Adobe Creative Cloud Design Tools All-in-One For Dummies

Chapter 9: Building a Wireframe Using Fireworks

In This Chapter

• Introduction to wireframing
• Creating a master page in Fireworks
• Adding navigational items
• Exporting your wireframe

A wireframe is used in the creation of an application or website. The job of a wireframe is to introduce others on your team, or perhaps clients, to the proposed layout and organization of your website or application. Wireframes are sometimes referred to as low-fidelity prototypes, because they allow you and others to view and test a website before investing a large amount of development time into it.

Because the intent behind a wireframe is to create a simplified model of your finished website or application, you want to follow these rules (see Figure 9-1):

• No color! Use only black and white or shades of gray.
• No shading, rounded corners, drop shadows, or any other kinds of decorative formatting that might take away attention from the basic structure.
• Use basic fonts. Selecting a typeface is a design concern best dealt with later in the process.

Figure 9-1: A typical wireframe doesn't include details that might distract the reviewer from under standing organization and navigation.

Starting a Wireframe

Sketching out your ideas on paper is a great way to start, but when you're ready to show others your ideas you'll want to produce a wireframe. Wireframes offer the best way to show how all your ideas ...