Q
"How do I make shiny gold text with a nice beveled edge in Fireworks? Is there a way to create 3D text in Fireworks?"__ Anonymous

Let's do the shiny gold text first. To begin, you'll need to download this swatch of gold and turn it into a style. You haven't made a Style in Fireworks yet? Here's how:

Click on the gold swatch, and then on the right-arrow button at the top of the styles panel.

Choose New Style from the menu and in the dialog box that pops up, give the Style a name and check off the elements that apply.

Open a Black or dark gray canvas and type out a large letter in a heavy font. I've used Akzidenz Grotesk Bold Extended. Clone the letter and convert the clone to paths (Text Convert to Paths). Choose Modify > Ungroup to revert the cloned text to its original Bézier curves.

With the clone still selected, choose Modify > Alter Path > Expand Stroke. The Expand Path dialog box will open. The settings are 3 for width, rounded corners (the middle button), Miter Limit 10.00, and End Caps rounded (the third button).

Your result should look something like the figure on the right. Next, choose Edit > Select All to select both the original letter and the expanded path. Add the Gold Style to the text objects by clicking on the Gold Style in the Styles panel.

Deselect both text objects, and then use the Select Behind tool to select the original text object. This action will cause the gradient rotation bar to pop up.

Switch back to the pointer cursor and grab the square handle of the gradient rotation bar. Rotate the square handle clockwise, about 45°.

If you want to adjust the placement of the highlight, move the round handle of the gradient rotation bar.

The next two steps aren't necessary but I think they add some interesting color to the image. If it isn't still selected, use the Select Behind tool to select the original text object. In the Effect Panel, choose Adjust Color > Auto Levels.Next, choose Adjust Color > Curves.

When the Curves dialog box opens, you will be presented with a graph that has a diagonal line running through it from bottom left to top right. Use your curser to grab the line and adjust it as you see here, moving the line up a half square at the lower left, and down a half square at the upper right.

Export your image as a JPEG.

Back to top