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In this tutorial, you will learn how to use various text and image effects that fireworks has to offer. Each effect has a small change to what something looks like, but when you compile many different effects, you can come up with something like the above graphic, which was derived from one graphic, and text. First of all, to use the effects, select an object with the selection tool (V), and then in the properties box (Ctrl+F3), to the bottom right is a section that you can edit the various effects available. To add an effect, click on the "+" icon and select what effect you want. When you have applied an effect or multiple effects, you can click and drag them to reorder them, or uncheck a box to disable it, but still keep it there. Here is a list of these effects (Click on it to view how to use it): The transparency percent controls how much you can see through and object. When it is at 0%, you cannot see the object because it is completely transparent, and when it is at 100% it is not transparent at all, anything in between becomes see-through.
The options listed under here are for you to simply edit the color of your image, most of the options are fairly simple to use and self explanatory. After my explanation for each tool, if you still do not understand it, just experiment with it and I'm sure you can figure it out.
The Bevel and Emboss tools will make your images or text look more three-dimensional. I personally like it better on text, but it can sometimes give an extra desired effect for pictures as well. There are four different options here, but all perform similar tasks.
Inner bevel adds a three dimensional look as if a light were shining and reflecting off of the letters if you are applying it to text. When applying this you can change the way the bevel shows. The best way for you to understand the features are to experiment with it. The only difference in Outer Bevel is that it adds the bevel to the outside of the text. Inset Emboss and Raised Emboss add a slight fade into the background giving it a slight three dimensional look. Again, the best way to understand how to use these tools is to experiment with them.
The blur effect will blur your image and, just as expected, blur more will give it even more of a blur. I normally just use the gaussian blur because you can control how blurry you want it to be, and get a preview while your selecting the level of intensity.
Under the "Other" option you have convert to alpha and find edges. You can use the Convert to Alpha effect to convert an object or text into a transparency based upon the transparency of the image. The Find edges tool will basically just outline all of the edges in your image and make everything else black.
An applied Drop Shadow will put a shadow behind your text or image. You can edit how your drop shadow works by modifying the displacement of the drop shadow, the transparency of it, how much you want it blurred, and at what angle you want to cast the shadow. The "Knock Out" option will delete the text and you'll just see the shadow. Inner shadow is the same thing, except the shadow is inside of the text. Adding a glow effect is basically a drop shadow, but it is evenly displayed around the object you have the glowing effect around. If you are using a drop shadow and it doesn't show up as good as you want, try using a glow effect. The "Offset" option will change the distance from the center of the object that the glow begins. Increasing the offset will make a bigger ring around the object. As always, just experiment with the tool to understand better how things work.
The sharpen tool does pretty much the opposite of the blur tool, yet works the same way. Sharpen will sharpen your object and Sharpen More will sharpen your object more. The Unsharp Mask is a tool that you can define exactly what you want the magnitude of the sharpening to be through three different settings. This is pretty simple, so just experiment with it to gain better understanding.
There you have a basic concept on how to use these tools. Once one is applied to an object, you can select the object and in the list of effects that are added, you can drag to rearrange, uncheck the box to make it inactive, click the "i" button to change settings, or remove one by selecting it and then the " -" icon. All of these effects can be used and combined to make many different possibilities, and again, the best way to understand how to use these and get better at using them is through experimentation. -WebCrew, Eilert
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