Macromedia Fireworks 3 is the most versatile and powerful program for creating, managing, optimizing, and exporting Web graphics. It provides designersprofessional or otherwiseintuitive imaging capabilities, via such tools as pressure-sensitive virtual brushes that allow more natural weighting of strokes.
Defining rollover buttons, image slices, and clickable hot spots is remarkably easy. The application's URL library helps manage links and keep them consistent; it also lets you create client- or server-side image maps. Fireworks' interface lends itself to a quick and intelligent workflow. We especially like the tabbed document window with its four views for quick access to Web browser and optimization options previews. In addition to the standalone version, Fireworks is sold in a well-integrated suite with Macromedia's Dreamweaver 3.
$300 street. Macromedia Inc., www.macromedia.com. First Review: June 27, 2000.