Setting up Your Document > Working with bitmap images in FreeHand > Editing imported bitmap images

 

Editing imported bitmap images

BMP is the Windows standard format for bitmap graphics and can support an alpha channel. FreeHand can import and transform BMP images, but you cannot edit these images in FreeHand. However, you can edit imported bitmap images using another application launched from FreeHand. You use the External Editor feature to launch the external application. For information on cropping a bitmap image, see Cropping a bitmap image.

To resize a bitmap image, do one of the following:

Drag the corner handles of the bitmap image.

To constrain the proportions of the image as you resize it, Shift-drag.

To resize the image in specific increments based upon the printer resolution, Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Macintosh).

In the Object inspector, enter the scale percentage or the dimensions and press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh).

To set external editor options:

1

Choose Edit > Preferences. Click Object.

2

Select Warn Before Launch and Edit (the default).

When this option is selected, a dialog box prompts you to confirm that launching an external editor to edit the image is intentional.

3

For Object, choose the file format from the pop-up menu: PICT, BMP, GIF, JPEG, Photoshop, PNG Image, Targa, TIFF Image, or Xres LRG Image.

4

Click the Ellipsis (...) button, navigate to select an editor, and click OK (Windows) or Open (Macintosh).

5

Click OK twice.

To use an external editor:

1

Select a bitmap image.

2

Choose Edit > External Editor or press Alt (Windows) or Option (Macintosh) and double-click the image.

3

At the prompt asking if you want to open an external editor, click OK.

The application launches with the selected image opened (if enough RAM is available). An Editing in Progress dialog box appears in FreeHand when the external application opens.

By deselecting the Warn Before Launch and Edit option in object preferences, you can turn off this prompt; for more information, see the previous procedure.

4

When you have finished editing in the external editor, choose File > Save to save your changes and quit the external editor application. Click Done in the Editing in Progress dialog box.

The image automatically updates with any changes made to it.