New Fireworks CS4-Flash Catalyst Integration

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fw_logo_125x125If you’re a Fireworks user you’ll be happy to know that the team has been hard at work improving the FXG export feature so you can more easily take your designs from Fireworks and use them in Flash Catalyst. The new script is available over on Adobe Labs and includes a ton of fixes to the old FXG script as well as some new functionality based on a more finalized FXG specification:

  • lineHeight for Text element was always exported as %, now it’s exported based on a value selected in Fireworks ( % or exact)
  • Tab indention was not correct for elements that were exported as bitmaps
  • Exporting invisible bitmap elements caused script errors
  • Updated Rectangle primitive object to export transformation matrix and roundness value
  • Modified / Added Application Private Data for all elements (d:userLabel , d:type, etc.)
  • Exporting effects applied on Groups and Symbols

So fear not Fireworks users, Flash Catalyst may not have native file format import for you, but you’ll still be able to use the tool you know and love and bring those designs easily into Flash Catalyst with the “Open from FXG” feature.

Related posts:

  1. How Do You Use Fireworks and Where Does it Fit in your Workflow?
  2. Dreamweavers, Fireworks, and Soundbooths, oh My!
  3. On the East Coast? Come Get Some Flash Catalyst Info
  4. Kevin Lynch’s Flash Catalyst Keynote at Web 2.0 Expo
  5. The Flash Platform (again) and Hello Flash Catalyst
  • leef

    Fireworks? Why is Adobe maintaining two bitmap graphic editors?

  • Russ

    This is good news indeed!!
    @leef – because when it comes to UI design, Fireworks is a far superior app than PS. two words, object selection.

  • http://www.neurofuzzy.net Geoff

    @leef – because Fireworks is for web design and Photoshop is for photo editing.

  • Dee

    Because Leef, Fireworks is not a bitmap program.

    It’s a Vector web graphics program that Photoshop can’t compare with. Remember they got rid of ImageReady and they kept Fireworks.

    It has pages which Photoshop doesn’t have, makes Flash symbols, creates rapid wireframe prototyping that has hotspots that when converted to a PDF allows clients to click through a mockup like an actual site so it makes the design process much faster.

    It exports much better CSS (actual validated CSS not layers) than Photoshop can create rollovers, disjionted rollovers and a master page where any common element will automatically be on any new page.

    It skins Flex apps easier because it is vector and can export MXML as well as export fxg files.

    It’s a common misconception because Fireworks also handles bitmaps and can do simple editing like levels and such, but it works hand-in-hand with Photoshop, not competing against it.

    Photoshop only has vector while in Photoshop, not once anything is exported.

    Apparently we (the users of Fireworks) need to do a better job showing everyone what’s unique about it and that it isn’t like Photoshop.

  • Dee

    Oh, and great work on the new Export features! We appreciate it.