Applying Effects

The effects in this menu will be applied to the selected bitmap instantly.
The effects will change the pixels in the bitmap and change the image permanently.
They only way to undo the changes is to use the history panel. Please remember that the history panel only remembers a limited number of steps - according to the preferences you set - and will be wiped as soon as the document is saved.

The makers of Fireworks called these effects live-effects because they are rendered as the document is displayed. These effects reside in the vector portion of the document and can be applied to any objects, including bitmaps.

Live-effects can be altered, turned on, switched off, combined, at your convenience. Even when saved the information of the original bitmap will be saved, the application of these effects only changed the rendered image, not the source. In many cases therefore it seems preferable to use live-effects.

All external plug-ins can be installed and used as live effects or filters. When exchanging files with others you only need to make sure that the recipient has a copy of the same effect installed, or the effect will not show.