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When you open a document in Fireworks, two layers are
created. Layer 1 forms your background and Web Layer holds slices and
hotspots. The Web Layer is always at the top of the Layers palette and
cannot be deleted. Other layers are stacked, in order, as they are added
from Layer 1 up.
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Now that we have finally arrived at the work with layers section, let
me give you the good news. Fireworks layers are very simple. In fact,
they are missing many of the capabilities that we discussed in the Photoshop
and Paint Shop Pro tutorials, but that is OK. Since Fireworks is more
a vector than a raster program (officially a hybrid), layer power is
not required. The last page of this article details how you accomplish
the tasks that appear to be missing from Fireworks' layer capabilities.
Let's start right at the beginning. Create a document, and you will
see that two layers are already there waiting for you. The Web layer
I alluded to earlier is placed in every document. You cannot delete
it or change the sharing across layers properties. Until you are ready
to slice up your image, just ignore it.
You will also find Layer 1, which is your background layer. You can
rename it as Background by double
clicking on the layer listing and changing the name in the resulting
Layer Options window. In the image below, note the Share Across Frames
option – this is an example of the integration of frames and layers,
and why I gave you the option to ignore any reference.
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For an off topic piece about optimizing this image,
click here. I had to take some
drastic action to get this even as small as it is.
Image with the layers I created in Fireworks. In the
sample from the Layers palette shown here, the Balloon layer is selected.
All layers are visible as shown by the "eye" symbol and no
layers are locked. The lock icon appears in the gray column to the left
of the layer name.
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Why use layers?
If you have grasped the difference between vector and raster drawings
(check Graphic Underworld: Behind the Pretty
Pictures for a refresher), you might wonder why a vector program
needs layers. All of the objects stay separate, do they not? Yes, they
do, but there are still many reasons to organize your work in layers.
Even full vector illustration programs like Illustrator, CorelDraw and
Freehand have solid layer capability.
I do not use layers as much in Fireworks as I do in a raster program.
If I am putting together a simple diagram, with only a few objects,
I will often use only one layer. In fact, if I was not writing about
layers, I would have used a single layer for the image I have here.
Well, maybe two, since it is nice to be able to lock your background
layer in place. There is your first reason for using layers – you
can lock and unlock layers easily.
Some layers practically jump up and demand to be grouped into a layer.
A menu, for example. You can lock and unlock at will as you build your
document.
A warning though, for those of you who come to Fireworks from a Photoshop
or Paint Shop Pro background. Do not put each object onto a layer. There
may be good reason to build up massive layer numbers in a raster program,
but you are creating unnecessary work to use a vector program in the
same way.
In Fireworks, layers also lead to an amazing way to save individual
graphics, but I will save that for a bit later, too, so we don't muddy
the waters. Instead, let's jump to working with them.
Create a layer
To add a layer to an image, open the fly-out menu at the top right of
the Layers palette. Select New Layer. Type the name you would like to
use for your new layer in the New Layer window. I advise that you give
your layers names that have meaning to prevent wasting time trying to
remember which layer holds what.
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Delete a layer
Once you can create a layer, you no doubt need to be able to delete
them. Select the layer you wish to delete and in the Layers fly-out
menu, choose Delete Layer.
Duplicate a layer
In raster programs, the ability to duplicate a layer is one of the handiest
features going. However, in a vector based program, make sure you are
not overusing it. If you need three similar circles, and have no other
reason to put each on a layer, it is usually best just to duplicate
the object. (In Fireworks simply click and drag, pressing your Alt or
Option key before you release the mouse to make a duplicate.) However,
if you should wish to duplicate a complex layer, by all means, highlight
the layer and choose Duplicate Layer from the Layer palette fly-out
menu.
Those are your basic commands for layers in Fireworks. Let's move on
to using them and the advanced features.
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