How to Optimize a GIF File in Fireworks

Macromedia's editing software Fireworks makes high-quality images. Fireworks normally saves files as PNG files unless you choose to optimize and save the image as a GIF or JPEG. When files are compressed to become GIFs, they lose some of their quality. To keep this from happening, Fireworks allows users to optimize GIFs to their specifications.

Instructions

1. Select the Fireworks desktop icon or "Macromedia Fireworks" in the Start menu. Choose "Open" from the File menu. Pick the file you want to save as a GIF. Highlight the file and click "Open."

2. Choose "View Optimization Window" under the Window tab. Select "GIF" from the menu. This opens a small window with all the optimization settings.

3. Pick the type of GIF you want the file to be from the list in the drop-down menu. Some of the options are Macintosh, Window, Web, Exact or Black and White.

4. Specify the number of colors for the GIF file. Slide the scale up and watch the preview image. Move the scale to a point that is unacceptable and then back up one mark.

5. Determine the amount of dither in the box provided. Dither smooths out images and makes the GIF load faster on the Internet. Look at the image to see the quality change as the dither percentage rises.

6. Change the picture quality that is lost. In the loss section, move to different percentages and find the highest possible amount of loss that still leaves you with a good GIF file.

7. Select "File," select "Export" and name the file. Select "Export" again.