About Adobe Imageready

Designed by Adobe Corporation, ImageReady is a software program that incorporates all aspects of image creation for websites into one program.
ImageReady lets the user create links, rollovers and animations, and it optimizes graphics for the web. The program also creates HTML pages and includes all the necessary code, image maps and JavaScripts to implement a web site. According to Bjarne Stroustrup, author of “C++ Applications,” ImageReady was written in C++ language programming.

    History

  1. Prior to ImageReady, web designers had to go through many steps in different programs to create web-ready images. Adobe Systems released ImageReady graphic editing software in July 1998, as a stand-alone product so users could create images for websites using one program.
    In 1999, Adobe began packaging ImageReady with Photoshop. In 2007, Adobe replaced ImageReady with Fireworks in its Creative Suite 3. Fireworks is a bitmap and vector graphics editor, which was developed by Macromedia. Adobe bought Macromedia in 2005.

    2. System Requirements

  2. ImageReady requirement for Macs: Macintosh OS 9.1 or greater; Power PC (G3/G4/G4 dual); 128MB RAM; 320MB free hard disk space; and color monitor.
    PC system requirements: Microsoft Windows 98/98SE/ME/XP/NT4 with service pack 6a or greater, or Microsoft Windows 2000 with service pack 2; Pentium III or 4 processor; 128MB RAM, 280MB free hard-disk space; and color monitor.

    3. Significance

  3. ImageReady has been discontinued, and ImageReady files cannot be read by Fireworks. According to Adobe technical support, it’s important to note that raster-based programs include Photoshop and ImageReady, and vector-based programs include Flash, Fireworks and Illustrator.
    Fireworks has incorporated most of the functions of ImageReady, but not all. In order to maintain ImageReady files, it is necessary to keep Adobe Creative Suite 2 in addition to later versions of Creative Suite.

    4. Benefits

  4. ImageReady carries some benefits over Fireworks. ImageReady makes it easier to build advanced rollovers into a website and can automatically generate tables and store individual graphics with its own compression settings. The program also can create background tiles, making a design appear seamless.

    5. Drawbacks

  5. ImageReady uses raster graphics, known as bitmaps. Raster formats include BMP, PICT or compressed formats such as GIF and JPEG. Raster images are locked into a specific size so they cannot be scaled without losing clarity.
    The JavaScript code that ImageReady generates is not compatible with Dreamweaver JavaScript. Slicing in ImageReady is a slow and tedious process. ImageReady is better for more intricate page layouts and complex rollover slicing.