Macromedia is certainly one of the more technologically aggressive of the major software publishers, and now they are one of the first of the big boys (if not the first) to deliver a mainstream application fully compatible with Apple's new operating system, Mac OS X.Freehand 10 includes numerous new features in three areas: new illustration tools, improved productivity, and multiple output options such as PDF, HTML, and Flash. Freehand 10 also supports the IPTC header file information for services that take advantage of such information, such as Knight Ridder and the Associated Press.
Illustrators will love "true contour gradients," a new feature that helps create the most realistic shading we've seen in a 2-D illustration program. Create gradients of irregular shapes, control the amount of shading at any point, and use multicolor gradients.
Freehand's improved pen tool now looks and behaves exactly the same as it does in Flash and Fireworks. In fact, the whole Freehand interface now looks, feels, and behaves just like other Macromedia products, while still managing to look like whatever platform it's running on. For example, Freehand under Mac OS 9 looks like a classic Mac app, but the same app takes on the Aqua interface when running under OS X.
Freehand 10 targets users who create material for print and the Web. Flash export, in the form of SWF files, has been improved, and conversely, a designer can now import Flash actions and assign them to objects in Freehand. Also, Freehand now has a Flash runtime engine complete with controller panel, so that Flash actions and files destined for SWF export can now be tested within Freehand.
For those who create multiple-page documents, Freehand's Master Pages can be used to manage a 32,000-page document, sharing templates and page attributes while retaining the ability to edit master pages at any time. Child pages update dynamically when a master page is changed.
For Mac OS X users, launching a major app like Freehand without first starting up the Classic environment is a real thrill. The native OS X interface is a nice complement to Freehand, and it makes us anxious to see other Macromedia products running under X. Freehand 10 is an important upgrade for existing users, and for new ones, numerous new features make it easier to learn than ever. --Mike Caputo--This review refers to the full version of Freehand 10.
