Web-Related Features; Blend Tool; Calligraphic Stroke; Eraser Tool - MACROMEDIA FREEHAND MX 11 Use Manual

Blends are now easier to apply. The Blend tool lets you drag a line between two

Blend tool

blend shapes to create the blend. See "Using the Blend tool" on page 213.
This new feature lets you create beautiful calligraphic strokes as part of your

Calligraphic stroke

vector objects. For more information, see "Using calligraphic stroke attributes" on page 173.
The new Eraser tool lets you erase parts of vector objects. To learn more, see

Eraser tool

"Erasing paths" on page 95.
FreeHand MX provides full import and display support for the alpha
Image alpha channels
channels of common bitmap image files. See "Working with bitmap images in FreeHand" on
page 318.
Two new gradient fills have been added to FreeHand MX: rectangular and
New gradient fills
cone gradients. Also, gradient fills now have new options. For more information, see "Using
gradient fill attributes" on page 179.
The Rounded Corners attribute gives brushed paths a more fluid and
Brush enhancements
natural look as they wrap around corners and sharp angles. To learn about brushes, see "Using
brush stroke attributes" on page 169.

Web-related features

Many new and enhanced FreeHand MX features help you plan, mock up, and develop website
components. With these additions, FreeHand MX becomes the tool of choice for the beginning
stages of web development, and the first step in the Macromedia Studio MX workflow.
The Connector tool lets you draw connector lines that dynamically link objects
Connector tool
together. Connector lines automatically adjust when you move connected objects in the
Document window. For more information on the Connector tool, see "Dynamically linking
objects" on page 102.
The Action tool lets you assign Flash actions to an object. For more information, see
Action tool
"Using the Action tool" on page 334.
You can now print or export an area of the Document window by using the
Output area
Output Area tool. To learn more, see "Exporting an area of a document" on page 348.
It's now easier to control the settings of a Flash movie inside
Simplified movie settings
FreeHand. For more information, see "Using Flash movies" on page 335.
Flash SWF files can be directly imported and placed in
SWF import, placement, and export
FreeHand MX, and then exported. See "Editing imported Flash movies" on page 336 and
"Exporting FreeHand documents as Flash movies" on page 336.
Getting Started 11