How to Use Macromedia Freehand Software

Freehand MX is the only software that goes from design and production to publishing inside the same document and graphic software. Use Freehand to create illustrations and layout design for both the web, document printouts and Adobe Flash. Learn the basics so you can use Macromedia Freehand software with you next project.

Instructions

1. Maximize your work area by "zipping" panels and arranging them across the top of the title bar. Double-click the title bar, and then minimize the panel you wish to rearrange.

2. Use keyboard shortcuts to perform tasks more easily. Click "Edit," and then "Keyboard Shortcuts" to review or customize the keyboard shortcuts.

3. Customize your toolbar so that you have all your frequently used icons in one place. Click on "Windows," then "Toolbars" and "Customize."

4. Select one or more objects. The Object Selector shows relevant information for the objects you've selected. Make changes to the objects inside the object selector to save time while editing instead of using the standard windows and panels.

5. Make a copy of an object. In Windows, alt-drag the object, or with a Mac, option-drag the object, to make a copy. In Windows, you also can select the object, hold down both the left and right mouse buttons and drag.

6. Apply gradient colors by dragging color swatches directly to the ends of the gradient.

7. Tile an object evenly using the Graphic Hose tool found in the "Xtra Tools" toolbar.

8. Reduce redraw time for your blends with the Object Inspector. Set the number of blends to 3. Finish your drawing and replace all three-step gradients with thirty-step gradients.

9. Power-duplicate objects using the "Duplicate" command. Transform the object. Without de-selecting the object, choose "Edit" and "Duplicate" as many times as you wish.

10. Align points of an object by using the Subselect tool to select the points to align. Then choose a position towards which to align the points.