Getting Started > What's new in FreeHand 10

 

What's new in FreeHand 10

In addition to new and improved tools and panels that enhance your work experience, FreeHand 10 offers a new array of features that allow you to move seamlessly from print to Web.

And you can now use FreeHand with other applications more smoothly and efficiently than ever.

 
Navigation panel

Using the Navigation panel, you can assign URL links to objects or create notes that export with your document. You can also assign Flash actions to FreeHand objects, to create interactive Flash movies that you can export as SWF files. For more information, see Adding names and notes to objects, Attaching URLs to objects and text, and Assigning Flash actions.

 
Master pages

Master pages are special nonpasteboard pages that can contain any object or graphic symbol that ordinary pages can contain except for page numbers. They provide a method of easily creating objects and setting page attributes shared by a range of pages in a document. You can change a master page at any time, and the changes you make are reflected in each child page. Master pages are saved with the document and can be imported or exported as library items. For more information on master pages, see Working with master pages.

 
Pen tool features

The enhanced Pen tool features in FreeHand 10 let you make changes to your illustration mid-path. The Pen tool, in addition to conforming with Fireworks and Flash functionality, adds compatibility with the Adobe Illustrator pen tool without changing how the tool works in FreeHand. For more information, see Drawing with the Pen tool and Bezigon tool.

The Pen tool includes the following functionality:

The new Show Solid Points preference lets you display points as a solid shape for easier editing.

New smart cursors similar to those used in Illustrator show what action will happen if you click at the Pen's location in the drawing.

FreeHand 10 remembers the last active end point of a path, allowing you to perform other actions and then easily return to editing the path.

You can now click on a selected path to insert a new point.

In FreeHand 10 you can click on a point to retract its handles. If the handles are retracted, clicking on a point with the Pen deletes the point.

You can now use the Shift key to temporarily disable certain Pen functions, allowing greater flexibility when working with multiple paths.

 
Enhanced tools panel

The Subselect and Hand tools are now available on the Tools panel. The icons for the Freeform, Zoom, and Line tools have changed to match those in Fireworks. For more information on these and other tools, see FreeHand basics overview.

 
Brush Stroke feature

Using the Brush Stroke feature, you can now create a graphic element, save it as a symbol, then use it as a brush stroke to stretch, repeat, or stack multiple times along the length of a path. Using this feature reduces file size and eliminates excessive redraw time. For more information on the Brush Stroke feature, see Using brush strokes.

Library panelFormerly known as the Symbols panel, the Library panel now stores symbols and master pages. For more information on the Library panel, see Using the Library panel.

 
Editing symbols

When you edit a symbol, FreeHand updates all instances of that symbol within your document. This functionality is particularly useful for graphics that need to be updated often. For more information on editing symbols, see Editing symbols.

 
Integration with Flash

New features in FreeHand 10 allow you to assign Flash actions to FreeHand objects, preview and test a Flash movie in FreeHand, and export a FreeHand document as a SWF file. For more information, see Assigning Flash actions and Using the Controller or Control menu with SWF files.

 
File Info dialog box

The File Info dialog box lets you enter optional information such as dates, file names, captions, headline slugs, author/photographer names, and copyright information. FreeHand uses the International Press Telecommunications Council (IPTC) protocol standard to store this information.

 
Contour gradients

With the Contour Gradient feature on the Fill inspector's Gradient panel, you can now blend color in two dimensions (both horizontally and vertically). For more information on contour gradients, see Applying gradient fills.

 
Print area

In FreeHand 10 you can define a print area within the work space to send to your printer. You can resize or delete the new print area, which is treated as part of your document's attributes. For more information on the print area, see Defining a print area.

 
Unsaved document indicator

In FreeHand 10, you can track the revision of your working documents. When a document needs to be saved, an asterisk (*) appears at the end of the file name in the document title bar (similar to Dreamweaver and Fireworks 4 functionality). For more information on the unsaved document indicator, see The Document window.

 
Color boxes

The Tools panel now contains color boxes that allow you to select from an array of standard color chips or swatches. This functionality is similar to that found in Fireworks, Flash, and Dreamweaver. For more information on the color boxes, see Color, strokes, and fills overview.