FreeHand is more than just an illustration
package--it’s a complete set of professional drawing, page layout, and Web
design tools, capable of handling everything from logos and infographics to user
interface design and Web animations. Who better to unravel the complexities of
the program than the people who created it? In Macromedia FreeHand 10:
Training from the Source, the experts at Macromedia lead you step-by-step
through real-world projects. No other book can make that claim--or make it
easier for you to master FreeHand 10.
The book’s project-based tutorials let you learn at your own pace as you gain
hands-on experience with the practice files on the accompanying CD-ROM.
Macromedia FreeHand 10: Training from the Source starts with an
introduction to the major features of FreeHand 10, then guides you through
sample projects. You’ll learn the basics--combining text and graphics, working
with paths and points, using layers and styles, and preparing files for a
commercial printer--then move on to advanced topics, such as the editable symbol
library and FreeHand’s rich integration with Macromedia Flash. At the end of
this “desktop course,” you’ll be proficient at creating and manipulating
graphics and text in FreeHand.
Table of Contents
Introduction.
Lesson 1. FreeHand Basics:
A Quick Tour.
Creating a Folder on Your Hard Drive. Creating a
New Document. Exploring the Controls. Customizing Applications Preferences.
Working with Panels. Organizing the Workspace. Creating an Element on the Page.
Changing the View. Creating Basic Shapes. Saving the Document. Applying Basic
Fills and Strokes. Applying Gradient Fills. Arranging, Aligning, and Grouping
Elements. Adding Other Elements. Customizing Tool Settings. Creating a Mirror
Image of an Element. Rotating an Element on the Page. Getting Help. On Your Own.
Lesson 2. Combining Text and Graphics.
Creating a New Document with a Custom Page Size.
Adding Custom Pages and Arranging Pages on the Pasteboard. Creating and Editing
Ruler Guides. Importing a Vector Graphic (EPS Format). Cloning and Scaling
Elements. Importing and Creating Colors and Tints. Applying Color to Objects.
Adding Text to the Layout. Importing Text into a Layout. Applying a Color Fill
to Text. On Your Own.
Lesson 3. Working with Points and Paths.
Manipulating Paths with the Freeform Tool.
Important Foundation Information. Point Principles. Control Handle Principles.
Drawing with the Pencil Tool. Differences Between the Bezigon and Pen Tools.
Drawing with the Bezigon Tool. Drawing with the Pen Tool. Exchanging Elements
Between Documents.
Lesson 4. Using Layers and Styles.
Creating a New Custom-Size Document. Importing a
Tracing Pattern and Moving it to a Background Layer. Defining Process Colors.
Creating an Element with the Pen Tool. Rotating a Copy and Duplicating the
Transformation. Combining Elements with Paste Inside. Changing Your View of the
Artwork. Creating Other Foreground Layers. Creating Curved Paths with the Pen
Tool. Defining and Applying Object Styles. Combining Elements with Path
Operations. Creating Other Elements. Aligning Elements. Positioning Artwork and
Editing Styles. Adding Elements to the Clipping Path. Scaling and Reflecting
Artwork. Importing a Picture Frame. Other Layer Panel Controls. Exporting
Artwork for Use in Other Programs. On Your Own.
Lesson 5. Creating More Complex Art.
Creating Illustrations with Path Operations.
Adding Text to a Path. Adding Blends to a Path. Copying Elements from Other
Documents. Setting Up the Perspective Grid. Applying Perspective to Artwork on
Vertical Planes. Applying Perspective Artwork on the Ground Plane. Tracing
Imported Artwork. Trimming Excess Artwork. Adding Text and Other Elements. Using
the Live Envelop Feature. On Your Own.
Lesson 6. Blending Shapes for Shading.
Getting Started. Creating Blends. Pasting Blends
Inside Paths to Create Three-Dimensional Shading. Creating Shading for the Top
of a Sphere. Creating Shading for a Cylindrical Ring. Adding Dimensions with
Radial Fills. Using the Contour Gradient Fill. Completing the Figure. Creating a
Realistic Shadow. Creating the Finished Document. Customizing FreeHand's
Toolbars and Shortcuts. On Your Own.
Lesson 7. Page Layout in FreeHand.
Assembling the Top Section. Separating the Text
Labels. Creating Multi-Column Text Blocks. Using In-Line Graphics. Making Text
Flow Around Graphic Elements. Saving the Document as a PDF File.
Lesson 8. Multiple-Page Document.
Specifying a Custom Page Size. Creating Guides
for a Consistent Layout. Using the Edit Guides Command. Mixing Custom Process
Colors and Blending Gradients. Creating Text and Graphics Elements. Using the
Xtra Operations. Using Transparency in FreeHand. Using Layers to Separate Types
of Artwork. Using Text Effects. Duplicating Pages in a Document. Importing Text
and Linking Text Blocks. Defining Paragraph Styles. Using the Text Editor.
Importing Images. Wrapping Text Around Graphics. Using the Links Dialog Box.
Using Colors from Bitmap Images. Using Find and Replace Graphics for Text.
Creating and Applying Master Pages. Printing Your Documents. Specifying a Print
Area. Collecting Files for Output. On Your Own.
Lesson 9. Setting Up Animation.
Building the First Sequence. Building the Second
Sequence. Building the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sequences. Building the Final
Sequence. Releasing the Blends to Layers. Exporting the Animation. Assigning
Flash Actions.
Lesson 10. Web Site Storyboards.
Approaching Web Site Design. Working with
Symbols. Using a Symbol as a Brush Stroke. More Powerful Editing Features.
Duplicating Groups of Pages. Assigning Active Links with the URL Editor. Adding
Name and Notes to Objects. Exporting to Various Formats from FreeHand.
Appendix A: Windows Shortcuts.
Appendix B: Macintosh Shortcuts.
Appendix C: Moving to FreeHand.
Appendix D: FreeHand Resources.
Index.