Articles by Ron Rockwell

Sparkling Text Effects

Tue, 15 Mar 2005 00:00:00 EST

Sometimes you just need to have a little sparkle on your pages. If we're talking about Web pages, then those sparkles better shine and twinkle! You can use FreeHand MX to create the right amount of 'bling' in a few simple steps.

The Flow Between Fireworks & FreeHand

Fri, 21 Jan 2005 00:00:00 EST

These days it's a slippery slope we wander between graphics for onscreen viewing and graphics designed for printing. Depending on your own background, you may be more prepared for one application than the other. Working with FreeHand and Fireworks can be slightly daunting, but immensely rewarding.

Poster Art

Tue, 21 Dec 2004 00:00:00 EST

They just don't make posters as they used to. There was a time when posters were designed to use as few colors as possible to keep costs down. Screen printing techniques allowed for an economical print run, and artists learned to see and draw people and places in terms of basic shapes and masses of color.

40 Freehand Tips

Thu, 18 Nov 2004 00:00:00 EST

There are dozens and dozens of time - saving things you can do in freehand. Following is just a brief selection.

Typography Part 2

Mon, 18 Oct 2004 00:00:00 EDT

A picture is worth a thousand words, but there's always some loudmouth who wants to add a thousand words to your picture. For that, you have to know a little more about FreeHand's text-handling methods.

Typography in FreeHand

Wed, 08 Sep 2004 00:00:00 EDT

Type, text, copy, words, and (ugh!) even print - whatever you call it, it's the art and science of typography. FreeHand has an extremely robust text-handling feature set. It's easy to learn, and quite flexible and tough enough for anything from business cards to Web pages to small newsletters.

Form vs Feature Part 2

Wed, 11 Aug 2004 00:00:00 EDT

In the last issue of MXDJ (Vol. 2, issue 7), we discussed the Extrusion tool. This time we'll explore other drawing methods. Some modeling effects can be handled quickly in FreeHand with the Extrude tool, but gradient fills and creative blends from one shape to anothere are sometimes the best bet. The Extrude tool does a super job with text, but it has severe restrictions when it comes to compound shapes, such as the lumps and facets on ketchup or Coca-Cola bottles as they become round for the label. The project can be done, but you must stack several different extrusions into one final drawing, which can be taxing on your patience.

Form vs. Feature Part 1

Tue, 20 Jul 2004 00:00:00 EDT

The tools you use to create three-dimensional effects on FreeHand objects make a big difference in the final appearance and the time involved. There's not an absolutely right or wrong way to mold a form, but there are definitely many ways. In this first part of a two-part series, you'll learn about the new Extrude tool in FreeHand MX.

The Tricks to Tracing

Thu, 17 Jun 2004 00:00:00 EDT

Many casual users of FreeHand MX ask how to turn a bitmap or photograph into vector art. Naturally, the hope is that there¹s a button to click and the job is done. There's not, but it's close. Each image will be different in terms of both its content and the look you have in mind for the final artwork.

The Object Panel

Wed, 19 May 2004 00:00:00 EDT

The Object panel is the key to virtually everything you can do in FreeHand MX. Most of us don't take the time to understand the Object panel, however, and it becomes a source of frustration.

Bulletproof Printing

Wed, 07 Apr 2004 00:00:00 EDT

If you've only used FreeHand MX for Web-based applications, then it's time you learned about the broader world of print. FreeHand was originally designed to give artists a way to put drawings onto paper via the computer. Even though the program's scope has grown far beyond early expectations, you can still achieve superior printing results.

Are Your Brain Cells Colliding?

Tue, 02 Mar 2004 00:00:00 EST

Whenever I tried to win an argument with my mother, she'd usually end up saying the final words, 'Like it or get used to it.' That's the way it is with the multitude of programs graphic artists use today. Incorporating multiple programs into a single, seamless suite is an extremely difficult concept.

Library Power

Mon, 02 Feb 2004 00:00:00 EST

If your work involves company logos, a photo, or other graphic element that you use often, symbols can save you a lot of time. If you're in the beginning stages of creating a Web site or multipage document with recurring objects, a library of symbols can make layout changes quick and easy. Learning how to work with the library can mean hours of saved time.

The Art of Freehand Pages

Mon, 05 Jan 2004 00:00:00 EST

Freehand MX has to be one of the most powerful programs you can have in your arsenal of graphic tools. By purchasing Studio MX, Illustrator users are now finding out that Freehand is capable of many things that they couldn't do in Illustrator.