Advantages for FreeHand?

[P-C-Surgeon]

Can somebody tell me the advantages in using FreeHand. I have been using FW for
all my graphics, navbars, etc. and then importing them into DW. This seems to
work well. Is FH used to create graphics and then import them into DW, or can
you import them into FW first for adding navbars, buttons, slices, etc.

[David Plank]

Fireworks is an image editing tool. Freehand is a
drawing/illustration tool. With Freehand you can create art for
printed publications. Since it uses vector data, you can enlarge
the art to billboard size without loss of quality. You can also
create art and convert it to images (pixels) for the web or
import it into Flash.

dp

P-C-Surgeon wrote:

> Can somebody tell me the advantages in using FreeHand. I have been using FW for
> all my graphics, navbars, etc. and then importing them into DW. This seems to
> work well. Is FH used to create graphics and then import them into DW, or can
> you import them into FW first for adding navbars, buttons, slices, etc.
>

[Sack]

>all my graphics, navbars, etc. and then importing them into DW. This seems to

>work well. Is FH used to create graphics and then import them into DW, or can
>you import them into FW first for adding navbars, buttons, slices, etc.
>
>.
>

Actually, Fireworks has some good vector tools, and there's no major
advantage using FH as you'd really have to take the Freehand file into
Fireworks anyway to finaly save the images as FW gives you greater control
over the quality of the final images. FH can export in many formats with
varying success, and without any preview of the result.
Where Freehand would have a great benefit is if you wanted to do a large
or intricate illustration. Freehand is definitely faster to use than
Fireworks. Let say you were creating a map. You'd be able to draw it
faster in Freehand and then open the finished freehand file into FW keeping
everything as vector and editable. You would then obviously have the
Freehand file to use elsewhere easily (e.g. print publishing or flash),
rather than trying to get it out of Fireworks.

[bcraig3]

Freehand also is very important if you're planning on cross-purposing your work
(for both print and the web). By creating certain graphic elements in Freehand
first, you have the ability to export as EPS, etc for high-resolution output
in convention printing. You can then bring elements into Fireworks and
modify/optimize them for use on the web. Personally, I love have Freehand in my
toolbox.