Adobe Fireworks CS3 Tips and Tricks

1. Crop an Image

You can crop a particular image within the canvas by selecting the image and [Edit > Crop Selected Image]
2. Image in Shape

You can put an image into a shape by:

Create a vector shape
Place the image over the shape
Cut the image
Click the shape
Select Edit > Paste Inside
Click the 4 dots icon that appears to move the picture around within the shape till you are stisfied with the position

3. Blend an Image into the Background

When one end of the image needs to be made transparent

Select the image
Click 'Add Mask' icon in the layers panel
A new green rectangle will appear in the layer
Click on this layer
Click the paint bucket tool
Select Gradient > Linear in the properties panel
Click on the image at the part that you want to remain opaque and drag till the end of the image that you want to make transparent.
The image will blend beautifully into the background

When the Image needs to be shaped differently

Select the image
Use the marquee tool to select the area you want to keep
Select > Feather
Specify a radius that you want to feather and click ok
Select > Select Inverse
Hit "Delete"
Your image will blend neatly into the background in the desired shape, if the feather is too much you can undo and repeat the process with a lower (or higher) feather radius.

4. Curve Text around a Shape
Step 1: Create some text and a shape

Curve Text

Step 2: Select both (the text and the shape) > Click Text > Attach to Path

Attach to Path

The text will curve around the shape. You can still edit the text.

Edit Text

Thanks for the "Curve Text around shape" tip. I've been starting to use FW more often these days and that will save me some time for sure!