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e.huber · Nov 24, 2005, 01:36 PM

Hello, I use FreeHand, & I get files emailed to me from Illustrator users which, when I open in FreeHand cannot be ungrouped or edited (manipulated or changed). It frives me crazy. I know when I export something in FreeHand, I can export it as an "Editable eps file" but none of the Illustrator people I know, know how to send their files to me in a way I can just bring in & print.
I do art for T-shirts & use mostly spot colors, then I print it out on film. Super easy, but I want to be able to use Illustrator files & change them in FreeHand, without having to redraw the whole design. HELP!

KeriVit · Nov 25, 2005, 03:11 PM

I'll play around with it Monday, I have both at work. I know I've done it... lemme refresh my memory. What versions of Illy and FreeHand are we talking about?

chris v · Nov 25, 2005, 06:53 PM

My staff artist does this all the time. I'll email her and see what she says.

chris v · Nov 27, 2005, 02:38 PM

Not sure if anybody still cares, but apparently, you've got to open the file in illustrator, then copy/paste the content into freehand. Make sure your Illustrator clipboard prefs are set to AICB and not PDF.

siMac · Nov 27, 2005, 05:13 PM

If he had Illustrator I don't think he'd be posting here.

If it's older versions then GraphicConverter may be able to help.

chris v · Nov 27, 2005, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by siMac

If he had Illustrator I don't think he'd be posting here.

If there'd been another solution know to me, I would have posted that. This is the word from a professional, who converts Illustrator files into Freehand as part of her job nearly every day. She spent quite a while on the issue, and that's what it came to. Unfortunately, getting Illustrator is probably the most efficient thing to do in this case.

e.huber · Nov 28, 2005, 01:42 PM

Yeah, I don't have Illustrator, just FreeHand 10.
I get Illust. files from others through email & have to try to open them in FreeH. They never work/open. I end up having to bring them into Photoshop & converting them to a Tiff & then back into FreeH. & then retracing them all over again. What a pain. I want to be able to open them in FreeHand & then ungroup & manipulate or change.
I can send FreeHand files to other Illustrator users & export them as an 'editable eps' file & they can use it, no problem. Can't they do the same when sending files to me? Apparently not. ARGH!
Help!

Aric · Nov 28, 2005, 07:11 PM

have them export or "save as" their illustrator files as legacy format version 8. it'll open fine as long as they've expanded their appearances. also, if there's embedded tiffs, they'll need to send the original tiffs seperately, have them draw a box the exact size and place of where the tiffs go.

i never knew that about the clipboard prefs though, that'll come in handy. thanks!

KeriVit · Nov 29, 2005, 09:22 AM

Well e., tried everything i could, but looks like saving back to 8 is the only way. Sorry bud. Honestly, the amount of work you are talking about, it might almost be worth buying Illy just to save them back. Also it would be an investment for the future, because if Adobe buys FreeHand- you won't be upgrading again...

siMac · Nov 29, 2005, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by KeriVit

if Adobe buys FreeHand...

Done deal. Freehand's days are most likely numbered.

But yes, if the Illustrator users sent you EPS files you would be able to use them no problem. I have the same problem with Freehand users sending us native Freehand files - we just ask them to resupply the files in EPS or AI format and all is good.

KeriVit · Nov 29, 2005, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by siMac

Done deal. Freehand's days are most likely numbered.

But yes, if the Illustrator users sent you EPS files you would be able to use them no problem. I have the same problem with Freehand users sending us native Freehand files - we just ask them to resupply the files in EPS or AI format and all is good.

Still has to be Illustrator 8 or below. Macromedia's site even says so.

e.huber · Nov 29, 2005, 03:16 PM

Thanks so much, all of you! This is awesome. I will give it a try.
I am pretty sad about if Adobe is really buying out Macromedia.
I LOVE FreeHand & what a pain, having to learn a new program! Good grief i will have nightmares tonight!
But still... thanks for the tips!

I'm one happy girl!

KeriVit · Nov 29, 2005, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by e.huber

Thanks so much, all of you! This is awesome. I will give it a try.
I am pretty sad about if Adobe is really buying out Macromedia.
I LOVE FreeHand & what a pain, having to learn a new program! Good grief i will have nightmares tonight!
But still... thanks for the tips!

I'm one happy girl!

Hey. I was Freehand person to start, but you'll be amazed what Illy has to offer.

Aric · Nov 29, 2005, 09:31 PM

I'm still a Freehand person, been so ever since around 96 and will be REALLY sad if they do away with it.

birdman · Dec 1, 2005, 04:09 PM

I'll throw this out there too: if they're using Illustrator CS, you can't just do a Save As to make a Freehand-compatible EPS. Instead, you go to File... Export and choose "Illustrator Legacy EPS". We're still using Freehand 8 at work, so I have to save Illustrator files as version 7 or below (3.2 in CS). As someone else pointed out, any embedded bitmap images will create a problem as well, so have them send you the original tif/jpeg/whatever along with it.

-birdman

Aric · Dec 1, 2005, 05:23 PM

yeah for CS you have to export it, but in CS2 they changed it to where you do it in the Save As. no biggie but just in case you couldn't find it.