Review: Using the CSS3 Mobile Pack for Adobe Fireworks CS5

Every once in awhile a book comes along that you just gotta have a look at. ‘Using the CSS3 Mobile Pack for Adobe Fireworks CS5′ is such a book. Adobe recently announced its CSS3 Mobile Pack extension for Adobe Fireworks. Although I did have a look at the extension there was very little use documentation or information for it that I coud find. Much like a shiny shirted super hero along comes this eBook to save the day.

The book takes you through an introduction to the Mobile Pack extension in chapter one. The author gives you a detailed description of what the extension does, who it is for, where to get it and how to install it. If you already have the extension installed you could skip this chapter but I recommend giving it a quick read to pick up on some small details you may not be aware of.

In chapter two we get taken on a journey in which we will build a rounded vector-like shape using CSS3 in Fireworks and be directed on how we can take the CSS information created right within Fireworks and deploy them in Dreamweaver. While that procedure is interesting and cool in itself, the journey does not stop there! Next we get guided through the complete process of creating a CSS based Master and Child page oriented mock website.

Like any good book it gets better near the end. Chapter three I personally found the most fascinating. Having a look at the mobile skinning before I picked up this book really had me stumped or scratching my head as to how it works. This chapter takes us through a complete reskin of a mobile theme in minutes. The chapter not only explains how to use the Fireworks extension but also gives great information on how jQuery Mobile theming works in general.

Each of the chapters are home to well written step by step instructions for the workflow. During key times in the procedures we are given detailed and accurate screenshots to keep us on track and verify that what we are doing is what the writer had intended. The language used in the book is very user friendly for designer/developers of all skill levels. Of course there are some great example downloads as well to help you through the book lessons.

SUMMARY

In summary, I really think that Peachpit could get more than the $5.59 asking price for this book. Don’t let that low low price fool you. This book is jam packed with the same easy to read an follow instructions found in books ten times the cost. Really, anyone that is making use of jQuery Mobile or CSS3 in the Fireworks/Dreamweaver workflow can not afford not to pick up this book.

FROM THE BACK COVER

This eBook is a step-by-step walk-through of the CSS3 mobile pack for Adobe® Fireworks® CS5/5.1. Showcasing the increased potential of Fireworks as a design and prototyping tool for mobile and web development, the CSS3 mobile pack includes two new tools: the CSS3 Property Panel and the jQuery Mobile Theme Skinning tool. The extension is geared toward designers familiar with Fireworks and Dreamweaver who want to transform their vision into designs across various screen sizes, browsers, and mobile devices, all while using the latest web standards.

With real-world applications for each new tool, this book shows designers how to utilize CSS3 properties in a web page design and create and customize a simple jQuery Mobile site in Fireworks.

Covers the two new tools included in the CSS3 Mobile Pack extension:

• CSS3 Property Panel: Convert Fireworks artwork to pure CSS markup. If what you create using vectors and other attributes is supported by CSS3, you can use Fireworks to generate the CSS and copy it to the clipboard, allowing you to paste the code directly into your style sheet, where you can apply it to an HTML element, id, or class.

• jQuery Mobile Theme Skinning: Use to create or modify a theme for a jQuery Mobile website. Then preview and export the new or updated theme, complete with corresponding CSS and Sprites, out to your website.

• By Jim Babbage
• Published Nov 3, 2011 by Peachpit Press
• Available for purchase now! Using the CSS3 Mobile Pack for Adobe Fireworks CS5