Fireworks MX Filter Discussion

Filters we all know that using filters can make some special effects easy, and in this article we will try fireworks MX to further enhance the filter functionality and learn how to install a third-party filter.

If you have experience using Fireworks4.0, you know that the filter function is placed in the XtrasUnder the menu. But you'll be wondering if the Xtras menu is missing in fireworks MX, yes, Macromedia Company in order to better with the traditional graphics software unification, will xtras change to Filters, more in line with our usual call habits. (Figure 1)

New Filter Features:

Step 1:

Start Fireworks MX and open the picture we made in the previous section.

Step 2:

Select the filters selection in the menu bar. You will find that you have added a filter type compared to Fireworks4.0: Alien Skin splat LE, select it, see submenu Edegs, which is a filter to adjust the edges of the graphic. Click it to enter the functional interface (Figure 2).

Step 3:

We can see that in the upper-left corner of the functional interface there are three sliders, which control the width of the edges, the margins, and the size of the edges filled bodies. The figure adjusts the values of these three sliders (Figure 3).

Step 4:

Below the slider is a fill direction control icon, we can directly use the mouse on the icon to select the angle of fill can also be directly in the text box to enter a value. We use a 0-degree fill, and you can try to fill it with a different angle, and see how the effect is different (Figure 4).

Step 5:

Select the pixels item in the Edge mode Drop-down box below the functional interface, which is how you choose to fill the edges. The color feature controls what colors are used to populate the edges, and we use the default white instead of making changes. If you tick the selection box before transparent fill, it will be filled with a transparent color (Figure 5).

Step 6:

The interesting thing is that the last Randomseed button, whenever you press it, produces a random number, which controls the random effect of the fill. You can immediately see the modified effect directly in the preview area on the right (Figure 6).

Step 7:

It is worth noting that there are menu features available on the functional interface, and because of space limitations, we only look at a few of the most useful filter features. Click on the Setting menu to select items, pop-up menu as shown. (Figure 7) The bottom five options represent five different filter effects,

The effect is shown in the following illustration (Figure 8):

Step 8:

Click the OK button to complete (Figure 9).

Do you feel that this filter is practical? Unfortunately, if you want to get other features of this series of filters, you'll have to pay for them, so let's see how we can get fireworks MX to use the Photoshop filter. It is important to note that fireworks MX does not support Photoshop version 6.0 of the filter, which is a great regret.
　　Using a third party filter:

Step 1:

Select Edit > Preferenceson the menu bar and the Preferences dialog box will pop up.

Step 2:

Select the floder tab and click the Browsers button on the Photoshop plug-ins option to select the path to the Photoshop filter installation (Figure 10).

Step 3:

Click the OK button to complete the installation of the third party filter. After restarting the Fireworkes MX, you can see and use the installed filters under the Filters menu.

　　Summarize:

Fireworks MX enhances its own filter capabilities and cannot deny that the alien Skin splat le is powerful and easy to use, but unfortunately, fireworks MX support for third party filters still remains at fireworks 4.0 level, This cannot but be said to be a pity indeed. Only hope will be improved in the future upgrades.

　　Practice:

1 Use the Alien Skin splat le Filter's other features to process the bitmap and save the effect.
2 use Photoshop's motion blur filter to process the picture to get a very useful motion blur effect.

　　Tips:

When you use the other features of the alien Skin splat le filter, be aware of the menu features of the alien Skin splat Le Filter feature panel, as well as the settings for the filter parameters, to achieve the best results. Do not forget to install the filter before using the Photoshop filter, and you must be the version below Photoshop 6.0, or you may receive an error message.