🖋️ Macromedia FreeHand
The legendary vector tool that rivalled Illustrator for two decades. Still in the syllabus because many Nepali presses and publishers used it — and old .FH files still arrive at designers' inboxes.
10.1Introduction of FreeHand
Macromedia FreeHand is a vector drawing and page-layout program originally released by Aldus in 1988. Macromedia acquired it in 1994, and Adobe took over when it bought Macromedia in 2005. Adobe discontinued it in 2007 in favour of Illustrator, but it remains widely referenced in older print shops and is in this syllabus because many senior Nepali designers used it.
Key facts (often asked)
- Original publisher: Aldus (who also made PageMaker).
- Acquired by Macromedia (1994) and then Adobe (2005).
- Discontinued: 2007.
- Final version: FreeHand MX / MXa.
- Native file extension: .FH8, .FH9, .FH10, .FH11, .FHD (FreeHand Document).
FreeHand vs Illustrator (commonly compared)
| FreeHand | Illustrator |
|---|---|
| Multi-page documents built in | Artboards (added much later) |
| Object-oriented colour management | Layer & swatch-based |
| Extremely fast with complex paths | Heavier but broader tool set |
| Loved for logos, maps, illustration | Industry standard today |
| Discontinued (2007) | Still actively developed |
10.2Uses of FreeHand
- Logo and identity design — crisp vector shapes.
- Illustration — both technical and expressive.
- Maps and diagrams — precise line work and labels.
- Multi-page layouts — brochures, flyers, posters, catalogues.
- Advertising design — newspaper and magazine ads.
- Packaging artwork — die-lines with labels.
- Preparation for print — CMYK artwork with spot colours for offset.
- Legacy files — many publishers still have old .FH archives.
10.3Creating Pages
FreeHand was ahead of Illustrator for years because it had true multi-page documents from day one.
- File → New — set page size, orientation, units.
- Add pages — Document Inspector or the Page tool.
- Each page can have its own size (unlike Illustrator artboards, which were identical in older versions).
- Master pages — template pages that apply common elements (logo, page number, border) across child pages.
- Reorder pages by dragging in the Document Inspector.
- Use separate layers per page for complex work.
10.4Convert Path for Text
"Convert path for text" refers to turning your type from editable text into vector paths (also called outlines). Once converted, text is a shape — no longer editable as letters, but also no longer dependent on the font being installed.
- Select the text.
- Text → Convert to Paths (or Text → Convert → Paths).
- Use when:
- Sending files to a printer who may not have your font.
- Sharing with clients who won't edit the text.
- Applying effects that need shape-level access (gradient along letters, individual letter distortion).
- Save a backup with live text before converting — once it's a path, you can't edit words without redrawing.
10.5Attach Path of Text and Object
"Attach text to a path" means making your type follow the shape of any curve or object — around a circle, along a wave, inside a shape.
- Draw the path first (any shape: circle, curve, freeform).
- Draw / select the text.
- Select both → Text → Attach to Path (or Text → Bind to Path).
- The text will flow along the path.
- Drag the text to reposition along the path.
Common uses
- Circular logos (text around a seal).
- Curved banner lettering.
- Stamps, emblems, badges.
- Product labels on bottles.
Attaching objects to a path
- Paste objects along a path (similar feature) to repeat a shape along a curve — e.g. a string of hearts along a wave.
10.6Export Objects with EPS Format
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) is a vector/raster file format ideal for handing artwork off to other programs or to presses. "Export with EPS Format" means saving your FreeHand artwork as a universally compatible file that almost any print shop can open.
Why EPS
- Vector data preserved — scales cleanly.
- Accepted by old and new software (InDesign, PageMaker, Quark, CorelDRAW, Illustrator).
- Supports CMYK and spot colours.
- A legacy favourite of print houses.
Exporting from FreeHand
- File → Export (or File → Save As, depending on version).
- Choose EPS format.
- Pick preview type (TIFF for PC/Mac compatibility, Macintosh PICT for Mac-only).
- Decide: include images, fonts, single page vs all pages.
- Save.
Alternatives when handing off
- PDF — the modern successor; preserves vectors + fonts; more widely supported.
- AI — open in Illustrator and re-save.
- SVG — for web.
Working with FreeHand files today
- Modern Illustrator versions can open .FH files (usually up to FH11).
- Best practice: open old FreeHand files in Illustrator → save as .AI or .PDF for continued work.
Practice with sample questions
Gemini will write 5 practice questions (mix of 5-mark and 10-mark) covering this chapter.
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