Course Outline

Offered by Networked Information Services

Instructor: Roland Jaeckel (rjaeckel@bu.edu)
Prerequisites: Dreamweaver: Introduction (or equivalent knowledge)
2 hours (62 minutes lecture, 48 minutes hands-on exercises, 10-minute break)

Introduction (5 min)

1. Graphic formats
2. Choosing the appropriate format

Vector vs. Bitmap (5 min)

1. Defining vector-based graphics and bitmap graphics
2. Where Fireworks uses vectors

Interface (12 min)

1. Understanding the elements of the document window
2. Using the Fireworks toolbar
3. Using Fireworks floating panels
4. Using guides and rulers
5. The history panel

Hands-on exercise (6 min)

1. Start Fireworks.
2. Identify all the floating panels.
3. Identify the elements of the interface that were discussed.

Creating simple shapes and text (10 min)

1. Creating a new document and defining canvas size and color
2. Drawing simple shapes, selecting objects, grouping, moving, transforming, and aligning
3. Entering text, changing fonts, moving text while editing, and applying text options

Hands-on exercise (11 min)

1. Create a 500x500 pixel document at 72 ppi with white background.
2. Draw simple shapes, select objects, group them, move, transform, and align them.
3. Enter text, change fonts, move text while editing, and apply text options.

Colors, fills, strokes, and live effects (7 min)

1. Brief discussion of color models
2. Choosing colors, applying fills and strokes
3. Adding Fireworks live effects to objects

Hands-on exercise (5 min)

1. Change the properties of the basic shapes you created in previous hands-on exercise.

Layers and frames (18 min)

1. Understanding Fireworks layers and frames (6 min)
2. Using layers and frames (6 min)
3. Organizing objects (3 min)
4. Creating symbols (3 min)

Hands-on exercise (6 min)

1. Create new layers.
2. Rename layers.
3. Change visibility of layers.
4. Move objects between layers.
5. Delete layers.

Exporting a simple graphic (5 min)

1. Introduction to the task of creating a graphical headline
2. Demonstration: Exporting to a GIF file

Hands-on exercise (20 min)

1. Create a graphical headline.
2. Export it to GIF or JPEG.