Freehand
Flowing Text Around an Object in Fireworks by Using Freehand and Fireworks
by Jim Babbage - 23-Mar-07
Reader Level: 
If there is one weak area in Fireworks, it's in the text handling. I've seen many posts on the user groups asking how to flow text around an object in Fireworks. Attaching text on a path won't do the trick. The only way to do this in FW is through a tedious manual process of either creating multiple text objects, or using the space bar to customize the indenting of each line. The functionality is just not in Fireworks at this time. But it is in Freehand. Freehand allows you to flow text inside a path, or around a path or a bitmap object.
You can't do this easily in Fireworks:
But Freehand makes this type of thing simple to do.
This article will how you how to create the wrapped text in Freehand and then how to bring the result over to Fireworks. We'll also look at the limitations of this technique.
Create a Wax Seal in Freehand
by Kim Dudley - 30-Nov-06
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The use of wax seals has been around almost as long as writing itself. In this tutorial we will create the look of a wax seal but avoid the hot wax by creating one using Freehand. We will use some basic Drawing tools along with Freehand's Live Raster Effects to create the wax seal. We will then customize the seal by adding text. When completed the seal can be saved as a Freehand native file or exported for use in many different types of documents.
The final artwork will look similar to the following:
Comparing Illustrator and Freehand
by Kim Dudley - 22-Mar-06
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Illustrator and Freehand have worked hard to outdo each other over the years. If one of these applications added a new tool or feature to its resume the other would soon follow with a similar update. Therefore it's not surprising these programs are able to produce very similar results. Both applications specialize in producing vector based artwork for print or the web. As well, both can work with multiple color modes, many different file types and offer drawing tools for producing complex artwork.
Although Illustrator and Freehand have the ability to produce similar results the steps to acheive these results may be quite different. Understanding the different terminology and location of tools in a new application can be frustrating and time consuming. This article will help reduce that frustration by demonstrating how to complete the same basic tasks in each application. In addition we will compare the panels in Freehand to the palettes in Illustrator. If you are a Freehand or Illustrator user and have had the need or interest to use the other application, this tutorial will get you started.
Designing a Logo: Part 3 - Getting Technical
by Kim Dudley - 23-Feb-06
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Logo design could be considered a complicated and tedious subject or it may be looked upon as an exciting and interesting opportunity. Logo development is a very creative process yet the designer must also have very good communication and technical skills.
The Designing a Logo series has attempted to cover all facets of logo design in order to give the reader an understanding and process for designing logos. The first two articles contained information about getting started and the creative process. The third and final article looks at the very important technical side of creating a logo.
After the creative work has been done a logo must be developed to a state that will allow it to be optimized for a wide variety of mediums. This article will look at how to do that as well as cover a few other logo related issues such as common file formats, Standards policies, trademark laws and the all important issue of pricing a logo.
The Designing a Logo Series:
Designing a Logo: Part 1 - Getting Started
Designing a Logo: Part 2 - Getting Creative
Designing a Logo: Part 3 - Getting Technical
'Tis the Season for Christmas Cards - Part 2
by Kim Dudley - 22-Dec-05
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With Christmas just around the corner take a little time to create a Christmas card for that special someone. In this tutorial we will use FreehandMX to create a Christmas card from scratch. Incorporating photo frames drawn in Freehand and using a personal photo you can create a one of a kind Christmas card with your own personal greeting.
Christmas Themed Photo Borders Using Freehand - Part 2
by Kim Dudley - 14-Dec-05
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Take a break from all that Christmas shopping and light up some of your pictures and layouts. This tutorial uses some of Freehand's basic drawing tools to create a quick and easy photo border that looks like a string of glowing Christmas lights. This frame can quickly be created and adjusted to fit any picture or layout so you can get back to all your Christmas related tasks in no time.
Christmas Themed Photo Borders Using Freehand: Part 1
by Kim Dudley - 09-Dec-05
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With Christmas just around the corner, this tutorial will get you started on your Christmas decorating. In this tutorial we will create a Christmas inspired Ribbon and Bow picture border. Using some basic Freehand drawing tools, this frame can quickly be created and used to add some Holiday cheer to any picture or image.
The Possibilities of Freehand's Blend Tool
by Kim Dudley - 30-Nov-05
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Freehand has always been considered a great drawing program and tools like the Blend tool are the reason why. When creating vector artwork the blend tool can quickly and easily create some very interesting effects.
In this tutorial we will take a look at how to use the blend tool, the possibilities it has and a common task that it helps to speed along.
Using Freehand's Gradient Tool to Create an OSX Style Button
by Kim Dudley - 16-Nov-05
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Gradient fills are well known to most people who use vector and raster based applications. Gradients are probably one of Freehand's more commonly used tools and are useful for adding depth to vector drawn illustrations and can also add interest to layouts.
Gradient fills have been available in Freehand for as long as I can remember yet the tool has grown and expanded since the good ole days. Freehand's gradient tool currently offers six different types of gradients and can be used with multiple colors. The gradient tool is also simple to use and manipulate although there are a couple of tricks that are of benefit when applying gradients to text. In this article we will look at Freehand's gradient tool and the options available when using it. To demonstrate and highlight some of the tool's functions we will draw a simple OSX-style button.
Trick or Treat - Part 2
by Kim Dudley - 31-Oct-05
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This set of tutorials started with a spider and web. Staying with the Halloween theme, this tutorial will create a spooky old tombstone using Freehand's drawing tools and a couple of ghostly tricks. At the end of this tutorial we will have a tombstone that looks like it is an ancient grave marker that has been out in the weather for years. Just in time for the ghosts and goblins to emerge on Halloween night. Ooooh scary.
The Freehand Trick or Treat Series:
Trick or Treat - Part 1
Trick or Treat - Part 2
Trick or Treat - Part 1
by Kim Dudley - 19-Oct-05
Reader Level:
Freehand has some Xtra tools that are not used all that often. In this tutorial we will put a few of these Xtra tools to work as we create some Halloween inspired graphics. This spider and web are drawn to fill those dark little corners, adding some creepy crawliness to your pages.
The Freehand Trick or Treat Series:
Trick or Treat - Part 1
Trick or Treat - Part 2
Add a Perspective Shadow to Text
by Kim Dudley - 04-Oct-05
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Drop shadows are a common effect used to draw extra attention to text. In this tutorial we will create a real shadow with perspective. Using Freehand's perspective grid we will create a perspective shadow for text. This effect can be applied to text or any other object in Freehand. It can also be combined with Freehand's fills and live raster effects to create some interesting and realistic shadows.
Working with Transparency in Freehand
by Kim Dudley - 23-Sep-05
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Freehand's live raster effects have introduced traditional bitmap effects into Freehand's vector world. Transparency is one of these effects. Freehand's transparency effect is a great tool. It is easy to use and offers comparable results when compared to transparency effects available in bitmapped based applications like Fireworks. This tutorial will demonstrate how to apply transparency effects to artwork drawn in Freehand and discuss when it should and should not be used.
Getting an iPod Perspective with Freehand MX
by Kim Dudley - 20-Sep-05
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Perspective in artwork adds an extra dimension, creating a much more realistic representation of an object's size and proportion. Freehand's collection of drawing tools includes a perspective grid for easily adding perspective to almost any vector artwork.
In this tutorial we will use Freehand's perspective tool to add some
perspective to an ipod Nano. Freehand is not a 3D rendering application but
the perspective tool does simplify basic 3D artwork creation. As well, like
many of Freehand's tools this one is quick and easy to use and can be a lot
of fun too.
A CSS Web Design Case Study: Constructing a Personal Site - Design Comp Construction
by Zoe Gillenwater - 15-Sep-05
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So far in the case study of building my personal site, you've seen how I planned my web site and came up with ideas for its design. In this article, you'll see how I turned that sketch into a design comp using Fireworks MX 2004 and a bit of Freehand MX. Because this article is meant to help you understand the design process rather than the specific design techniques I used, it will not go into the technical details of how I completed every task. So, I won't bore you with every click I made in Fireworks, but you will learn how to set up your comps in a web instead of print mentality, so that when it comes time to actually build the pages, you won't tear your hair out trying to create a design that isn't well suited to its medium.
The CSS Web Design Case Study Series:
A CSS Web Design Case Study: Constructing a Personal Site - Planning
A CSS Web Design Case Study: Constructing a Personal Site - Visualizing the Design
CSS Web Design Case Study: Constructing a Personal Site - Design Comp Construction
A CSS Web Design Case Study: Constructing a Personal Site - Slicing the Comp
A CSS Web Design Case Study: Constructing a Personal Site - XHTML/CSS Construction Part 1
A CSS Web Design Case Study: Constructing a Personal Site - XHTML/CSS Construction Part 2
Bitmap Versus Vector: Part II
by Kim Dudley - 07-Sep-05
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As the line between vector and bitmap applications become more blurred it is very important to understand the difference between vector and bitmap artwork. Part I of this two-part series dealt with the pros and cons of bitmap and vector artwork.
This article will discuss when it is best to use each and look at how some Macromedia applications work with bitmap and vector artwork. In addition we will check out the applications that contain both vector and bitmap tools and discuss what to watch out for when using them.
Bitmap Artwork Versus Vector Artwork: Part I
by Kim Dudley - 24-Aug-05
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Vector and bitmap are terms that are often used for describing artwork. At one time applications would either create vector artwork or bitmap artwork. These days many applications like Freehand and Fireworks contain both vector and bitmap tools. Although this can be very convenient it could mean trouble if you are preparing artwork for some types of output.
In Part I of this two-part article we will compare raster and bitmap artwork and look at different types and file formats of each. We will also discuss some issues that may arise when working with vector and bitmap artwork.
Creating a Metallic Graphic in Freehand
by Kim Dudley - 04-Aug-05
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Many applications have built in filters or effects which create chrome or reflective looking surfaces. Although Freehand does not have this, a very realistic metallic look can be achieved using Freehand's gradient and drawing tools.
This tutorial will use Freehand to transform a plain 2D graphic to a 3D metallic graphic. Using Freehand for this sort of task allows you to have a lot of control over the look and feel of the metal effect.
Print Thumbnails of Multiple Pages in Freehand
by Kim Dudley - 25-Jul-05
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Taking the time to figure out how to use a new tool in an application is often put off till a day you're not quite so busy. ;) When that day never comes we find ourselves performing tasks the same way we always have, even if this is not the best or quickest way to do it. The Output Area tool is one of the tools I avoided for some time. As usual, once I did start using it, I wondered why I had waited so long.
This tutorial will get you started using the Output Area tool and show how it can be used to print or export any part of a document. We will walk through the steps of printing a sheet containing a thumbnail size view of all six pages in the document.
Using Freehand to Create a Flash Slide Show
by Kim Dudley - 12-Jul-05
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Freehand's action tool adds a whole new set of capabilities to this drawing application. The action tool allows the user to add interactivity to almost any element in a Freehand file. This, combined with Freehand's export capabilities creates the possibility to make interactive Flash SWF files.
In this tutorial we will create a basic slide show which will illustrate the simplicity and the possibilities of this tool. Tasks which would typically have been done in specialized applications, such as Powerpoint, can be completed in Freehand. This tutorial will demonstrate that and hopefully inspire you to use the action tool for other projects such as photo slide shows and other interactive applications.
Wear it Out - Create a Worn Out Look Using Freehand
by Kim Dudley - 29-Jun-05
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Go into any trendy store today and you are sure to find retro-styled tees that look like they have been washed a hundred times. Although most commonly seen on tshirts, this effect can be used to add an aged look to logos and all kinds of other artwork, such as text and graphic elements.
Also known as distressing, this worn out effect can quickly and easily be created using Freehand. This tutorial supplies all the tools and steps needed to get you creating artwork that looks like it has years of wear and tear.
Love is in the Air - Do-It-Yourself Wedding Invitations Using FreeHand
by Kim Dudley - 14-Jun-05
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One of the hottest new trends for weddings and special events are hand-made invitations. There are hundreds of web sites that offer hand-made invitations or DIY invitation supplies. In this tutorial I've gone one step further and supplied you with Freehand templates and all the information you need to create your own, personalized invitations. Hand-made invitations are an extra touch that will let the guests know this event will be extra special.
This tutorial has everything you need to create your own wedding invitations or you can customize them for any other special event. These wedding invitations are an elegant, classic style but depending on the paper, fonts and embellishments they could be used for any celebration.
A Business Card Template for Freehand
by Kim Dudley - 03-Jun-05
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Presenting a professional image is always important when it comes to doing business. One of the items that can help you do this are business cards. Business cards play a big role in today's business. From a promotional item to a contact reference, they can provide a big bang for your advertising buck.
This article takes a look at business cards and discusses some of the history and issues surrounding them. The supplied template will help you get started with your own business cards and offers some information about choosing from the numerous printing options.
Turn the Page with Freehand
by Kim Dudley - 12-May-05
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When working with page layout applications the final product will often be printed on a sheet of paper. This may be the reason why the work area in these applications is called a page. The concept of a page is pretty straight forward, but the way applications handle pages is a different story.
This tutorial will look at Freehand's flexibility when working with pages. If you are more familiar with working with canvases in photo applications or if you have only used one-page layouts in Freehand, this tutorial will introduce you to a whole new world of features you may have been missing.
Get out that list because this tutorial is going to give you more reasons to use Freehand for that next big project.
Creating a Lightbulb in FreehandMX
by Kim Dudley - 02-May-05
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Learning a new application can be time consuming and frustrating. Many applications have a steep learning curve and can quickly discourage new users. Macromedia has helped overcome this for their existing users by creating similar interfaces in all their applications. When moving from one Macromedia application to another, the familar interface and comparable tools can help speed along the process of learning the new application.
The most recent addition to my arsenal of programs is Fireworks. In the beginning, I resisted this new tool. I have however, found the move from Freehand to Fireworks to be fairly smooth and quite beneficial. I started the transition between these two programs by creating artwork in Freehand and copying it to Fireworks. This helped illustrate to me how Fireworks handles artwork. I eventually gained the confidence to do a complete project in Fireworks without the aid of Freehand.
When I saw Jim's article Creating a Lightbulb using Fireworks, I realized it would be a great project to recreate using Freehand. I was interested in seeing if a similar graphic could be created and if the steps would be comparable. This tutorial will walk through the steps of creating Jim's light bulb, and in addition to learning how to use many of Freehand's drawing tools we will also see how Fireworks and Freehand compare.
Pointing In the Right Direction - Using Arrows in Freehand
by Kim Dudley - 05-Apr-05
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There is often an easy way and a not so easy way to do things in Freehand. Many tasks in Freehand are automated, saving you many steps in the creation of artwork. Learning the little features available in Freehand will speed up your workflow making you more productive.
This article will take a look at a handy little automated task for creating arrow graphics in Freehand. I often use arrows in layouts, presentations or when creating things such as flowcharts. The process of manually drawing an arrowhead is not complicated but it does involve a couple of tedious steps and why bother when it can be completed in one quick and easy click.
From Design to Completion: A Corporate Identity - Part 2
by Kim Dudley - 21-Mar-05
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No matter the project type or project size, all graphic design jobs follow a similar path and involve comparable skills. Graphic design is not all about creativity, in fact that is a small part of a graphic designers overall job. Dealing with clients and suppliers, going to meetings, research, setting up artwork, these are a few of the other tasks involved in a design job.
This article is the second part of a two-part series looking at a real world graphic design project. We began in the first article with the initial contact and followed through to the completion of a logo and business cards.
This article will give you a look into the process of developing a brochure, setting up the brochure, producing name tags, having a second meeting and invoicing.
From Design to Completion: A Corporate Identity - Part 1
by Kim Dudley - 09-Mar-05
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In this article we will be looking at a real world project and the process involved in the creation of a corporate identity. We will begin with the initial contact and follow through to the completion of the job. This series of articles will give you a look into the process of working with a client, estimating costs, writing specs for printers and producing the actual materials.
In this first article, we will cover the initial meeting with the client, discuss quotes, send specs to the printer and design the logo. Like all projects this one has its successes and its problems, but that's all part of the job.
A Printing Checklist For Problem-Free Print Jobs
by Kim Dudley - 23-Feb-05
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Completing an attractive design and sending it to print is a great feeling. But there is nothing worse then sending a file to print, only to have the printer call you because they are having problems with your artwork. This can cause delays and significantly add to the cost of printing. If a printer needs to spend time fixing your mistakes you better expect to pay for it.
So how can you avoid problems and ensure your file prints the way it is supposed to? This article will provide a checklist to use during setup and before sending a file to print. It will help you avoid the common problems that arise during a print job. In addition to the checklist I have also included a PDF of a job sheet. This job sheet includes information the printer will need to output your artwork correctly. Just fill it out and send it along with your files or use it to create your own customized version.
A checklist and a job sheet, two simple items that will help you be sure
your print job is completed on time and on budget.
Creating Charts and Graphs in Freehand
by Kim Dudley - 07-Feb-05
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Creating a visually appealing document containing lists of numbers and statistics can be challenging. Displaying these numbers and statistics in charts and graphs is more interesting and may communicate the information to the viewer better and quicker. Charts and graphs may not be appropriate for official business reports, but for items such as presentations, newsletters, brochures and web sites, charts and graphs can take a boring bunch of numbers and create something that is interesting and attention grabbing.
This tutorial will go through the steps of setting up a chart and graph and go over the other graphs available in Freehand.
Turn a Photograph Into an iPod Ad
by Kim Cavanaugh - 01-Feb-05
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Recently I saw several postings in the popular Apple blogs about a new service being offered. iPodMyPhoto.com will take any photograph that you send them, and for a not-so-small fee ($19.95) they'll turn that photo into a realistic looking iPod advertisement. You know the ones. A silhouette of a person on a brightly colored background with the ubiquitous white earbud cords hanging down from the person's ears. They do a great job, as you can see in their samples, but at that price your favorite iPodaholic might rather have a nice case or some other cool accessory to go with their favorite toy. Why not make it yourself and invest the cash in something else, especially when creating the effect is pretty easy with Fireworks? This tutorial will show you how.
Off the Page - The Unseen Job of Printer's Marks
by Kim Dudley - 26-Jan-05
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In this tutorial, we will look at the life of a printer's mark. Dedicated to ensuring a job prints correctly, they are one of the most important elements in a print design, yet are never seen. After they successfully complete their job they are cut off and thrown away...
Okay, maybe I can't make you feel sorry for printer's marks, so I'll just get to my point. Printer's marks are a necessary part of a print job and it is a good idea to know how to use them. This tutorial will take a look at printer's marks and demonstrate how to automatically and manually set them up in Freehand.
CD Labels with iTunes, Fireworks, and Freehand
by Kim Cavanaugh - 19-Jan-05
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For Christmas this year I decided to give my wife something a little special. No, it wasn't one of those Lexus with the giant bow on top, but something a little more in keeping with our budget--music. Using iTunes I created 6 custom music mixes for her with some of her favorite songs. It was lots of fun to make the mixes, but when it came time to make the labels I was a little stumped. I wanted to do a collage of the album artwork for the songs on each CD, but none of the regular labeling software gave me the flexibillity I wanted. With a combination of some great, and free, Applescripts, Freehand and Fireworks I was able to create just the kind of labels I wanted. This tutorial shows you how it was done. Sure, it's not web design work, but why not use your software for fun stuff every now and then?
New Year, New Style
by Kim Dudley - 13-Jan-05
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It seems that during the past number of years the expected output for a graphic designer has increased exponentionally. Projects that once took a week to complete are now expected to be sent to print within a couple of days. With deadlines, as well as budgets, growing tighter we must find ways to improve our productivity and increase our accuracy. Freehand's Style Sheets are one way we can accomplish this. This tutorial is a step-by-step guide on the set-up and application of style sheets. At the end of this project you will be using style sheets for all your large projects.
Get Up to Date With Freehand
by Kim Dudley - 28-Dec-04
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With 2005 just around the corner, I have created a project utilizing Freehand's drawing tools and text tools. This tutorial deals with many of the tasks and tools used in day-to-day layout work, including guidelines, importing elements and working with tabs. At the end of this basic project you will have a 12 month desktop calendar ready for printing.
CMX JumpStarts: North Pole
by Adrian Senior - 16-Dec-04
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The North Pole JumpStart is a two column, fixed width design that uses clever deployment of background images in both the navigational elements and the content areas of the design. The graphics used in North Pole are both simple and complex. They range from the beautifully created snowman made in Freehand and converted to Fireworks to some Christmas black line art that was coloured in to make simple yet effective images that enhanced the Christmas theme with only a few minutes work. Come and have a look!
Creating Gift Tags Using Freehand
by Kim Dudley - 14-Dec-04
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With the busy Christmas season upon us, this quick and easy Freehand 10 or 11 tutorial will help you with your Christmas preparations. At the end of this project you will have some decorative Christmas gift tags and a bunch of new Freehand skills. We will draw a graphic, import some others and work with text and colors to create graphic gift tags. Print out these, or use your imagination to create your own. Either way, these tags will add the finishing touch to all your Christmas gifts.
Convert a Photo to a Painting with Freehand and Fireworks
by Kim Cavanaugh - 06-Dec-04
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Recently I set myself to a design task that I hadn't tried using Macromedia products before — the conversion of a photograph to a painting. Yes, I know that there are other image editors that will do this kind of thing for you, and perhaps do it more easily. But if you're at all like me, the idea of first buying one of those programs, and then learning how to use it can be a deterrent. If I can get the effect I want using software I already own, and that I'm familiar with, then all the better.
'Tis the Season for Christmas Cards
by Kim Dudley - 01-Dec-04
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With Christmas right around the corner, it is time to start hanging wreaths and mailing Christmas cards. This year why not add a personal touch to your Christmas cards by making your own? This tutorial will walk you through the steps of customizing a Christmas card in Freehand 11. Add a photo and personal message or create a whole new design using the card layouts. Either way your Christmas card will be sure to stand out and spread some Christmas cheer.
Freehand, It's Not Just For Print Anymore
by Kim Dudley - 15-Nov-04
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Freehand is a bit of an oddball amongst its Macromedia Studio siblings. Fireworks, Dreamweaver and Flash are built for web development; Freehand is built for print. Other than the Macromedia name, what do they have in common? The creation of web pages and artwork for print require two completely different sets of skills. Moving a project from print to web can be tedious. Freehand has recognized this and offers tools to simplify the conversion. By providing seamless integration with Flash and Fireworks, Freehand is making itself a useful tool in this web development family
Setting up Color in Freehand - Part 2
by Kim Dudley - 02-Nov-04
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In Part One of Setting up Color in Freehand I introduced you to the world of Full Color or Process Printing. We took a look at the offset printing process and how the image on the screen gets to the paper. Realistically not every project will be printed with full color, actually many print projects are limited to one or two colors. Why would anyone just use one color? It usually comes down to printing costs. Spot color printing is an affordable alternative to full color printing. Reproducing a photograph with all its colors may not be possible but there are other options spot colors offer. In this tutorial we will discuss Spot color printing and use Freehand 11.0 to set up a Spot color project.
Setting Up Color in Freehand
by Kim Dudley - 20-Oct-04
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When was the last time you heard a web designer ask if it was a full color job? Most likely never, since web designers have the luxury of working with all colors all the time. In this tutorial, we will focus on full color in the print world and take a look at what really happens to get the artwork from the screen to the paper. Need to set up a business card or ad for full color printing? We will dive into the strange and wonderful world of CMYK color and use Freehand to convert a black and white ad to full color.
Fancying It Up With Text In Freehand
by Kim Dudley - 05-Oct-04
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Type can make or break any layout, whether it's a web page, brochure or multimedia presentation. We often spend time fixing and adjusting graphics or images, but then just drop in the text and go on our way. This tutorial takes a look at some of the ways we can spruce up our text with Freehand 11.0. No need to use Photoshop for drop shadows and other fancy text effects anymore. You'll be on your way to creating unique and creative text with Freehand 11.0 in no time.
Graphic Brushes in Freehand MX
by Derrick Ypenburg - 01-Sep-04
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Using the Graphic Hose tool in Freehand, you can create "graphic brushes" to paint with text and graphics to create stunning designs, effects and patterns.
Building Simple Buttons: Part 2
by Tom Green - 30-Jun-04
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Have you ever wondered how to build a really cool button? In this tutorial, I show you how to build a button using the features of Freehand, Fireworks and Flash. I also show you a couple of "integration" techniques guaranteed to speed up your workflow.
Go With The Flow
by Val Tobin - 29-Jun-04
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Flowcharts are not only a useful tool for planning a software application, but they are also handy for planning web sites and web applications. This article explains what flowcharts are, why they should be used, how to use them, and then provides an example of how a flowchart for a registration component for a web site might look.
Altered States in Flash: Part 2
by Tom Green - 27-May-04
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If you use a Flash intro on your site, have you considered involving the site visitors in the intro? This article explains how to create a streaming video intro that will keep visitors coming back for more. Using nothing more than FreeHand MX and a Flash Camera object, you will be shown how to recreate a part of the titling sequence from the movie, "Altered Sates".
Bitmap Tracing in FreeHand MX
by Tom Green - 08-Jan-04
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Kim showed you how to turn an image into a cartoon using Freehand and Fireworks. This tutorial shows you how to convert an image to line art, for use in Fireworks MX or Flash MX, using the Freehand's Trace Tool.
Converting a Photograph to a Cartoon Drawing
by Kim Cavanaugh - 16-Dec-03
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I have great fun messing around with graphics applications and one of the things I've been experimenting with a lot lately is turning a photograph into a cartoon drawing. After much trial and error I've hit upon a series of steps that will allow me to do just that in Fireworks and Freehand.
Turn the Page with Freehand and Flash--Part 2
by Kim Cavanaugh - 25-Nov-03
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As rich and diverse as the suite of tools available for designers using the MX Studio are, the one area where there is a deficiency is in rendering three-dimensional effects. You can certainly buy, and learn, new applications that will render these kinds of effects for you, but when you only need the occasional 3-D effect what are you to do? In this case — where the goal is to create an animation that simulates the opening of a book — you turn to Freehand for its ability to perform 3-D rotations of objects and then to Flash for the completion of the animation.
Turn the Page with Freehand and Flash--Part 1
by Kim Cavanaugh - 20-Nov-03
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As rich and diverse as the suite of tools available for designers using the MX Studio are, the one area where there is a deficiency is in rendering three dimensional effects. You can certainly buy and learn new applications that will render these kinds of effects for you, but when you only need the occasional 3-D effect what are you to do? In this case — where the goal is to create an animation that simulates the opening of a book — you turn to Freehand for its ability to perform 3-D rotations of objects and then to Flash for the completion of the animation.
Beyond Rectangles with Freehand MX
by Kim Cavanaugh - 07-Nov-03
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One question that seems to arise with owners of the MX Studio is "What the heck do I do with Freehand?" Dreamweaver, Fireworks, even Flash — the uses for all those applications are pretty self-evident. But Freehand? "Hey, I don't do print work, why should I use that program? And what does it do for me?"
The answer in many cases is that Freehand is a terrific application that can really add some zing to your designs by providing tools that the other programs don't have and provide you with design options that are beyond what Fireworks and Flash can do. In this example you'll see how you can break out of those rectangular boxes that seem to dominate most web designs and provide something a little more interesting.
Multipage Site Modeling Using Freehand MX and Fireworks MX
by Tom Green - 20-Aug-03
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Creating the comprehensive designs for a site can be a tedious process. Each page has to be "comped" in Fireworks MX, sliced and then moved over to Dreamweaver MX and posted to the Client's Site for approval. For large sites this could involve creating the designs for the major pages and the sub section pages. If a dozen pages or so are involved, there is also the management issue of ensuring the pages don't get lost. There is a way to dramatically reduce the amount of time devoted to this process. The idea is to allow the software do the work. In this case the software is FreeHand MX and Fireworks MX.
FreeHand Symbols and the MX Studio
by Tom Green - 15-Aug-03
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If there is one aspect of FreeHand MX that seems to be completely overlooked it is the ability to create Symbols in FreeHand MX. If you are a Flash MX or Fireworks MX user you are quite familiar with the concept of creating symbols.
Keeping Text Editable in FreehandMX Envelopes
by Tom Green - 12-Aug-03
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So you're hesitant to envelope text in Freehand MX since it will no longer be editable? You're not sure you have the final wording, there might be changes or typos. Well worry no longer! This tutorial shows you a creative way to keep your text editable and envelope it too!
Using Envelope Tools in Freehand MX
by Kim Cavanaugh - 14-May-03
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Freehand has many tools that exist nowhere else in other MX applications, and often this fact alone makes it worthwhile to turn to Freehand when you want to do something special. Envelopes are a great example of a feature that can give your graphics a bit of oomph when you need it, and allow you to do those kinds of special things that can set your graphics apart from the competition. In this tutorial you'll have the opportunity to explore the use of envelopes, see how the envelope toolbar is used, and experiment with creating and modifying objects with envelopes applied to them.
The Physics of Vector Graphics--Part II
by Kim Cavanaugh - 22-Apr-03
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The three primary drawing tools from Macromedia all depend on vector graphics to work their magic. Whether you are animating in Flash, drawing in Fireworks, or illustrating in Freehand, the common thread between all three is their use of vectors. In the second part of this series you'll examine the relationship between anchor points and the line segments that are created when points are connected, and see how line segments are modified in Freehand, Fireworks, and Flash.
The Elements of Vector Graphics
by Kim Cavanaugh - 14-Apr-03
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Vector graphics are at the heart of the three primary drawing tools in the MX suite. Freehand, Flash, and Fireworks all depend on vectors for drawings that range from the simple to the astoundingly complex. No matter how they are created though, all vector drawings share a common structure that is explored in this multi-part series.
Tracing bitmaps
by Kim Cavanaugh - 04-Apr-03
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Many times you will need to recreate a graphic from a bitmap or GIF file in order to use it for print or in vector applications like Flash. This article teaches you to use Freehand MX to trace existing images and convert them into vectors that can be cleanly resized and animated.
What's New In Freehand MX
by Kim Cavanaugh - 30-Mar-03
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With the recent introduction of Freehand MX to the family of MX products, Macromedia has now gathered their four primary design and graphics tools under one umbrella. And, while Freehand has enjoyed a long association with the print industry, the newest version of this capable vector graphics program has opened up intriguing new possibilities for those who work with standard web graphics and the more complex world of interactive images like those used in Flash MX.
