FreeHand to Illustrator Migration Guide.
Adobe has produced a 44-page PDF that explains how to convert your FreeHand documents over to Illustrator CS2. It discusses what changes to expect in your document after the conversion, and what's different about the Illustrator interface.
Freehand to Illustrator Migration Guide
As long-time Freehand users ourselves, we recommend downloading and browsing through this guide. It is fairly well written, and contains many useful tips.
Like This Tip? Make sure you don't miss the new tips coming next week:
Weekly
Email Tips — or — 
RSS
Feed (What's
RSS?)
Adobe has also posted a brief 8-page technical resource paper that is less visual, but uses a question/answer format to cover many of the differences between FreeHand and Illustrator.
Is FreeHand Dead?
Two weeks ago in Paris, an Adobe representative stated publicly "Adobe will halt the development of Freehand and GoLive." Shortly after that statement, Adobe's PR department released a counter statement that “Adobe plans to continue to support GoLive and Freehand and develop these products based on our customer’s needs..."
In our opinion, it is pretty clear that the age of FreeHand is coming to an end. We may see an occasional minor bug-fix released. But it is unlikely that a major new version of FreeHand will ever be developed.
What's Next for FreeHand Loving Designers?
As we remind our FreeHand-loving clients: No one is going to come and take your copy of FreeHand MX away. But FreeHand MX is almost certainly the last version that will be developed. You can continue using it in the short-term, but you should be considering other options for the future.
Many FreeHand users should consider InDesign rather than Illustrator as a replacement for their FreeHand projects. Designers who use FreeHand as a page layout tool for brochures, multi-page documents (or even catalogs), will find Illustrator a poor match for that type of work.
What is missing in our opinion is a Freehand to InDesign migration guide.
Source: This tip inspired by many software coaching sessions CreativeTechs has provided over the last year for FreeHand users migrating to either Illustrator or InDesign for their future projects.
Comments
For those who don't do their best learning out of a book, another way to transition from FreeHand to Illustrator is by taking (guess what?) a class. SVC will be offering a half-day workshop on Thursday, 8/17, Ditching FreeHand for Illustrator, led by Jason Hoppe, head of digital production for Horton, Lantz and Low. For more information, or to register online, head for svcseattle.com
Posted by: Larry Asher | June 12, 2006 08:18 AM
Thanks Larry. I forgot to mention the Seattle SVC class! (For Seattle readers of course)
We've heard great feedback about all of Jason Hoppe's classes.
Glad you caught this.
Posted by: Craig Swanson | June 12, 2006 09:32 AM
Since when have designers become sheep? Rise UP! My gawd designers, grab your guts, and use the software you already know like the back of your hand. Use Illustrator or FreeHand, use your current versions, use your brains, use your creativity, not your pocketbook. I say Adobe does not dictate how you work. I say create without these buggy "toys" of programs. If Adobe wishes to cram another upgrade down designers' throats, let it be an upgrade of epic proportions, not another round of bug fixes and useless "features". I say a Photoshop effect is not creative. I say create designs that work for their intelligence, their appeal, their unique qualities. I say learn to rely on your creativity instead of your list of templates, plugins, and updates. Save your money, save your mind, and speak your mind. I say use FreeHand, if you choose, and continue to use it for years to come. I say upgrade to Illustrator only when Adobe makes it as robust as FreeHand was three years ago. I say if Adobe wishes to "migrate FreeHand users to Illustrator, they should make a plugin that makes a perfect conversion automatically.
Posted by: Vat Finglar | June 15, 2006 07:55 PM
RE: "What is missing in our opinion is a Freehand to InDesign migration guide."
I entirely agree with this comment. Especially at this point in time, with a Freehand 10 file that only needs minor type revs in our hands and no quick way of turning a proof around for a client. It's hard to expain to our clients that it's going to take a half a day to turn this around for them. But we do find a way somehow.
When you do create/find this Freehand to InDesign migration guide please email me.
Posted by: Sarah | June 19, 2006 11:05 AM
I usually think of myself as fairly bright, but when I have to use Illustrator I go all glass eyed and tongue tied. Freehand is so much more intuitive, but it's days are mumbered. So I ask, when is someone going to create a set of plug ins that will allow you to use Illustrator as if it were Freehand? How about a Freehand like pen tool, the paste inside command, and multi page capability? I'd buy it. How about you?
Posted by: tim | September 26, 2006 11:32 AM
nothing more to say! an other option to have a illustrator plugin that simulates freehand, is if someeone writes a plugin that gives freehand opentype and unicode support.
i might be the last one in the universe who uses freehand, because i will install it as long as i am able to install it on a computer....
illustrator is not the alternative... ande indesign well is a bit masochistic if you use it the same like you would use freehand...
cheers
long may live freehand
Posted by: Marcel Wüstner | December 14, 2006 05:38 AM
Can we hope that Adobe might just recognize the benefits of Freehand and that Illustrator CS3 (when it comes) will actually be Freehand under a new name?
Posted by: Peter Simpson | December 18, 2006 07:03 PM