Local Macromedia distributor and Web enablement specialist, Dax Data, has announced Macromedia FreeHand MX, the multi-publishing solution for conceptualising and designing visually rich graphics for print, the Internet and Macromedia Flash projects.
Dax Data MD, Jeremy Matthews, says FreeHand MX includes the streamlined Macromedia MX interface, new productivity tools and panels, improved Mac OS X performance, and increased integration with Macromedia Flash MX. "The product enables graphic designers to streamline their workflow and easily move from concept to design to production in a single file, multi-page environment. This empowers them to meet today`s needs of doing more with less," he adds.
"FreeHand MX contains a powerful set of illustration and design tools which help users realise their creative vision, whether the end result is print, the Web, or a Macromedia Flash MX project."
The product continues its rich heritage of solving design problems for graphic designers and illustrators by providing a streamlined workflow that enables users to create their artwork once and then easily re-purpose it to work across multiple media. It provides everything necessary for storyboarding, creative design, multi-page document production and editing.
"The inclusion of the Macromedia MX user interface increases efficiency and productivity, by enabling users to work across Macromedia Studio MX applications," says Matthews. "The new Object panel automatically shows all properties that can be inspected and changed for a selected object. Multiple Attributes enables users to apply and order an unlimited number of strokes, fills and effects to a single vector or text object, which can also be used across multiple copies of an object."
Users can also apply live vector and raster effects like bevel, blur and transparency to objects, as well as reshape graphic primitives while still maintaining their edit-ability. Drag and drop ActionScript navigation commands with the Action tool simplify the creation of hot-linked graphics. FreeHand MX is also optimised for Mac OS X, allowing users to take advantage of the latest features and enhancements to Apple`s operating system.
In addition to the user interface enhancements, Macromedia FreeHand MX is tightly integrated with other Macromedia MX products. Users can import, place and preview Macromedia Flash (SWF) files within a FreeHand document, and can edit the file in Macromedia Flash MX using the Object panel. FreeHand also imports Macromedia Fireworks MX PNG files and keeps the objects and text editable. Both Macromedia Flash MX and Fireworks MX can directly open FreeHand MX files.
FreeHand MX is immediately available and a 30 trial copy can be ordered from Dax Data by e-mailing info@daxdata.co.za.
Share
Incorporated in September 1989, Dax Data has offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg, is an IBM Business Partner, a Microsoft Solution Provider and holds local distribution rights for Macromedia, NetManage, MGI, Tango/04, DataMirror and Graphon products. The company has an extensive skills-base for these products, assisting southern African enterprises to tackle complex host-to-any connectivity issues, Internet-based delivery mechanisms and data replication solutions.
Dax Data and its partners offer value-added services around the Web enablement of business applications - in effect, helping customers to maximise their investment in legacy systems by making the data, information and applications they contain available across multiple backend and client technologies.
Macromedia
Experience matters. Macromedia, Inc is motivated by the belief that great experiences build great businesses. Our software empowers millions of business users, developers, and designers to create and deliver effective, compelling and memorable experiences - on the Internet, on fixed media, on wireless, and on digital devices.
Editorial contacts