Differences between FH MX and ...

[_flashNewbie]

Hi guys-

I consider myself a newbie to Freehand MX and am clueless when it comes to the
"print" world. Eventually, I'd like to do print projects like brochures,
posters, fliers and the like. But, what is the difference between Freehand MX
and Adobe InDesign? Are they direct competitors? Am I comparing the right
products?

Thanks,
Newbie

[Armadillo]

> I consider myself a newbie to Freehand MX and am clueless when it comes
to the

> "print" world. Eventually, I'd like to do print projects like brochures,

posters, fliers and the like.

Then FreeHand may be your tool. But wait until Macromedia fixes the line
spacing bug that appeared in 10.0.2.

> But, what is the difference between Freehand MX and Adobe InDesign?

FreeHand has better drawing tools (for illustrations) and somewhat limited
text handling capabilites while InDesign is more at home with longer
documents. If you are looking for good body text InDesign is superior to any
other program.

> Are they direct competitors?

No. FreeHand and Adobe Illustrator are. Currently Illustrator is a bit
ahead - featurewise they are about even but the bugs the bugs. There is no
competitors for InDesign although Quark think it is.

There is of course 30 day demos available but as a newbie it is probaly hard
to figure out what is the best.

Please note that the best program is not the one with most features or the
most popular but the one you feel comfortable working with. I try to
convince myself that it is Illusrator since I cannot use FreeHand due to
major bugs.

Jukka

[_flashNewbie]

Jukka,

Thank you for your quick response. I appreciate your input. Do you know much
about InDesign? Is it like MM Dreamweaver in that it's a layout program for
"print?"

It sounds like you're comfortable with both Freehand and Illustrator. If so,
do you use both concurrently on a project or do you use one over the other in
certain instances or a specific project?

Again, thanks for your input.
Newbie

[Armadillo]

> Thank you for your quick response. I appreciate your input. Do you know

much

> about InDesign? Is it like MM Dreamweaver in that it's a layout program

for

> "print?"

You could describe InDesign as Dreamweaver for print. I think they are both
very good at what they do. The approach is of course very different due to
different media. To design for print media you better learn a few basics -
like using and understanding cmyk color.

> It sounds like you're comfortable with both Freehand and Illustrator. If

so,

> do you use both concurrently on a project or do you use one over the other

in

> certain instances or a specific project?

I'm quite familiar with FreeHand and I'm learning IllustratorCS. I have used
computers in design for about 20 years now. Last time I used Illustrator it
was version 5.

I've gradually changing from FreeHand to Illustrator. So I'm using
Illustrator for exactly same projects I used FreeHand except for example
multipage brochures which I now make with InDesign and import Illustrator
files as necessary. By the way it imports native Illustrator and Photoshop
files very well.

I still think that FreeHand was a very good program but Macromedia has made
a real mess with it by adding features that do not work at all. At the same
time they do not improve existing features but manage to create new bugs in
them. So I've quit using FH quite reluctantly but I used it for making my
living and I just can't afford to waste more time using it.

Jukka

[_flashNewbie]

Hi Jukka-

I'm intrigued about InDesign and am seriously considering purchasing InDesign
which is included in the CS suite. I currently have Illustrator 10 and
Photoshop 6 so I'm eligible to upgrade to the CS suite. Is there a steep
learning curve to InDesign? Can you recommend any resources or books on using
and understanding CMYK? Also, on InDesign?

Currently, I have Studio MX and want to stay within the MM family because I'm
so familiar with all the tools except FreeHand MX. But, with all the stuff I'm
reading about FreeHand MX, I just wonder if going to the CS suite is the way to
go for bit-map editing, vector creation and print layouts. As for Dreamweaver
MX and Flash MX, that's a no-brainer. I'm keeping those.

[davecc]

Currently, I have Studio MX and want to stay within the MM family because I'm
so familiar with all the tools except FreeHand MX.

FlashNewbie,

Freehand MX will get the job done as good or better than Illustrator. No
software programme is perfect, just check out the Illustrator forums. FH has
its issues, but in my experience with the print side of it, works well with
both flexographic and offset pre-press.

David

[Armadillo]

> Photoshop 6 so I'm eligible to upgrade to the CS suite. Is there a steep

> learning curve to InDesign? Can you recommend any resources or books on

using

> and understanding CMYK? Also, on InDesign?

If you have not used page layout programs like PageMaker or Quark before the
curve may be steep. Program manualas usually have some good information
about designing for print and some tutorials too - just to get started. I
do not know that much about those books but probably there are not too many
that can beat the program manual.

> Currently, I have Studio MX and want to stay within the MM family because

I'm

> so familiar with all the tools except FreeHand MX. But, with all the

stuff I'm

Yes that's what I (and Dave) said. Use the tools you like working with. No
matter what someone else, including me, says.

Jukka

[Armadillo]

> its issues, but in my experience with the print side of it, works well

with

> both flexographic and offset pre-press.

If you get that far that is. ;-)

Jukka

[_flashNewbie]

Hi Dave and Jukka-

I do appreciate your comments and inputs. I'm just trying to get a handle on
what I'm getting myself into and what tools I'm going to need to get the job
done in an efficient manner.

Thanks again,
Newbie

[davecc]

> both flexographic and offset pre-press.

If you get that far that is. ;-)

Jukka[/q]

Jukka,

I get there every working day for the last 14 years.

Dave