Fireworks CS4 Resources

Edit masks

By modifying a mask's position, shape, and color, you can change the visibility of masked objects. You can also change a mask's type and the way it is applied. In addition, masks can be replaced, disabled, or deleted. The results of editing a mask are immediately visible on the thumbnail in the Layers panel, even if the mask object itself is not visible on the canvas.

Masked objects can also be modified. You can rearrange masked objects without moving the mask. You can also add additional masked objects to an existing mask group.

Modify a selected mask’s shape

Do one of the following:

Draw on a bitmap mask with any of the bitmap drawing tools.
Move the points of a vector mask object with the Subselection tool.

Modify a selected mask’s color

For grayscale bitmap masks, use the bitmap tools to draw on the mask using various grayscale color values.
For grayscale vector masks, change the color of the mask object.

Note: Use lighter colors to display the masked objects and darker colors to hide the masked objects.

Add more mask objects to a mask

Select Edit > Cut to cut the selected object or objects you want to add.
Select the thumbnail of the masked object in the Layers panel.
Select Edit > Paste As Mask.
Select Add when asked whether to replace the existing mask or add to it.

Modify a mask using the transformation tools

Using the Pointer tool, select the mask on the canvas.
Use a transformation tool or a command from the Modify > Transform submenu to apply a transformation to the mask.

You can apply a transformation to the mask object alone by first unlinking the mask from the mask objects in the Layers panel and then performing the transformation.

Change the way masks are applied

When a mask is selected, the Property inspector lets you change the way the mask is applied. If the Property inspector is minimized, click the expander arrow to see all properties.

Vector masks are applied using their path outline by default. Showing the mask's fill and stroke produces the same result as using Paste Inside to create masks.

A vector mask applied using its path outline with Show Fill and Stroke enabled

By applying a bitmap mask using its alpha channel, you can create a mask that looks similar to a vector mask applied using its path outline. The transparency of the mask object affects the visibility of the object being masked.

A bitmap mask applied using its alpha channel

Both vector and bitmap masks can be applied using their grayscale appearance. The lightness of mask's pixels determines how much of the masked object is displayed. Light pixels display the masked object, while darker pixels knock out the image and show the background. This technique creates interesting effects if the mask object contains a pattern or gradient fill.

A vector mask with a pattern fill applied using its grayscale appearance

You can convert vector masks into bitmap masks, but you cannot convert bitmap masks into vector masks.

Apply a vector mask using its path outline

Select Path Outline in the Property inspector when a vector mask is selected.

Show a vector mask's fill and stroke

Select Show Fill And Stroke in the Property inspector when a vector mask that has been applied using its path outline is selected.

Apply a bitmap mask using its alpha channel

Select Alpha Channel in the Property inspector when a bitmap mask is selected.

Apply a vector or bitmap mask using its grayscale appearance

Select Grayscale Appearance in the Property inspector when a mask is selected.

Convert a vector mask to a bitmap mask

In the Layers panel, select the thumbnail of the mask object.
Select Modify > Flatten Selection.

Add masked objects to a masked selection

Select Edit > Cut to cut the selected object or objects you want to add.
Select the thumbnail of the masked object in the Layers panel.
Select Edit > Paste Inside.

Note: Using the Paste Inside command on an existing mask won't show the mask object's stroke and fill unless the original mask was applied using its stroke and fill.

Replace a mask

Select Edit > Cut to cut the selected object or objects you want to use as the mask.
Select the thumbnail of the masked object in the Layers panel and select Edit > Paste as Mask.
Click Replace when asked whether to replace the existing mask or add to it.

Disable or enable a selected mask

Disabling a mask temporarily hides it.