Many of the tools, such as the Page Setup command, are hidden in unexpected places and don't function as they do in other graphics programs. Though the program occasionally surprised us with unique features, such as the Perspective Grid, FreeHand will need some serious revamping before it can compete in the modern graphics world. FreeHand's Layers Panel has few options and limited flexibility. Layers can't be grouped, objects aren't nested in layers, there is no support for layer masks, and there are no thumbnails. The Drop Shadow tool, for example, won't work on text, bitmaps, or placed EPS files.
Gradients are only linear or radial.
And FreeHand lacks dimensioning lines, making it unsuitable for precision illustration. But when compared with the live effects found in other programs, Lens effects are limited. Text handling includes control over properties such as kerning and leading. Text can be combined with a path or typed directly on a path, and both the text and the path will remain fully editable. We're particularly impressed with the Perspective Grid.