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Rating: 
Summary: The Best
Review: Adobe and Macromedia have gone to war and it's the consumer who benefits. Fireworks is one of those nearly perfect programs that come up when there's good, healthy competition among the software companies. Though I'm a long-time Adobe follower, I have to hand it to Macromedia on this one. More powerful and versatile than ImageReady, Fireworks is like a Photoshop LE, Illustrator LE (not that there is such a product), and HTML editor all rolled into one as well as being ambassador between all the graphics and web products you could possibly purchase. Works as both bitmap editor and vector drawing program as well as hacking out your code if you need it. HTML and pictures will go to any program or from any program. But Fireworks is more than just the assembly garage (though not having to switch between so many programs and diluting your RAM in the process is NICE). It can handle both types of images more than competently and sometimes even better than Photoshop and Illustrator themselves (not like I'm endorsing those programs here. I just happen to use them also). Live previews as you edit, the wonderful option of being able to undo or change ANYTHING long after the history palette has forgotten all about what you did. Even *filters* (which you can import from PS) are undoable long after they've been first applied. This editability (real word?) is my favorite thing about FW. So flexible and powerful, it's perfect for web designers who constantly change their minds or for that page/ image update you wanna do down the line. The only minus I've found so far is that you can't redraw or specify the direction you want your gradient to flow. At least I haven't found it so far. Supports PS filters, Illustrator paths, exports to Flash too, and will write code for any one of many HTML editors. A must-have for anyone even remotely serious about web graphics. For those not wanting to spend a fortune on software, this is a more than solid choice and you really can do without the others. There are a lot of choices out there. Make the right one. Treat yourself and get the FW/ Dreamweaver bundle if you're in the market for an editor also. DW's the best HTML editor, too. Hooray for Macromedia! Adobe will be hard-pressed to keep up.
Rating: 
Summary: These Fireworks Got Wet!
Review: This may be a powerful software package but it is extremely difficult to learn. The documentation is incomplete and full of errors. The help files utilize some archaic navigation system that renders them useless. I have gotten very little use out of this program because in addition to inadequate tutorials the user interface is not at all intuitive....
Rating:
Summary: These Fireworks Got Wet!
Review: This may be a powerful software package but it is extremely difficult to learn. The documentation is incomplete and full of errors. The help files utilize some archaic navigation system that renders them useless. I have gotten very little use out of this program because in addition to inadequate tutorials the user interface is not at all intuitive....
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