Creative Tip: Convert FreeHand files to InDesign.

Last year we published a tip about Adobe dropping development and support for Macromedia FreeHand (Goodbye FreeHand. But is Illustrator Enough?). In that tip, we argued that most die-hard FreeHand users are happier and more productive switching to Adobe InDesign rather than Illustrator.

Since then, we've been looking for a method to help designers migrate their old FreeHand documents over to Adobe InDesign. The conversion is far from perfect. But if you are a designer who has spent years using Macromedia Freehand as a page layout tool, here is one way we've tested to help move those old files from FreeHand over to Adobe InDesign:

Full Tip: Convert FreeHand files into InDesign using PDF2ID.

Source: This tip inspired by Jason Hoppe's fantastic workshop last week on migrating from FreeHand to InDesign CS3. This has been my favorite workshop so far this year. If you are a designer in the Seattle area, don't miss next week's follow-up workshop on migrating from FreeHand to Illustrator CS3. Our example FreeHand-to-InDesign converted file was generously provided by Seattle designer Katie Dolejsi.

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Tech Tip: Convert Quark, InDesign, Publisher, FrameMaker etc.

Over the years, our team fields lots of questions from clients needing to convert documents from one page layout program to another. For this tip we've compiled a number of utilities we've used and recommended.

Q2ID — QuarkXpress to InDesign
ID2Q — InDesign to QuarkXPress
PUB2ID — Microsoft Publisher to InDesign
PM2Q — PageMaker to QuarkXPress
PDF2ID — PDF to InDesign
MIF Filter — FrameMaker to InDesign
MIF Filter — FrameMaker to QuarkXPress

The full version of this tip includes some additional details for each converter, including pricing, links, etc.

Full Tip: Convert Quark, InDesign, Publisher, FrameMaker, etc.

Source: This tip inspired by many client requests over the years. Most recently inspired by a Quark to InDesign conversion request from Turnstyle in Ballard. Our research into FrameMaker to InDesign conversion was inspired by a request from the in-house creative team at Aviation Supplies & Academics in Renton.

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Seattle Training: Workshops and Personalized Training.

CreativeTechs is taking a different approach to professional training. We've organized our materials into dozens of smaller, bite-sized modules. The results are shorter, focused sessions, which let you get the training you need, without setting aside an entire day away from the office.

Download a PDF of our Training Brochure and see what upcoming workshops catch your eye:

CreativeTechs Training Feb08.pdf

Sign up for a few of our upcoming February workshops:

Feb 13- FreeHand to Illustrator.
Feb 14- Photoshop Cloning.
Feb 20- Adobe's Pen Tool.
Feb 21- Retouching Skin.
Feb 27- Using Adobe Bridge.
Feb 28- Automating Photoshop.

The full list of upcoming workshops is available on our website.

creativetechs.com/miniworkshops

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Your referrals wanted! Referrals from our clients and readers are what keeps CreativeTechs healthy and in business. As a small thank-you, every week we send iTunes gift cards to new Seattle-area subscribers, plus the friend or colleague who referred them:

Designer Jeannine Axelson at Guruuve Studios.
Referred by creative director Sharon Backurz also at Guruuve Studios.

Graphic designer Allie McKinley at Nordstrom.
Referred by production artist Danielle Bellert also at Nordstrom.

Graphic designer Sarah Sheehan at Brooks Sports.
Referred by graphic designer Stephanie Dooley also at Brooks Sports.

CreativeTechs QuickTips is a free weekly newsletter for creative professionals who use Macs. Each week we publish a fresh mix of left-brain and right-brain tips based on our real world experience supporting hundreds of creative teams in the greater Seattle area. For a complete archive of previous tips, visit www.creativetechs.com/tips

For IT Professionals supporting Mac users, visit Make Mac Work. This weekly technical blog focuses on IT issues facing Macs in Enterprise environments. It is written by CreativeTechs' lead enterprise engineer, Jordan Bojar. For an archive of previous topics, visit www.makemacwork.com

Your referrals wanted! CreativeTechs relies on word-of-mouth introductions. If you know a Seattle-area creative team who might benefit from our unique expertise providing computer support for creative professionals, please introduce us. We are never too busy for your referrals. Email help@creativetechs.com, or call us at 206-682-4315.

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