MACROMEDIA FLASH 8-USING FLASH Use Manual page 197

Importing FreeHand MX files
You can import FreeHand files in version 7 or later directly into Flash. FreeHand MX is the
best choice for creating vector graphics for import into Flash, because you can preserve
FreeHand layers, text blocks, library symbols, and pages, and choose a page range to import.
If the imported FreeHand file is in CMYK color mode, Flash converts the file to RGB.
Keep the following guidelines in mind when importing FreeHand files:
When importing a file with overlapping objects that you want to preserve as separate
objects, place the objects on separate layers in FreeHand, and select Layers in the
FreeHand Import dialog box in Flash when importing the file. (If overlapping objects on a
single layer are imported into Flash, the overlapping shapes will be divided at intersection
points, just as with overlapping objects that you create in Flash.)
When you import files with gradient fills, Flash can support up to eight colors in a
gradient fill. If a FreeHand file contains a gradient fill with more than eight colors, Flash
creates clipping paths to simulate the appearance of a gradient fill. Clipping paths can
increase file size. To minimize file size, use gradient fills with eight colors or fewer in
FreeHand.
When you import files with blends, Flash imports each step in a blend as a separate path.
Thus, the more steps a blend has in a FreeHand file, the larger the imported file size will
be in Flash.
When you import files with strokes that have square caps, Flash converts the caps to
round caps.
When you import files with placed grayscale images, Flash converts the grayscale images
to RGB images. This conversion can increase the imported file's size.
When importing files with placed EPS images, you must select the Convert Editable EPS
when Imported option in FreeHand Import Preferences before you place the EPS into
FreeHand. If you do not select this option, the EPS image will not be viewable when
imported into Flash. In addition, Flash does not display information for an imported EPS
image (regardless of the Preferences settings used in FreeHand).
To import a FreeHand file:
1.
Select File > Import to Stage or File > Import to Library.
2.
In the Import dialog box, select FreeHand from the Files of Type (Windows) or Show
(Macintosh) pop-up menu.
3.
Navigate to a FreeHand file and select it.
4.
Click Open.
Placing artwork into Flash 197