Freehand for Flash MX: Asset or Redundancy? 2

[Rougy]

Hi,

I'm playing wit the Flash MX tutorial (trial version) and I see many similarities between the graphics editor for Freehand and Flash.

Does Freehand MX have some gutsy attributes that Flash MX does not have?

Is there a significant advantage to developing graphics in Freehand and then importing them into Flash?

Is it worth the extra $300 for the Freehand software?

Thanks,

Rougy

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The death of dogma is the birth of reason.

 

[jnaz]

Hello, this is a great question. I have been using FreeHand for over 10 years and Flash ever since it was Future Splash.

I recently read an article on why the two apps handle vectors differently. It was very insightful. It basically explained that FreeHand was designed to handle postscript for printing and Flash was designed for onscreen. Therefore, they cannot use the same engine for both.

Therefore, this being the case they handle vectors differently.

In my opinion, FreeHand is much easier to create the graphics in than using Flash to create them. I always start in Freehand then import to Flash. Colors, Strokes and any complex strokes (such as dashed lines)won't transfer across.

To me it depends on how complex you are going to make your vector drawings. If you are making simple buttons and effects, Flash should work fine. However, if you are looking to do more realistic type drawing I would at least build the outlines in Freehand then bring them over even in sections and fill them in Flash. You do not need to fill them in Flash but you will get more WYSIWYG results. I am sure all of the cool graphics you see on the web with complex shapes are done in Freehand or Illustrator then imported into Flash.

I would suggest if you would like to get both you get StudioMX this includes Freehand Flash Dreamweaver and Fireworks. About $800 but well worth it. You get a Photoshop like app, Flash Freehand and a developer level application in Dreamweaver.

You can also purchase an earlier version of Freehand from half.com or somewhere like that. Should only be $100. Don't go older than version 8 though. Don't get an older version of Flash though. Flash MX is superior.

Hope this helps.

jnaz

 

[boomphette]

As a professional Flash animator, I have a different take on the matter. I do almost all my artwork exclusively in Flash. Personaly, I find it even easier to use than Freehand or Illustrator. Instead of dealing with pesky Bezier curve handles, the interface is much more intuitive (although the option to use Bezier handles is available in Flash.) Just draw right on the stage, and tug the line or shape where you want it, and Flash does the adjustments for you.

I do mainly commercial character animation, so the shapes are extremely complex. Flash is faster and easier to handle than other vector programs. The only time I use other progs for vector work is in creating extremely precise logos or altering custom text characters. Otherwise I draw straight into Flash. (Wacom pen makes dwg so much easier!)

So in my opinion, having other vector dwg progs is helpful, but not necessary. Flash is quite capable of doing precise and complex artwork without the needing to do it Freehand and importing it. And faster. But I guess it depends on the needs of your project.


Good luck to ya, and it won't hurt to have Freehand if you really want it!

Boomphette

 

[Rougy]

Thanks very much for your valuable insight.

I think I will buy Studio MX. I've been toying with the trial version for only a day, and already I can see how powerful that software is.

I'll use Freehand for pamphlets and such, Flash for little cartoons and videos, and Dreamweaver for rebuilding a bionic web page.

Maybe I'm easily impressed, being a novice to all of this, but after playing with the Studio tutorials, I've got to say that Studio MX is par to awsome.

If anybody out there has tapped out the potential for that package, they are few and far between.



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The death of dogma is the birth of reason.