What is the best workflow for using Adobe Fireworks for iPhone Retina UI Design?
To design an iPhone Retina UI using Adobe Fireworks efficiently, here are some key steps and best practices to follow:
High Resolution First, Scale Down Later
When designing for iPhone Retina displays, start with the higher resolution (@2x) to ensure detailed and sharp graphics. For example, use a canvas size of 640 x 960 pixels for an iPhone 4/4s in portrait orientation. This approach allows you to set the appearance of each pixel precisely and ensures that the scaled-down version will look better than if you were to scale up from a lower resolution1.
Use Vector Elements
Preferably use vector shapes and live filters in Fireworks, as they scale up and down without any quality loss. Vector elements are particularly useful because they maintain their sharpness at any resolution. Avoid rasterizing vector shapes unless absolutely necessary1.
Avoid Inappropriate Sizes and Effects
When designing in 2x resolution, avoid using sizes like 3 or 5 pixels for border widths and effects like drop shadows, as these may not scale down correctly. Instead, adjust these elements to ensure they scale appropriately1.
Manage Resolutions in Separate Documents
To handle both @2x and @1x resolutions, create your design in the @2x resolution first. Then, copy all pages into a new document and scale it down to the @1x resolution (e.g., from 640 x 960 px to 320 x 480 px). Use bicubic interpolation for resizing and ensure "Resample image" is checked to maintain vector shape integrity1.
Utilize the Property Inspector Panel
The Property Inspector (PI) panel in Fireworks is crucial for quickly adjusting object properties such as fills, strokes, gradients, patterns, and live filters. This panel allows for precise control over your design elements and is particularly useful for making edits without compromising the editability of your design5.
Organize Your Design with Layers and Symbols
Use layers and sublayers to keep your design organized. Name your layers and objects to facilitate easy identification and exporting. Convert groups of objects into reusable symbols to maintain consistency across your design. This approach helps in updating multiple instances of the same element efficiently5.
Pattern and Texture Management
For repeating patterns or textures, save them as PNG32 files and apply them using the "Pattern Fill" mode in Fireworks. This ensures that your patterns scale correctly and maintain their quality1.
Performance and Stability
To ensure smooth performance, especially with complex designs, consider branching out single UI components or sections into their own files to maintain editability. This can help manage memory usage and keep your main design file manageable5.
By following these steps, you can leverage the strengths of Adobe Fireworks to create high-quality, scalable UI designs for iPhone Retina displays.