Editing bitmap objects

Fireworks allows you to edit bitmaps at any time using the bitmap tools. But first we have to mention that there has to be a bitmap in the fireworks document to be worked on. If you try to use bitmap tools without having a bitmap object Fireworks will display the a special cursor that shows that the current tool selection is invalid. If it is a bitmap drawing tool Fireworks will actually create a new bitmap object.

Whenever you select a bitmap object in Fireworks, such as imported JPEG or GIF files, the property inspector shows that a bitmap is selected.

Fireworks MX has the capability of modeless editing. Whenever you choose a bitmap tool, it will only apply to existing bitmap objects. If there is no bitmap object and a drawing tool from the bitmap tool section is selected, Fireworks creates a new bitmap object. In case of multiple bitmap objects you need to select the object you want to work on with the selection pointer before using the bitmap tools.

When you use bitmap tools you have to be aware of the following things:

• Drawing, erasing, adding, moving pixels will be a permanent change to the pixels in the bitmap. Undo works only via the history panel as long as the document is open.
• Objects created with bitmap tools are bitmaps and turn into pixels that are part of the existing bitmap object. The object as such is not an object with distinct parts and the changes become irreversible.
• Effects applied to a bitmap via the Filters menu are applied and the bitmap is permanently changed. Again, the only way to restore the bitmap is the history panel. This also is only possible as long as the document is open and the history panel still contains the protocol of all steps taken. After saving the document, the history panel is cleared and the change is irreversible.
• You can convert any vector object to a bitmap object. This process is irreversible - with exception of the use of the history panel.
• In general there is no need to convert a vector object into a bitmap object. The advantages of vector objects lie in the scalability and editability throughout the work within a Fireworks document.