The new Object panel

Changing properties for selected objects and text is a cinch with the new object panel. Change, add or remove strokes and fills, and even set type and paragraph options all in one place! Select another object and the context sensitive panel dynamically changes to the options for that object. This seems to be an interim Property Inspector like the ones in Dreamweaver and Fireworks; and one can hope that in the next incarnation of FreeHand there will be a full fledged property inspector. Until then, this is a big improvement from FreeHand 10.

Tools panel changes

The tools panel has been reorganized to make finding the tools you need faster and easier.

Better integration between FH, FW, and Flash

Editing an image in Fireworks

Now when you are editing a bitmap file in FreeHand, you can launch Fireworks for editing or optimization. For editing, with the bitmap image selected, just click the send to Fireworks button on the bottom of the Object panel. Choose whether to use this image or the source png file, and the file opens in Fireworks. Make your changes, and click Done. The image is updated in FreeHand. Change your mind? Simply close the image in Fireworks without saving, and no changes to the image will be made. Bitmap images can be easily embedded using the Links button on the bottom of the panel.

Do you prefer to use another image editor such as Photoshop to edit the bitmap? Not a problem! Simply select the bitmap in FreeHand, and go to Edit > Edit in External Editor. Say yes when asked if you wish to use another image editor to edit this image, and choose a program from the list.

Copying and Pasting to Fireworks

When copying and pasting to Fireworks, the fills and even fill handles are retained so they can be further edited there.

Using Fireworks to optimize an image

To make use of Fireworks excellent compression, with the bitmap image selected in FreeHand, go to Edit > Optimize in Fireworks. You will once again be asked whether to use the source png or this file. Make your choice and the file opens in the Fireworks optimization dialog. Choose your setting and then click Update. The image in FreeHand is updated to reflect your changes.

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