Path: utzoo!mnetor!frank
From: frank@mnetor.UUCP (Frank Kolnick)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps
Subject: Re: Freehand vs Illustrator
Message-ID: <5655@mnetor.UUCP>
Date: 24 Jan 91 03:07:09 GMT
References: <1991Jan23.035410.12677@clark.edu>
Reply-To: frank@mnetor.UUCP (Frank Kolnick)
Organization: Motorola Technical Systems Division, Toronto Design Centre
Lines: 30

In article <1991Jan23.035410.12677@clark.edu> gsnow@pro-freedom.cts.com (Gary
Sn
ow) writes:
)|I am trying to decide whether to buy Aldus Freehand or Adobe Illustrator.
)|Unfortunately, nowhere round here seems to be able to provide a demo copy
)|of either of these programs!
)|I'd be most grateful for any advice/opinions/experience on these two
)|packages, particularly Illustrator. I have used Freehand and quite liked it.
)
)Well, I use them both at my job as a Graphics Artist, and I must say that I
)like Freehand 2.03 better then Illustrator 3.0.  I played with Freehand 3.0
)at MacWorld, and I must say that Freehand has been made even better.

I've had both for a couple of years, and I can sum up my usage as follows
(I think a feature-by-feature comparison is pointless, unless there's some
exotic feature you must have, since both programs are comparable):
When I need to draw an 'illustration' (person, computer, whatever), I
invariably reach for Illustrator. I find its metaphor (esp. the pen tool)
and keyboard shortcuts much more intuitive and less intrusive than FreeHand's.
When I want to draw 'diagrams' (data structures, org. charts, etc.), I
almost always use FreeHand. FreeHand is more of a 'structured' interface;
I think of it as a drawing package, as opposed to an illustration package.
If I had to choose one, I'd choose Illustrator, esp. now that the text
handling has been improved so much. (The built-in charting may also be
useful -- I haven't had occasion to try it.)

-- 
Frank Kolnick,
Basis Computer Systems Inc.
UUCP: {allegra, linus}!utzoo!mnetor!frank