Vitaly Friedman February 1st, 2010

An Explosion of Adobe Fireworks Resources

An often overlooked member of the Adobe Creative Suite is Adobe Fireworks. This application software can be used to create vectors, design application interfaces, digital artwork, and create rapid prototypes of websites. Adobe Fireworks can also generate PDF’s, export CSS based layouts, and a variety of other features. However, Adobe Fireworks resources are not easy to find. Resources are scattered among many different websites, blogs, and forums. Since the resources are far and few, some designers forget about all the features and abandon using the software all together.

In this article, renew your love for Adobe Fireworks! Check out the 200+ (mostly) free Adobe Fireworks resources that are gathered and categorized for easy reference. Please remember: since many designers have made these resources free for others, take the time to check out the license agreements before using any resources for personal and/or commercial projects.

1. Common Libraries, Patterns, and Rich Symbols

Common Libraries

Libraries are a great way to enhance the assets of Adobe Fireworks. Collections of symbols and objects save time when creating design elements.

Arrows

screenshot

Stencils

screenshot

Cursors

screenshot

Shields

screenshot

Patterns

A wonderful way to add a final touch or create interest in a design is by using a pattern. Check out some great pattern resources for Adobe Fireworks.

Kaliber Patterns

screenshot

Free Fireworks Patterns

screenshot

Free Patterns (158)

screenshot

Checker Patterns

screenshot

Carbon Pattern

screenshot

Free Patterns

screenshot

Wood Pattern Package

screenshot

Rich Symbols

Rich graphic symbols can be scaled and given attributes with scripts, which saves a lot of time when creating interfaces, websites, or design elements.

A reusable page icon

screenshot

Paper Grams

screenshot

iPhone GUI as Rich Symbols for Fireworks

screenshot

2. Styles

Styles are a great way to apply predefined attributes to an object or text (but not to bitmap objects).

Borders

screenshot

Metal Pack 1

screenshot

150 Fireworks Styles (Gradient Effects)

screenshot

Electronics

screenshot

15 Grunge Colors Styles

screenshot

Fireworks Styles Pack 2

screenshot

Fire and Flames

screenshot

131 Ultimate Web 2.0 Styles

screenshot

NN_Style_03

screenshot

Styles Pack 1-3

screenshot

Drawings

screenshot

15 FIREWORKS CS4 TEXT STYLES PACK 1

screenshot

Web 2.0 Styles 1

screenshot

Fireworks Styles Pack 1

screenshot

Overkill Set 1

screenshot

Stroke Styles for Fireworks MX, Series 1

screenshot

Fireworks Styles Pack 6

screenshot

48 Ultimate Web 2.0 Styles

screenshot

Chrome Gradient Styles

screenshot

The CMX Dash Pack

screenshot

MST Styles

screenshot

Style Pack 1

screenshot

Text Styles Pack

screenshot

Gradients, Blue Light, Charcoal, Chrome, etc. (No Preview Image)

3. Auto Shapes

According to help.Adobe.com, auto shapes are a great tool which "simplify the creation and editing process of common visual elements." They're also a great time saver.

Smart Resize

screenshot

Basic Pack 2

screenshot

Background Rectangle Auto Shape

screenshot

Pinwheel Auto Shape

screenshot

Crescent Auto Shape

screenshot

Ribbon

screenshot

Revolve Path Auto Shape

screenshot

Auto Shapes with Styles

screenshot

Sunburst, Effect Light Source, Geometry Guides, and Grid

screenshot

Annotation Auto Shape

screenshot

Sunburst

screenshot

Enhanced Rectangle Auto Shapes

screenshot

Simple Orb Smart Shape

screenshot

Puzzle Auto Shape

screenshot

Adjustments Panel

screenshot

4. Commands, Scripts, and Panels

Commands

Essentially, commands are shortcuts for automating repetitive tasks. Find out how the following commands can reduce the time of your next design process.

Copy Merge

screenshot

Harmonia Color Schemer

screenshot

Canvas Squeezer

screenshot

Copy Paste WHXY

screenshot

Watermark 1.0

screenshot

Color Palette 1.25

screenshot

Smart Punch

screenshot

Box Templates 1.0

screenshot

Demo Current Document 1.0

screenshot

Calculator

screenshot

Snap Objects 1.0

screenshot

Mac Button

screenshot

Smart Knife

screenshot

Rounded Bitmap Corners

screenshot

Copy Merged

screenshot

Spiral

screenshot

Objects, Pattern and Texture, and Text Commands

screenshot

Chrono 1.0

screenshot

Level Horizon

screenshot

Batch Import 1.0

screenshot

Interpolation Panel

screenshot

Utility Set One

screenshot

Brush, Document, and Effects Commands

screenshot

Flash Slide Show 1.12

screenshot

Campus Tools

screenshot

Add Web Guides, Group, Mask, Modify, 3D Rotate, Rename, and Paths Commands

screenshot

Duplicate, Offset, Rotate

screenshot

Save Paths as Actionscript

screenshot

Super Nudge 1.0.3

screenshot

Batch Complete Alert

screenshot

Extrude Paths

screenshot

Shape Shifter Set 1

screenshot

Scripts

Fireworks to XAML Exporter

screenshot

iPhone Application Prototype

screenshot

Panel

Gradient Panel

screenshot

5. Automation and Effects

Automation

A simple way to save time is through the use of Adobe Fireworks automating tasks. Check out a few examples of some true saving auto tasks.

FW CS4 Workspace Manager

Auto Vector Mask

screenshot

Effects

Effects (or Live Filters) are a great way to enhance vector objects, text, and bitmaps. Check out some fantastic ways to add effects to your designs.

Oldie Effect

screenshot

Metallic Gold Effect

screenshot

Old Paper Effect

screenshot

String of Pearls

screenshot

Twist and Fade

screenshot

6. Templates

Save valuable time with predesigned templates ranging from websites to iPhone prototypes.

Fireworks Toolkit for Creating iPhone Mockups

screenshot

Free Template #4 - Travel Site

screenshot

Adobe Fireworks Template for Android by UNITid

screenshot

FotoGallery 1

screenshot

FotoGallery 2

screenshot

Prebuilt CSS Templates in Fireworks CS4

screenshot

Free Template #3 - Restaurant Website

screenshot

Web Studio

screenshot

Super Guides 1.0

screenshot

Blueprint - Sample Web Template

screenshot

Template #5 - Writing Website

screenshot

Fireworks 975PX Grid Systems (6col and 12col)

screenshot

Free Template #6 - Business Website

screenshot

Free Website Template 7

screenshot

Free Template #2 - Funky Website

screenshot

Free Website Template 1

screenshot

Emote Template

screenshot

Free Website Template 8

screenshot

Prototyping for the iPhone

screenshot

7. Textures

Adding custom textures to fills and strokes gives artwork a "more organic look" and adds depth to your design.

20 Fireworks Seamless Texture Pack 1

screenshot

FTG Textures

screenshot

Wood Textures (61)

screenshot

Metal Textures (28)

screenshot

50 Pack

screenshot

Smoke (registration required)

screenshot

Cracked Paint

screenshot

Brick Textures (65)

screenshot

InkySmoke (registration required)

screenshot

Pave Textures (203)

screenshot

Fabric Patterns 0003 (registration required)

screenshot

Fractal

screenshot

Cracked Earth 0010 (registration required)

screenshot

Welcome Mat

screenshot

Splatter Round 0039 (registration required)

screenshot

Horizontal Lines

screenshot

Various 0224 (registration required)

screenshot

Zoom Starburst

screenshot

Rock Rough 008 (registration required)

screenshot

Further Texture Resources

BittBox has “Free Texture Tuesdays”

Free Macromedia Textures (379)

CG Textures

Mayang

880 Odd Textures

Textures from FireworksGuru Forums Gallery (must register)

8. Objects and Vector Objects

A "shape defined by a path" is a vector object. One can edit vector objects and use them in a variety of design applications. Some resources are Adobe Fireworks .jpg files labeled "Objects."

The Complete (Almost) Vectorized Webding Catalog

screenshot

Shiny Shapes

screenshot

Web 2.0 Navigation

screenshot

Box

screenshot

More Buttons

screenshot

Glossy Country Flag Buttons

screenshot

Firefox Using Fireworks

screenshot

CMX Black Line Master Graphics 3

screenshot

Hourglass

screenshot

Fireworks Vector Pack by Pete

screenshot

Valentine’s Day Heart

screenshot

Shiny Basic Icons

screenshot

Project Icon Set

screenshot

Vector Goodies

screenshot

Bitmap Buttons

screenshot

12 Free Quality Logos

screenshot

iPhone Hardware Translated into Vectors

screenshot

2Experts Icon Set

screenshot

Free RSS Buttons

screenshot

Badget Fireworks

screenshot

Adobe Fireworks Logos

screenshot

Adobe Fireworks Tutorials

40+ Striking Adobe Fireworks Tutorials

FireTuts

23 Amazing Tutorials for Adobe Fireworks

20 Useful Fireworks Tutorials for Designers

Top 20 YouTube Adobe Fireworks Video Tutorials

Tutorials at Layers Magazine

Maa Graphics Fireworks Tutorials

200+ Must Know Adobe Fireworks Tutorials for Designers

20 Tutorials for Professional Effects in Fireworks

ITM Design

Basic Fireworks

Qrayg Fireworks Tutorials

TW Design Fireworks Tutorials

Community MX Fireworks Tutorials

Imajine Fireworks Tutorials?

Fireworks Zone

Entheos Adobe Fireworks Tutorials

Joe DaSilva Blog

In Conclusion

Adobe Fireworks is a great tool for designers which deserves more attention and definitely more resources. If you’re new to Fireworks, give the software a try and discover the power of this forgotten resource. On the other hand, if you haven’t launched Fireworks in some time, what are you waiting for? There’s a nice big box of Fireworks (resources) just waiting to light up your desktop!

Excellent Overall Resources

Adobe Fireworks Exchange
A super resource of Fireworks source files, tutorials, and resources.

Senocular
Great resource for Fireworks Source Files, Extensions, and Tutorials.

John Dunning
A super collection of Fireworks commands, auto shapes, and resources.

FW Extensions
Adobe Fireworks Plugins Directory.

CommunityMX
Fireworks articles, tutorials, and extensions.

FWKit
Fireworks extensions, styles, and templates.

Aaron Beall
Fireworks commands, panels, auto shapes, and concepts.

Phireworx
Various Adobe Fireworks tools.

Heathrowe
Auto Shapes, Commands, Automate, and other resources.

Matt Stow
Fireworks tutorials and resources.

FireworksGuru Forum --> Gallery
Templates, PNG’s, icons, textures, patterns (must register first).

UltraWeaver
Over 277 Fireworks Resources.

Fireworks Designer

IDUX

Further Reading

40 High Quality Adobe Fireworks Tutorials, Resources, & PNG Files

70+ Adobe Fireworks Resources - Is there a future for Fireworks?

Adobe Fireworks Tutorials and Downloads - Best of -

The Ultimate Round-Up of Fireworks Tutorials and Resources

75 Powerful Adobe Fireworks Extensions

About the Author

Melissa Scroggins is a freelance graphic designer at PeachPoPs. She loves designing icons, creating vector illustrations, and playing survival horror video games. Follow her design adventures on Twitter.

48 comments

  1. Thank you for sharing, just what I needed. The last couple of weeks i’m spending more and more time in fireworks instead of photoshop for wireframing and even webdesign itself. I think the power of fireworks for webdesign is still underestimated.

  2. Hey Melissa, thanks a lot for sharing of these cool fireworks stuff. I think its save hours of my life :-)

    regards from germany

    Oli

  3. Hi all,

    Thank-you for all the great feedback! I really enjoyed searching for all these gems and hope you find them useful.

    Melissa :-)

  4. A good collection for any Fireworks user to have a look. I am confident there is some asset for every designer on this post.

  5. Well, an almost 9 mb web page. That`s something you could not see a few years ago. Miss that time… my connection speed is still the same so that’s why :(

  6. Seriously impressive…I’m drooling.

    Btw, does the disclaimer under “Leave a Reply” actually work??

  7. Fireworks has also beat photoshop – it is so much quicker to use compared to photoshop and the best bit i find is it is so easy to edit elements.

  8. Unreal, I thought I was all alone using Fireworks until about a year ago. A stunning amount of work went into this post.

  9. Fantastic! – Is all i can say.
    There is however, a subject not adressed –
    Maybe you have some tutorials that can be references –

    The subject Is: Successfully attaching text to circular objects.

    To do this seems to be difficult in the latest ( cs6 ) version.
    Or rather – Attaching is easy; But to position the text where required is not.

    Help will be appreciated ….

  10. Fireworks is crap.
    Constant export, saving, slicing, layer, css problems.
    Adobe ignores all this. This is the buggiest software I have ever used. Don’t believe me, Google it .

  11. Thank you for this valuable information, it has helped me a lot. Thank you
    And also for you I found a lot of useful and valuable information like it on this site

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *