworks object reveals pixels, which redraw in response to vector editing. With the Fireworks Pen tool, you can draw editable bitmap images as if you were drawing vector paths in FreeHand or Illustrator.
When you draw in Fireworks, you can use vector or bitmap drawing tools to create bitmap graphics. No matter which drawing tool you use, Fireworks objects give you a level of drawing and editing control previously available only in vector graphic applications, and Fireworks object attributes give you a level of artistic control previously available only in bitmap graphic applications.
Drawing in object mode:
In object mode, paths and points are the basic elements of graphic design. If you magnify a Fireworks path object, you will see that it is made of pixels, as if painted in an image editing application. However, if you choose the Subselection tool and select a path object, you will see the path and points that define and control the shape of the path object.
Draw path objects in any of these ways:
- Draw lines, rectangles, ellipses, stars, and polygons by dragging a tool.
- Paint freeform paths or draw 1-pixel pencil strokes.
- Draw freeform paths by plotting points, as in FreeHand.
Choosing drawing and editing tools:
The following table describes each tool's basic function in each mode. Some tools work only in one mode, while others work in both. The characteristics of some tools change according to the mode in which you are drawing.
Tools that behave exactly the same in both modes are omitted from this table.
|
Tool
|
In object mode
|
In image edit mode
|
| Pointer | Selects and moves paths on-screen. | Moves the image or moves pixels bound by a marquee. Double-click an image to edit its pixels. |
| Select Behind | Selects an object behind the selected object. | Moves the image or moves pixels bound by a marquee. |
| Sub-selection | Selects and moves paths on screen, selects an object within a group or symbol, displays points on a path, and selects points. | Moves the image or moves pixels bound by a marquee. |
| Marquee or Ellipse Marquee | Activates image edit mode and selects a rectangular or elliptical area of pixels. | Selects or moves a rectangular or elliptical area of pixels. |
| Lasso or Polygon Lasso | Activates image edit mode and selects a freeform area of pixels. | Selects or moves a freeform area of pixels. |
| Magic Wand | Activates image edit mode and selects an area of similarly colored pixels. | Selects an area of similarly colored pixels. |
| Line and Basic Shapes | Draws objects as editable paths. | Paints pixel brush strokes on an image object. |
| Pen | Draws objects as editable paths. | Activates objects mode and draws objects as editable paths. |
| Text | Creates and edits text blocks and opens the Text Editor. | Activates objects mode, creates text blocks, and opens the Text Editor. |
| Pencil | Draws 1-pixel pencil strokes as freeform paths. | Draws 1-pixel pencil strokes as pixels. |
| Brush | Draws brush strokes as paths. | Paints brush strokes as pixels. |
| Freeform | Pulls or pushes a selected path to reshape it. | Activates object mode. |
| Reshape Area | Reshapes the parts of a selected path that lie within the pointer's Reshape Area. | Activates object mode. |
|
Path Scrubber |
Alters a path's pressure and speed characteristics without changing its shape. | Activates object mode. |
|
Knife Eraser |
When in object mode, this tool is the Knife. It cuts a selected path into separate paths. |
When in image edit mode, this tool is the Eraser. It erases pixels from an image. |
| Rubber Stamp | Activates image edit mode and clones portions of an image object. | Clones portions of an image object. |