Member Avatar for dubditz

Hello again

I'm using the Fireworks .png and need to use two text boxes in the same image (I don't know what a vector is, I'm hard-pressed to understand layers in either Photoshop or Fireworks and suspect this could be the root of my problem). The reason I thought I need two text boxes is because I'm trying to use two different fonts but the .png won't let me. The two text boxes are for phrases of different font, font size and colour. I hope someone can help over the course of the weekend as I've only five days to figure out the glitches.

All help gratefully received. Dubditz

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Dani AI

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A few clarifications that should help beyond the basic text-tool tip from and clear up the vector/layers confusion that mentioned.

Vector vs bitmap, plain and simple: vector objects (including editable text in Fireworks) are defined by math, so they scale cleanly. Bitmaps are pixels and get fuzzy when scaled. Fireworks saves a working PNG that preserves vectors, layers and editable text when reopened in Fireworks, but a flattened image (a regular exported PNG or opening the file in a non-Fireworks viewer) is a bitmap and will not be editable.

Common pitfalls and fixes:

  • If you can no longer select or restyle text, check the Layers/Objects panel for locked layers, grouped objects, symbol instances, or for the text already having been converted to a bitmap. Unlock or expand groups to expose the text object.
  • Fonts are not embedded in PNGs. If the file is opened on another machine without the same fonts installed, the text will be substituted. To guarantee appearance for others, either convert the text to outlines/paths before handing off, or export a high-resolution bitmap for web delivery while keeping your editable Fireworks PNG as the master file. Always save a copy before converting or rasterizing.
  • If deliverables need to remain vector for print or further editing in other vector apps, provide a vector format (or use a vector program) rather than a flattened PNG.

Suggested workflow:
Keep a master Fireworks PNG with clearly named text layers (one object per phrase if you might style them differently), install any custom fonts on machines that will edit the file, and export a separate flattened PNG for final use. Convert to outlines only for final handoff when recipients do not have the fonts. Consider modern vector/UI tools if this is ongoing work—Fireworks has been discontinued and current tools give better cross-platform vector support.

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Member Avatar for HI2Japan

Turn on the text tool (looks like a letter A), click somewhere in your image, then start typing. For the sake of being easy, after done typing, click on a a different tool (any other tool is fine), then click back on the text tool. Click in your document and type again. You now have 2 different "text boxes" using the arrow (select pointer tool) click on either of the text boxes and you can format the text differently.

Hope this helps.

Just so you know though, you can have multiple fonts within the same text box. You just have to highlight the text with the text tool and using the property panel specify the formatting.

Member Avatar for dubditz

Thanks, I'll try it and get back to you.

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