Optimizing Graphics for the Web
Sometimes you will need to use a different format from Fireworks' default PNG format when saving a graphic for use on the Web. To do this, open the Optimize Window from the Window menu.
There are a number of simple pre-determined formats that you can choose from, as well as the option to completely customize the exported size, format, number of supported colors, and other features of the graphic.
Fireworks supports a number of different graphics formats, each with their own particular best uses.
- GIF supports up to 256 colors and can be used for images with transparent backgrounds. It is best for simple graphics such as logos, buttons, and line art.
- Animated GIF supports multiple frames of animation. You can animate simple objects with Fireworks from the Modify menu -> Animation submenu.
- JPEG is a commonly used format for photographs and complex graphics on the Web, since it supports millions of colors and creates compressed files that are small in file size.
- PNG is a compressed format similar to PNG except it also incorporates the transparency capabilities of GIF.
- WBMP, TIFF, PICT, and BMP are less common formats that are useful primarily for graphics designed for printed use. They are not usable as Web graphics.
Once you have selected the format and options that you want in your exported graphic, select the File menu and choose Export. You will have the option to save the file with a filename, and you can also select various types of formatting options from the pop-up menu at the bottom of the window. This is useful if you are exporting graphics containing slices or hotspots, or other Web-related Behavior features, as you must export the HTML and the Images in this instance. For our example, our button is a simple GIF, so "Images Only" is fine.
