New Fireworks CS4-Flash Catalyst Integration
July 30th, 2009 by ryanstewart
If 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.
Posted in Adobe, Flash Catalyst
July 31st, 2009 at 9:31 am
Fireworks? Why is Adobe maintaining two bitmap graphic editors?
July 31st, 2009 at 1:34 pm
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.
August 2nd, 2009 at 12:14 am
@leef – because Fireworks is for web design and Photoshop is for photo editing.
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:05 am
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.
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:08 am
Oh, and great work on the new Export features! We appreciate it.