• Flex integration for RIA layouts – can help in the development of the next generation of Rich Internet Applications by making it possible to export common library assets as known components for use in Adobe Flex Builder. It will even export the necessary Flex code (MXML) for you as well.
• Photoshop Blending modes – are now included in Adobe Fireworks CS3. They are Dissolve, Linear Burn, Linear Dodge, Vivid Light, Linear Light, Pin Light, and Hard Mix.
• Common Library – will allow you to jump-start your prototype library with a library of common elements. It does not matter if you are designing web applications, forms, interfaces, or web sites, this library can speed up your work flow. It can be used to store graphic symbols, button symbols, or animation symbols. These can be leveraged across multiple documents, as well as multiple designers or developers.
• Seamless integration with Dreamweaver CS3 and Flash CS3 – combined with the integration with Photoshop and Illustrator make this a one stop shop for all of your web development needs.
Fireworks has always been a solid tool for creating websites graphics. Now Adobe Fireworks CS3 takes this power even farther with all of the new features described above. First and foremost is the Photoshop/Illustrator integration. This to me is a great benefit.
Next is the multi-page ability. The pages can vary in the dimension of the pixels, links can be created between pages, and layers can even be shared across pages. Finally the 9-slice scaling is another great feature. Now that you can control the scaling of the slices, you have much more control of the final product.
While on the surface and in comparison to the other products in the Creative Suite, it may not seem that Adobe Fireworks CS3 has had that big of an upgrade and in the global scope of things, perhaps it hasn't. But for those who do web development, the changes that were made make this upgrade more than worth it.
Article comments
1 - Just A Guy
I was thrilled to find Fireworks did not hit the cutting room floor of Adobe. As a long time user of Macromedia products, version 2 is where i started. I know Fireworks very (very) well, but have never moved to Photoshop. I am a firm partner with a large group of graphic designers, web designers and programmers.
I have watched Photoshop users produce web designs, and Firework users produce the same web designs - the major difference is time. In fireworks the man hours (especially considering the integration/relationship with counterpart Dreamweaver) is roughly estimated at 1/4 - 1/3 the time spent on same or like projects by Photoshop only users. It's simply faster. I am also glad to see Fireworks is a member of the team, as I was told it would loss to Photoshop. I disagreed, its not likely to occur, its only intelligent to keep it as the web design graphic tool. Photoshop is a good product, but its not exactl made for web design graphics - I consider it as a photo editing tool. Its all in the little details.
Thats my two cents.
2 - T. Michael Testi
Just A Guy,
Thanks for the comment. I agree! While I am more of a Photoshop guy, I think that within the Web world that there is a very strong case for Fireworks remaining and was very happy to see that it did.
Thanks -- T.
3 - Sarthak
For web designers and people doing web prototyping, Fireworks CS3 is a must upgrade. The features added in the version reduces the time to complete the task even faster.
The pages feature is a huge advantage. Moving around different files for review and their maintenance has been removed. Also the "previewing all pages" in browser adds to the productivity enhancer.