Working with Bitmaps

Bitmaps are graphics composed of small colored squares called pixels, which combine like the tiles of a mosaic to create an image. Examples of bitmap graphics include photographs, scanned images, and graphics created from paint programs. They are sometimes referred to as raster images.

Macromedia Fireworks MX 2004 combines the functionality of photo-editing, vector-drawing, and painting applications. You can create bitmap images by drawing and painting with bitmap tools, by converting vector objects to bitmap images, or by opening or importing images.

Fireworks has a powerful set of Live Effects for tone and color adjustment, as well as a number of ways to retouch your bitmap images, including cropping, feathering, and duplicating or cloning images. In addition, Fireworks has a set of image-retouching tools--Blur, Sharpen, Dodge, Burn, and Smudge.

For information on methods for selecting and transforming images and pixel areas, see Selecting and Transforming Objects.