Ron Rockwell

Freehand MX has to be one of the most powerful programs you can have in your arsenal of graphic tools. By purchasing Studio MX, Illustrator users are now finding out that Freehand is capable of many things that they couldn't do in Illustrator. One of the greatest advantages of working in Freehand MX is the capability to create multiple pages in a single document. With multiple page support, you can create anything from two-sided flyers and brochures, to 24- or 40-page catalogs or presentations. I wouldn't say that FreeHand would be your program of choice for a text-heavy 60-page catalog, but it could be done. For brochures, packaging, small to medium-sized catalogs, and instruction manuals, however, FreeHand is a killer app. Finding Pages When you first start FreeHand, a default letter-sized page is located in the lower left corner of the pasteboard. New pages will be... (more)

The Object Panel

The Object panel is the key to virtually everything you can do in FreeHand MX. Most of us don't take the time to understand the Object panel, however, and it becomes a source of frustration. The Object Panel It seems as though every time you look at the Object panel, its appearance has changed. That's because the panel changes to reflect the attributes and features of whatever is selected or "live" in the document. Vector objects will display fill, stroke, and effects information; text will show font name, size, color, and more. If you select an imported graphic, the panel will te... (more)

Form vs. Feature Part 1

The tools you use to create three-dimensional effects on FreeHand objects make a big difference in the final appearance and the time involved. There's not an absolutely right or wrong way to mold a form, but there are definitely many ways. In this first part of a two-part series, you'll learn about the new Extrude tool in FreeHand MX. There are many ways to create the illusion of three-dimensional objects with the multitude of drawing tools and functions within FreeHand MX. Blends, gradient fills, vector and bitmap effects, and Xtras will be covered in Part 2 of this series. In ... (more)

Form vs Feature Part 2

In the last issue of MXDJ (Vol. 2, issue 7), we discussed the Extrusion tool. This time we'll explore other drawing methods. Some modeling effects can be handled quickly in FreeHand with the Extrude tool, but gradient fills and creative blends from one shape to anothere are sometimes the best bet. The Extrude tool does a super job with text, but it has severe restrictions when it comes to compound shapes, such as the lumps and facets on ketchup or Coca-Cola bottles as they become round for the label. The project can be done, but you must stack several different extrusions into on... (more)

40 Freehand Tips

There are dozens and dozens of time - saving things you can do in freehand. Following is just a brief selection. 1.  Create a custom default page. Set up a page the way you like it (fonts, styles, colors, page size, guides) and save it as a FreeHand template in FreeHand's Settings folder. While in FreeHand, open the Preferences/ Document panel and choose your new template. 2.  Create personal keyboard shortcuts. FreeHand allows you to make your own keyboard shortcuts for virtually every tool and function (Edit>Keyboard Shortcuts). You can start with shortcuts from other programs su... (more)