The easiest way to create a new style is to select an object that has the desired attributes and drag it  to the Styles panel. Give the style a meaningful name.

For more information on creating and using styles, in Freehand, see

Help Menu > Using FreeHand MX > Contents > Using Layers, Symbols, and Styles > Using styles > Adding, duplicating, and removing styles

Judy Arndt

Styles apply only to objects created in FH, not to imported images. A style can be applied to a group, so you could group the image and apply attributes.

How do you want to use a style? If, for example, you want to apply a stroke and drop shadow to the image, you could apply it to a rectangle or other closed path. Save as a style. Use a closed path with that style applied either below the image or as a clipping path for the image.

Warning: If you use a raster effect such as drop shadow, make sure you set the Raster Effects Resolution to that desired for file output. Default in FH is 72ppi which is suitable for web images but not for print. Raster effects will convert the output resolution of the image to which they are attached. High resolution raster effects can significantly slow down redraw in FH.

Judy Arndt

KomputerMan.com wrote:

What I want to do is create a library of styles that are basically pictures of various wood types.

There are a couple of approaches you could try.

Clipping paths

1. Draw the part shape as a closed path.

2. Position the image of woodgrain above or below the shape where you want it positioned.

3. Cut

4. Select the closed path.

5. Paste Inside.

See: Using FreeHand MX > Contents > Working with Objects > Working with clipping paths

Tiled fills

1. Use autotrace to trace the image of the woodgrain, using plenty of colors.

Using FreeHand MX > Contents > Using Imported Artwork > Tracing bitmaps > Tracing an image

2. Group the traced paths (but not the image) and create a tiled fill,

Using FreeHand MX > Contents > Using Strokes and Fills > Applying attributes to fills > Using tiled fill attributes

3. Make a style from a tile-filled object

4. Apply the style to other objects.

Judy Arndt