Selective jpeg

The Selective Jpeg feature lets you export different parts of the image at different compression levels to get the best looking image at the smallest possible file size. For instance if you had a portrait with a muted background you could select the face and export it, saving it as high quality.

This image exported at high quality and weighs in at 10kb.

This time I used the lasso tool to make a selection around the face. Using the selection and Selective JPG compression, I can save the face at a higher quality than the rest of the image.

In the Modify menu choose Selective JPEG > Save selection as JPEG Mask. It will have an overlay.

Use the optimize panel to select jpg. Click the edit button beside the Selective Quality level box, and set the compression for the masked area (higher) and the rest of the image (lower).

When you export, these new settings will be used. This one saved 2kb in size, which may not sound like much, but if it were a larger image or you had several of them on a page, the savings in filesize and download time would add up.

Export area

Use the export area tool to export only part of an image. The export area tool is under the crop tool in the tools panel. Click and drag around the area you want to export. Double click in the export area to open the Export dialog and save the image.

Automation

Use the Batch Process command to easily make thumbnails or resize groups of images with a single command, replay steps in the History panel, or save a set of steps from the History panel as a command. All these are designed to save you time.

Reconstitute tables

Need to edit a sliced file that you no longer have the png file for? Use File > Reconstitute Table to put an image that has already been sliced and exported to the web as images and tables back together again, so you can edit it in Fireworks.

Want to know more?

Download a trial at Macromedia's download page and check Fireworks MX 2004 out for yourself.

Related Links:

Macromedia
Fireworks MX Classes at Eclectic Academy
Fireworks MX Classes at LVS Online

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