Creating animated graphics with Fireworks is a relatively straightforward process (although ImageReady does rival Fireworks for ease of use in this department), but unless you are creating an extremely simple animation, you'll save yourself a lot of time and frustration by using a specialized tool like Ulead's GIF Animator. GIF animation tools offer a variety of features and effects that you won't find in apps like Fireworks and ImageReady. These tools not only make it easier to create animations, they also allow you to create more effective and better optimized animations. One area of animation where Fireworks does excel, however, is in its ability to automatically translate the layers of imported FreeHand and Illustrator files into animated frames.
One of Fireworks' limitations is that GIF and JPG files cannot be previewed in the File Open window like PNG files (which Fireworks uses as its native file format). Images also can't be scanned directly into Fireworks. Viewing an animated GIF is also only available in the export preview window, where you are able to configure the duration of each frame and make additional changes to the animation. And while Fireworks edges out competitors like ImageReady in terms of image optimization capabilities, ImageReady does retain an edge in one area &mdahs; optimizing JPEG images.
Overall, Macromedia Fireworks serves as an ideal all-in-one suite of Web graphics tools, but don't throw out your specialized GIF animation, image mapping, image optimization, and image creation tools just yet. Fireworks is a huge step forward, but in most cases the specialized tools still offer more features and better overall functionality. And compared to the Fireworks' $299 price tag, you could buy a collection of the best standalone Web graphics tools and still have enough money left over to treat yourself to a Web clipart collection or two.
Pros: Excellent tools for publishing Web graphics, Export Preview, LZW interframe optimization
Cons: Expensive ($299), no GIF/JPG preview, lacks features found in specialized Web graphics tools
