Who Uses FreeHand?

Back during Macromedia FreeHand MX development (2001-2003), the documented Freehand userbase was over 400,000 globally, a substantial number by any measure. Knowing this, we would like to play a numbers game which guesses at the present scope of the FreeHand userbase in January 2011 (considering that Adobe declared end-of-life for FreeHand going back 6 years). Imagine that the number of users dropped by 80% as they migrated to Illustrator; that still leaves FreeHand 80,000 users in the world. If that number seems unrealistic, then imagine instead a drop of 90%--those who have fully migrated to Illustrator--and that still leaves 40,000 FreeHand users. If we continue to play this game even more conservatively with only 5% of FreeHand users left from the pre-migration era, the math still gives us 20,000 FreeHand users!

The Free FreeHand Organization knows full well that we have attracted only a portion of remaining FreeHand users, whatever that number happens to be, those who have joined our member association to date. After all, we have a membership at nearly 6,000 and that is because, for the most part, you represent the most avid FreeHand professionals who are also tuned in to today's online environment. We are regularly surprised at how many new members come to us unaware that we have been active for over a year! It begs the question: How do we reach those thousands of FreeHand users who are unaware that Free FreeHand exists? Do you know?

Just looking at current Free FreeHand members, the degree of variation in different professions and types of FreeHand users represented is impressively diverse! Our recent survey shows you are Graphic Designers, Illustrators, Printers, Prepress, Cartoonists, Web Designers, Textile Designers, Cartographers, Font Designers, Book Designers, Photographers, Architects, and Multimedia Producers. You are also Fashion Designers, Teachers, Fine Artist/Sculptors, Scientists/Researchers, Academics, Newspapers, Hobbyists, Animators, Sign Makers, and Engravers. You are Product Designers, Game Designers, Industrial Designers, Exhibit Designers, Vehicle Designers and Furniture Makers. You are also Silk Screeners, Students, Communicators, Secretaries, Managers, Graffiti Artists and Origami Artists. You are a varied and unique collection of people who share a common trait: a love of FreeHand. Perhaps this wide diversity is why FreeFreeHand.org is still unknown to many who don't follow our online channels.

As a user, what is your reason for fighting for FreeHand? Clearly it is not because you are blind to Adobe Illustrator's market share or because it has become the industry standard. It is not because Illustrator achieved its high place through all of the marketing power Adobe has put behind it. As our survey shows, it is because Adobe, Inc. crossed the line by removing competition in the design marketplace and artificially controlling your right to choose the professional tool that fits your individual needs. For all you FreeHand users whose professions are built upon its 20 year legacy, the deliberate squashing of this essential software in lieu of a very different user experience with Illustrator is why we are all saying "No!"

Our New Forum

As of of January 1st, we now have a new Free Freehand forum with expanded topics and customization enhancements. We are pleased with having our own solution, based on the opensource phpBB and hosted on our own server, as this will give us full control over the forum and allow our topics to have more diversity. We have streamlined the topics from 11 entries in our old Q&A; forum down to 4 new topic areas for community discussion:

FREE FREEHAND - Philosophical, ethical, political and legal discussion about FreeHand.
VECTOR APP ALTERNATIVES - Post and discuss about other good vector graphics applications.
ILLUSTRATOR RELATED FREEHAND TOPICS - Make comparisons. Write about your experiences, impressions, problems or questions about working with both applications.
FREEHAND SUPPORT - If you need help with FreeHand or have Tips to share, here is your solution or ask for one.

The new Forum location: http://freefreehand.org/forum/
And the Forum RSS feed: feed://freefreehand.org/forum/feed.php

Recent Posts:
Wikipedia: FreeHand !?!
So anyway, what's wrong with Illustrator?
Xara Designer - very good alternative

Note: The old forum registration no longer applies so please reregister for using the new forum. You can now create both your personalized avatar and signature (including graphics.)

What Next?

With the new year, it is time for another campaign or membership action. 2010's summer postcard/letter blitz was both effective and highly creative in raising Adobe management's awareness of us; and while they did not willingly release FreeHand, with hundreds and hundreds of letters they saw that we are not going away. We want your ideas for the next project! They can be to help elevate our membership number, extoll the virtues of FreeHand, or be another reminder to Adobe.
Post your ideas here: http://freefreehand.org/forum/viewtopic

A Last Word...

The Free FreeHand staff is continuing to work behind the scenes as we draw up our next plan of action. We have asked you all to be patient over the past months and while it may at times seem to be quiet and inactive, rest assured this is not the case. Certainly we strive to share information openly with our loyal community but some things have to remain confidential; remember who we are dealing with and that nothing can be taken lightly. Finally, let us not forget that we see Adobe is in talks with Microsoft lately and this too could have a bearing on FreeHand's future. Both your patience and your help will be encouraged in this new year.

If any former or present Adobe or past Macromedia employees feel sympathetic to our cause, we would like to hear from you. Contact us:

Cheers and thanks for reading,
Free FreeHand

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(c) 2010 FREEFREEHAND ORGANIZATION