Naked Macromedia Fireworks MX 2004

Rating:
Summary: Great way to learn fireworks
Review: There are really only two books available to learn Fireworks MX 2004. FriendsofEd Zero to Hero and, "Naked". This book is aimed at a first time user, but really hit home with me. I am a visual learner, so I appreciated lots of examples showing how to do something. The Naked book is priced $10 cheaper, but is much better written, and you have a CD with the files instead of downloading like FriendsofEd. I am not sure what book the other reviewer read, but they must sell a different version in South Africa? The basic format is to introduce the tools, use them step-by-step, then review the use in a small project, and finally free-form projects. As a result you have a chance to apply what you learned right away, through reinforcement. As a result I was quickly able to go through the book, and feel I mastered the basics of the program.
My only small complaint is the companion website. The book is not called, "Naked", and took some digging to find the references.

Rating:
Summary: Great way to learn fireworks
Review: There are really only two books available to learn Fireworks MX 2004. FriendsofEd Zero to Hero and, "Naked". This book is aimed at a first time user, but really hit home with me. I am a visual learner, so I appreciated lots of examples showing how to do something. The Naked book is priced $10 cheaper, but is much better written, and you have a CD with the files instead of downloading like FriendsofEd. I am not sure what book the other reviewer read, but they must sell a different version in South Africa? The basic format is to introduce the tools, use them step-by-step, then review the use in a small project, and finally free-form projects. As a result you have a chance to apply what you learned right away, through reinforcement. As a result I was quickly able to go through the book, and feel I mastered the basics of the program.
My only small complaint is the companion website. The book is not called, "Naked", and took some digging to find the references.

Rating:
Summary: Not what it's cracked up to be
Review: This is probably the worst book of its kind that I've encountered. The book promises to explain why/how you should use the different features. I found myself mindlessly following the steps without having the vaguest idea why I'm doing it. Simply select this tool, choose that setting and click OK - with a few exceptions there are no explanations as to the differences between different tool settings. Apart from the abysmal typing errors/omissions on p.80 I'd say that the lessons on interactivity are probably the worst sections of the book. Rather go for the How to do Everything series books.