User Guide

Creating and Editing a Graphic 45
Editing path objects
In object mode, paths and points are the basic elements
of graphic design. Upon magnification, Fireworks path
objects appear pixelated, as if painted in an image-editing
application. However, at the root, path objects remain
editable. Fireworks combines the editability of Bézier
curves with the organic look of bitmap images.
Activities in object mode include:
◆ Drawing paths by dragging a basic shape tool or the
Line tool, placing points with the Pen tool, or
drawing paths with a pixel-wide stroke with the
Pencil tool.
◆ Drawing paths with a wide variety of brush strokes,
including textures and patterns with the Brush tool.
◆ Editing paths with the Freeform, Reshape Area,
Eraser, Redraw Path, Path Scrubber, and other tools.
◆ Editing paths by moving points and adjusting
Bézier handles.
◆ Editing paths by using a path operation, such as
Union, Intersect, Punch, Crop, Simplify, Expand
Stroke, and Inset Path.
◆ Typing and editing text.
◆ Importing, positioning, and applying effects to
bitmap images.
◆ Importing and editing documents with vector
graphics created in applications such as FreeHand.
Lasso or
Polygon
Lasso
Activates image
edit mode and
selects or moves a
freeform area of
pixels.
Selects or moves a
freeform area of
pixels.
Magic
Wand
Activates image
edit mode and
selects or moves a
area of similarly
colored pixels.
Selects an area of
similarly colored
pixels.
Line and
Basic
Shapes
Draws objects as
editable paths.
Paints pixel brush
strokes on an image
object.
Pen Draws objects as
editable paths.
Leaves image edit
mode and draws
objects as editable
paths.
Text Creates and edits
text blocks and
opens the Text
Editor.
Leaves image edit
mode, creates text
blocks, and opens
the Text Editor.
Pencil Draws one-pixel
pencil strokes as
freeform paths.
Draws one-pixel
pencil strokes as
pixels.
Brush Draws brush
strokes as paths.
Paints brush strokes
as pixels.
Freeform Pulls or pushes a
selected path to
reshape it.
Leaves image edit
mode.
Reshape
Area
Reshapes the parts
of a selected path
that lie within the
Reshape Area
cursor area.
Leaves image edit
mode.
Path
Scrubber
Alters a path’s
pressure and speed
characteristics
without changing
its shape.
Leaves image edit
mode.
Eraser
(Knife)
Cuts a selected
path into separate
paths.
Erases pixels from an
image.
Rubber
Stamp
Activates image
edit mode and
clones portions of
an image object.
Clones portions of
an image object.
This tool In object mode In image edit mode
A vector object with an
editable path and points.
A bitmap image with a
rectangular image
bounding box.