This time, in my Adobe Fireworks tutorial session, I will show you how to create a shiny looking starburst. This shape has been a common thing in almost every so-called web2.0 sites, especially to put the word BETA or wtv. Anyhow, lets proceed.

First of all, select the Star shape from the Tool toolbar. Modify the default Star shape to make it more like a starburst shape. Increase the amount of points from 5 to, let say, 24 in this example. Then, adjust the Radius also, until you are happy.

Set the size of the starburst to 130px x 130px in the properties pane. Choose the color scheme for your starburst. I am using blue here. Use the linear gradient fill and fill the shape with light blue and darker one, as you like it to be.

Then, duplicate the shape and reduce it size to 123px x 123px. Align it at the center and on top of the original shape.To make it clearer, change the gradient fill of the second shape by choosing white as the first color. Also, reduce the opacity to 51, as shown in the picture below.

Next, duplicate that second shape and put it exactly on top of its original shape.

Now, create a big ellipse shape on top of those star shapes. Ignore the color because.. it doesn’t matter. This is going to be the ’shiny’ part of your starburst. Align it so it covers half size of the starburst underneath it.

Select the top most starburst shape and the ellipse together. Use the Shift key to do so. From the menu: Modify> Combine Paths> Intersect. Thenadjust the opacity of that shape.

You will get that shape on the left (see below). You are done actually, but you can play around some more to get a better shiny look. Use the subselection tool to modify the shiny shape.

And you are done!