Dreamweaver, Flash, and Fireworks Textbooks: Which Revealed Edition Should You Pick?

Choosing a software design course textbook is often a question of which software generation your class uses. Do you need the older Macromedia Dreamweaver 8, Flash 8, and Fireworks 8 workflow, or are you moving into the Adobe CS4 era? The choice matters because the tutorials, menus, and project files in these books are tied to specific software versions, so the wrong edition can leave you translating instructions from one interface to another. The four Web Collection Revealed titles covered here give you a clear price and format spread, from the lowest-priced trade paperback for the Macromedia 8 tools to a hardcover for the Adobe CS4 suite. All four titles are part of the Web Collection Revealed line, so the practical differences come down to software version, edition level, condition, and price. The right pick comes down to your course version, your budget, and whether you want a crisp new copy or are fine with a gently used one.

Quick Take

If your course is built around the Adobe CS4 versions and you want the title that spells out all three applications, the Web Collection Revealed Standard Edition names Dreamweaver CS4, Flash CS4, and Fireworks CS4 and carries the highest listed price. The Premium Edition is a close alternative just below that price. If your software is the older Macromedia line, the lowest-priced option covers Dreamweaver 8, Flash 8, and Fireworks 8. The remaining title is a Premium Edition that splits the difference: it's a CS4-era premium edition at a price near the other CS4 options.

Listed Price Comparison

Decision Matrix

Product Notes

Macromedia Dreamweaver 8, Flash 8, And Fireworks 8

The lowest-priced way into the Revealed series if your course is built around the older Macromedia suite. This Very Good trade paperback from Barbara M. Waxer, Sherry Bishop, and James E. Shuman covers Dreamweaver 8, Flash 8, and Fireworks 8. At the low end of the listed price spread, it's the easiest pick if keeping the initial cost down matters. The main trade-off is condition: it's a used copy rather than a Brand New one, so expect a book with some wear. If your class has moved to Adobe CS4, this edition matches the older interface, so save it for courses still using Macromedia 8.

The Web Collection Revealed Premium Edition, Hardcover: Adobe Dreamweaver CS4

This is a Brand New copy of the CS4-era Premium Edition from Sherry Bishop, James E. Shuman, and Elizabeth Eisner Reding. It's listed just below the top of the range in this set. The title points to Adobe Dreamweaver CS4, so it's a clean match for a course that starts with Dreamweaver before moving into the rest of the Web Collection. The limitation is that, compared with the Standard Edition at the top of the range, the title doesn't spell out Flash CS4 or Fireworks CS4, so if you want all three app names on the cover, the Standard Edition is the more explicit choice.

The WEB Collection Revealed Standard Edition: Adobe Dreamweaver CS4, Adobe Flash CS4, Adobe Fireworks CS4

This is a Brand New copy of the Standard Edition at the top of the listed price range. It names all three applications in the title: Adobe Dreamweaver CS4, Adobe Flash CS4, and Adobe Fireworks CS4, which makes it the easiest way to confirm your software versions. The author team includes Barbara M. Waxer, Sherry Bishop, and James E. Shuman. Choose it when you want the Standard Edition with the full CS4 trio spelled out on the cover. The limitation is the price: it's the most expensive listed option, and if you don't need all three app names, you can spend less on another title.

The WEB Collection Revealed Premium Edition: Adobe

This Very Good copy of the Premium Edition lists the same core author names as the CS4-era titles: Sherry Bishop, James E. Shuman, and Elizabeth Eisner Reding. It's priced just under the other Premium Edition listed here, so it's a middle path if you want the Premium content without paying the top price. The trade-off is condition: it's marked Very Good rather than Brand New, so expect a book with some signs of use. The title also doesn't enumerate the individual Adobe apps, so if you want app names on the cover, the Standard Edition is the clearer choice.

Final Recommendation by Use Case

For the entry-level option, the $10.18 Macromedia Dreamweaver 8, Flash 8, And Fireworks 8 edition is the clear pick when your course uses the older suite. For the CS4 title that names all three applications, the $29.99 Standard Edition is the most explicit. If you want the CS4 Premium Edition for a little less, the $28.99 Premium Edition is the one to choose. And if you're after a CS4 Premium Edition at a similar price with a more portable format, the $28.95 Premium Edition covers that need.