Panels

     

Panel groups (Figure 29.2) are docked to the right side of the screen and contain several palettes that let you perform a multitude of tasks , such as changing text and object properties, page attributes, and layer attributes, as well as viewing assets and libraries. There is even a handy panel group that offers assistance and answers to your questions.

Figure 29.2. FreeHand's panels provide an efficient way to modify the document as well as objects.

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The folks at Macromedia grouped panels into an arrangement that they felt would work best for you. You can move, separate, or combine these customizable panel groups. Panels and panel groups can be opened, closed, docked, expanded, and collapsed . There are five default panel groups, each with a different function. The following is a brief description of what each panel does:

Properties Panel Group

The Properties Panel group contains the Object Panel and the Document Panel. These two panels are located in the top of the panel for a reason: They are the most frequently used panels to modify objects and the document itself.

  • Object Panel ” The Object panel (Window, Object) allows you to control the stroke, fill, and effects for objects (Figure 29.3). It changes its display depending on the type of object selected. You can use the Object panel to set the size and position of objects, as well as change text attributes.

    Figure 29.3. The Object panel enables you to modify objects.

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  • Document Panel ” The Document panel (Window, Document) controls the various attributes of your document, including creating and removing pages, page orientation, printer resolution, and bleed (Figure 29.4). You can also use the Document Panel to create Master Pages.

    Figure 29.4. The Document panel enables you to modify document attributes.

    graphics/29fig04.jpg


  • Adding Pages ” The Document panel menu enables you add pages by selecting the Add Pages command. To add multiple pages, simply enter a number in the Number of New Pages field.

    If you're working with multiple pages in your document, you need to be able to move from page to page. In FreeHand, you have two ways to navigate through your document.

    The first is to use the Hand tool to drag from one page to another. You can also hold the pspace bar to temporarily activate the Hand tool.

    The second is to use the Preview Area inside the Document panel (Figure 29.5). Hold the spacebar to temporarily access the Hand tool, drag within the thumbnail pages within the Preview Area to go from page to page, and click on the page you want.

    Figure 29.5. The Preview Area not only shows an overall view of pages in the document, but also enables you to rearrange pages.

    graphics/29fig05.jpg


  • Deleting Pages ” If you want to delete a page, select the page you want to delete in the Preview Area of the Document Panel. Choose Remove from the Document Panel menu and your page is deleted. You can also use the Page tool to select the page you want to delete. To delete multiple pages, hold down the Shift key while using the Page tool.

    For more on the Page tool, see "Page Tool," page 795 , later in this chapter.


  • Page Orientation ” To change your page's orientation, select the portrait or landscape button in the Document Panel. It doesn't get any easier than that!

  • Using Page Bleeds ” Page bleeds are used in printing to extend the color beyond the edge of the page so when the final page is trimmed (as in the cover of this book), there are no white edges or gaps. If you have color that goes right up to the edge of the page, then you need to set a page bleed.

    To set a page bleed in FreeHand, enter the bleed size in the Bleed field of the Document panel (Figure 29.6). Then press Enter or Return and a light gray line appears around your page to indicate the bleed area.

    Figure 29.6. Use the Bleed field in the Document panel to control the amount of page bleed in your print documents.

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Mixers and Tint Panel Group

The Mixers and Tint panel group enables you to select a wide range of colors and tints , as well as create your own custom color swatches that can be saved for different projects.

  • Mixer Panel ” The Mixer panel (Window, Color Mixer) enables you to create and define colors in CMYK, RGB, HLS, and the color picker (either Windows or Macintosh version). Click one of the four icons for the color mode in which you want to work (Figure 29.7). After a color is defined, it can be applied to an object or stored in the Swatches panel.

    • The CMYK mode defines colors based on the four process colors used in commercial printing: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. To create CMYK colors, enter values (0% “100%) for the color in the cyan, magenta , yellow, or black fields. You can also drag the sliders to create values for the colors.

    • The RGB mode defines colors based on the three colors used in video color systems and computer monitors : red, green, and blue. If you create graphics for the Web or multimedia, you'll be working in the RGB mode. To create RGB colors, enter the values for the color (0 “255) in the red, green, or blue field. You can also drag the sliders to create values for the color.

    • The HLS mode defines color according to hue, lightness, and saturation. Working in HLS mode gives you more of a visual cue on how to work with complimentary colors. Although you can define colors in HLS mode, its main use is select one color and enable you to view it in HLS mode to find color harmony, or balance, between the selected color and other color selections. For example, if you keep the lightness and saturation values the same, you can select a blue hue and a green hue that appear aesthetically balanced.

    Figure 29.7. The Mixer panel provides options to create and define colors.

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    Selecting a Color System

    With three color modes at your disposal, which one should you use? If you're working for the Web or any medium that uses a video monitor, use the RGB system. This system uses the same colors that are available on monitors and video displays. RGB also has colors that are not available in CMYK.

    Because HLS is based on the RGB system, I would suggest you first select your colors in RGB, then switch to HLS if you feel the need to balance your color selections by matching their lightness or saturation.

    CMYK is your best bet if your artwork will be sent to a printer who uses the four-color printing process. The values you define in the Color Mixer for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black represent the percentage of ink applied to the paper during printing. The rub is that you're viewing CMYK colors on a monitor that displays RGB colors. Don't trust your eye for color accuracy. Get your hands on a printed process color guide available from Pantone or Trumatch.


  • Tints Panel ” The Tints panel (Window, Tints) controls the tint, or screen, of colors (Figure 29.8). You can apply the tint directly to the object or store it in the Swatches panel.

    Figure 29.8. Use the Tints panel to control color tint or screen.

    graphics/29fig08.jpg


    A tint represents a percentage value of a color. For example, a 25% tint of blue indicates that only one quarter of the saturated value of blue has been applied.

    Tints are typically used when working with print graphics that are restricted to one or two colors. Using tints of the same color gives you the illusion of having more colors in your artwork.

Layers Panel Group

The Layers panel (Window, Layers) displays all the document layers and lets you add, delete, copy, and arrange layers (Figure 29.9). As your project increases in complexity, use the power of layers to organize the various objects in your document.

Figure 29.9. The Layers panel provides an easy visual reference for document layers.

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The following list describes some of ways you can use layers in FreeHand:

  • Nonprinting Layers ” FreeHand also allows you to create nonprinting layers. As the name suggests, these are layers that are visible on your monitor, but do not print. You can use nonprinting layers to hold graphics that are being used for tracing. Nonprinting layers are located below the horizontal line in the Layers panel (Figure 29.10).

    Figure 29.10. The layer "logo-original" was dragged below the dividing line to become a nonprinting layer.

    graphics/29fig10.jpg


    To create a nonprinting layer, drag the layer below the dividing line in the Layers panel (Figure 29.10).

  • Keyline Mode ” FreeHand lets you change the preview for objects on each layer. This feature is typically used for working with complex illustrations such as 3D graphics. In Keyline mode only the outlines of objects are displayed.

    To view a layer in Keyline mode, click the gray dot to the left of the layer name. This creates a hollow dot indicating that the layer is now in Keyline mode (see Figure 29.11).

    Figure 29.11. The object on the right is displayed in Keyline mode.
    graphics/29fig11.jpg

Click the hollow dot to return the layer to Preview mode.

Assets Panel Group

The Assets Panel contains objects and settings that you would frequently use for a project: Swatches, Styles, and Library.

  • Swatches Panel ” The Swatches panel (Window, Swatches) lets you store, edit, and rename colors, as well as import and export custom color libraries (Figure 29.12). You can also convert spot colors to process colors and vice versa.

    Figure 29.12. The Swatches panel enables you to edit and store colors that you will frequently use in a project.
    graphics/29fig12.jpg

    You can create swatches by using the Eyedropper tool to drag a color from an object to the Swatches panel. You can also create a color in the Color Mixer and drag it to the Swatches panel.

  • Styles Panel ” The Styles panel (Window, Styles) displays the current text style and graphic style in your document (Figure 29.13). You can apply styles to text or graphics by simply dragging the style from the panel to the object. Likewise, you can create a graphic or text style on the document and drag it to the Styles panel to create a new style that you can use on other graphics or text.

    Figure 29.13. FreeHand comes packaged with several creative styles you can apply to objects.
    graphics/29fig13.jpg

  • Library Panel ” The Library panel (Window, Library) stores master pages, brushes, and symbols that you can reuse throughout the document (Figure 29.14). Using the Library panel enables you to automate your work.

    Figure 29.14. The Library panel provides dozens of library elements that you can use to increase your creativity and efficiency.
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Using Macromedia Studio MX 2004
Special Edition Using Macromedia Studio MX 2004
ISBN: 0789730421
EAN: 2147483647
Year: N/A
Pages: 339

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