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Fireworks in Layers: No Frames Please
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The Layers palette, the target subject for this article.
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Fireworks is an interesting program that does not always follow the
same pattern as other programs. This is not a problem with the program,
but most often a result of the extra Web development features that
Macromedia has led the field to implement.
So, with that as an introduction, I am going to start the Fireworks
layers article by talking about frames. I want to tell you what they
are, how they are used, and then tell you to forget about them. (It
would be easier to skip the explain part and just issue a command
from on high to ignore them, but who would listen?) Since the word
"frames" often appears as you are learning about frames,
though, I wanted to let you know what they were and why they have
no bearing on this topic. We are looking at layers strictly
as a graphics building and management tool.
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The Frames palette, the feature that could confuse
us in our quest to understand layers. Look at the tab menu here –
frames and layers sitting side by side. Check the first image again.
See the frames drop-down selector.
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Frames, and why they do not apply to this article
There are two primary functions for frames in Fireworks (do not
confuse these with frames in HTML pages – there is absolutely
no relation).
Frames for animation: Frames
are highly useful tools in Fireworks. First, and probably most easy
to understand, you can build and edit animated GIFs with frames. One
view of an animation goes into each frame, and the frames are played
one after another to create the appearance of motion. However, you
can also have static information in an animated image – maybe
the company name never moves. In Fireworks, you can place your static
information on a layer, specify that the layer is to share information
with frames, and your static image will appear in every frame. If
you check for layers information in the manual, or onboard help, frames
will come up in your search for this reason. So this reference to
layers really belongs in an animation tutorial.
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The Frames palette displaying an animated GIF file.
Note that each frame contains a different image.
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Frames for rollovers: The other
reference you will see, and this one can be more intrusive, is frames
as used for rollover states. It's a pretty cool way to do it, and
if you like to have your graphic program generate the rollover code,
it can be very effective. However, when frames and layers work together
in this instance, it belongs in a rollover tutorial. To make it potentially
even more confusing – the slice tool always works with a layer
called Web Layer. So, you have slices stored on a layer, and rollover
states stored in a frame, and they have to work together ... Am I
making my point?
Those are the two most common uses for the frames capability in Fireworks,
and where you are most likely to see the reference when talking about
layers. Of course, with Fireworks, I always put in a disclaimer, since
this is a program that lends itself perfectly to the user's innovation.
But, in the interest of fully understanding layers, let's just skip
any reference to frames and assume that you are creating rollovers
by hand.
Now that I have spent a whole page talking about what I will not
be talking about, let's get to what I will be talking about. I somehow
don't think any of my English teachers would be thrilled with that
sentence. However, if they use Fireworks now, you can bet they would
still read on. Layers are just too powerful to ignore.
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 Wendy
Peck is a working Web designer and writer living in NW Ontario, Canada.
http://wpeck.com
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Next page
Fireworks in Layers Tutorial Index
Fireworks in Layers: No Frames Please
Layer Basics
Working with Layers
Layer Effects and Exports
 
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