It is possible to modify the appearance of Text and Shapes using the Stroke, Fill, and Effect Panels.  Fireworks gives you the ability to not only change size and color settings but also to choose unique textures for the various elements on your screen.

This Panel allows you to modify the appearance of the outline of your vector shapes whether they be polygons or text. You can apply a texture to your outline that creates the impression that you have used a natural media, like a pastel crayon, to create your text.

(Figure 8.5)

If you haven’t already, create a new document. Make it 250 pixels wide and 250 pixels high. Use your Ellipse tool to place a circle in the center of your Document Window and make sure that it’s selected so you can see the result of the changes that you make. We will use this shape to experiment with the various settings in the Stroke, Fill, and Effect Panels.

At the top of the Stroke Panel you will find the Stroke Category drop down menu. This menu allows you to select from a range of simulated natural media such as Charcoal, Crayon, Airbrush, or Oil Paint. 

The Stroke Name drop down menu allows you to pick sub-categories of the Stroke Category. If you were to pick "Oil" as your Stroke Category you would find various options for application of the "Oil" stroke listed in the Stroke Name drop down menu. You could, for instance, apply the Oil Stroke as though you were using a Bristle Brush. If you chose "Felt Tip" as your Category you would find "Dark Marker" and  "Highlighter" listed as two of the four options available under Stroke Name.

(Figure 8.6)

You can change the color of your stroke by selecting the color swatch to the left of the Stroke Category drop down menu. The method of selecting color is exactly the same as that used for text.  Please refer to that section for the particulars.

The Tip Window and Slider allow you to adjust the edge of the tip that is used for drawing your stroke.  You can make a crisp or hard edge by moving the slider to the bottom of its range. If you move the slider to the top of its range the edge of your tip will appear soft or feathered. 

This option allows you to increase or decrease the size of the tip. The preview cannot display actual size beyond 46 pixels so it instead displays a "2X" label and adjusts the contents of the window accordingly.

Fireworks allows you to apply a texture to a stroke. If you click on the Texture drop down menu you are presented with a broad range of options. The amount of texture that shows through is dependant on the position of the Amount of Texture slider and the width of your stroke. 

(Figure 8.7)

There is no "None" setting because an Amount of Texture setting of 0 completely removes any visible trace of your selected texture. You can add your own textures by selecting the "Other…" option at the bottom of the texture drop down menu.  You are presented with a "Locate File" dialog box with which you can navigate your way to the folder that contains the file that you want to use as your texture.