Review of Fireworks Fast & Easy Web Development (Paperback)

Another perfect example of a technical book trying to teach too much ,
stretching more than it should trying to gather the widest of readers
possible and falling flat right on the face....I am a technical ASP
programmer building websites and for quite some time now I found
myself being pushed to handle the graphics/animation stuff.So here I
was with just having handled Paint and Brush programs (Visio to some
extent but I handled the stencils and masters thro VBA),deciding which
package I should go in for.After research I targeted Fireworks.Beleive
me its a good package. I got this book along with the Fireworks
package so I could get off on a flying start and presumed the book
would help me atleast start off with handling the basics in
fireworks.

Nope [the book] seems to be in a confusion over the
presentation of the material.Whether to target it to zero level
starters(like me) or to those who have been dabbling in
graphics/fireworks etc for some time. In the end [the book] ends up
satisfying neither of the categories. Part1 of the book = 100
pages.The section deals with exploring each and every
tool,option,button,customization in the entire fireworks window. So
[the book] dumps all the "bitter parts" in the first 100
pages and then 'Assumes' that whenever any tool / menu or action is
called for in the rest of the book the reader can just recall about
their placements/functions/locations right out of the memory? Bad
Presentation....In the computers and internet section this book falls
into the same rut - "the author is trying to thrust upon the
reader , teaching a product at a pace the author feels comfortable
with." and Ofcourse assuming the wrong things at the wrong time -
like trying to explain too much too trivial matters and finishing in
half a page important matters which leave you pulling you hair
out. Considerable time is spent in teaching how to open graphic
files.What if I dont have any graphic files.I am here to build my
first graphic file remember?....I skipped the last 40 pages of Part
1(was running short on Aspirins).Part 2.Ok this is where the action is
or was or never will come.Designing graphics.Please spend atleast 2
hours or less (if you are lucky) to try and follow the step by step
instructions on how to draw a rectangle.I struggled for 40 minutes
firstly trying to bring my screen and window appearance look like [the
book's] window snapshot....so I could exactly follow
those"step by step " instructions.... What are the other
parts in the book?

Automating With Fireworks.Sorry I have not
reached this part as yet and I dont intend to .This book goes back to
where it belongs.the amazon warehouse. To be fair...the idea of
using snapshots to teach a product was excellent,[but] fell flat at the
execution stage. Seriously, its been quite some time since a book has
frustrated me so much.

But you could give it try.Maybe this book
isnt meant for absolute beginners like me who have never handled a
Fireworks product before but hey why in the world is Look Learn and
Apply mentioned on the cover of the book?

Product Description
Fireworks allows you to design editable Web graphics in an instant, as well as automate workflow to meet the demands of constant edits, updates, and changes.It can also be integrated with other Macromedia products, popular graphics applications, and HTML editors for a complete Web solution.Fireworks Fast & Easy Web Development helps you get up and running with Fireworks even if you have no graphics experience.It includes a CD that contains cut and paste templates, which can be used to get a jumpstart in creating Web graphics.It is a great visual guide for graphics beginners, small businesses, students, or business professionals with little or no previous experience with this topic.

About the Author
Lisa Lee is a software and Web engineer/Web developer in the computer industry.She is the author of "Photoshop 6 Digital Darkroom," "Fireworks Fast & Easy Web Development," "Easy iMac," "Easy iBook," "Easy Linux," "Upgrading and Repairing the Macs," and "Teach Yourself Mac OS 8.5 in 24 Hours."

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