MACROMEDIA FIREWORKS MX 2004-USING FIREWORKS Use Manual page 136

About bitmap masks
If you're Photoshop user, you may be familiar with layer masks. Fireworks bitmap masks are
similar to layer masks in that the pixels of a mask object affect the visibility of underlying objects.
However, Fireworks bitmap masks are much more versatile: you can easily change how they are
applied, whether using their grayscale appearance or their own transparency. In addition, the
Fireworks Property inspector makes mask properties and bitmap tool options more readily
available, greatly simplifying the mask-editing process. When a mask is selected, the Property
inspector displays a variety of properties not only for a selected mask but also for any bitmap tools
you might use to edit the mask.
Original objects and a bitmap mask applied using its grayscale appearance
You can apply bitmap masks in two ways:
•
Using an existing object to mask other objects. This technique is similar to applying a
vector mask.
•
Creating what's known as an empty mask. Empty masks start out as either totally transparent
or totally opaque. A transparent (or white) mask shows the masked object in its entirety, and an
opaque (or black) mask hides the masked object completely. You can use the bitmap tools to
draw on or modify the mask object, revealing or hiding the underlying masked objects.
When you create a bitmap mask, the Property inspector displays information about how the
mask is applied. If you choose a bitmap tool when a bitmap mask is selected, the Property
inspector displays the mask's properties and options for the selected tool, simplifying the
mask-editing process.
Bitmap mask properties in the Property inspector when a bitmap tool is selected
136 Chapter 7: Layers, Masking, and Blending