Freeform: How would you make it better?

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Now that the dust has settled, how are you all finding Freeform?

I use Mindnode daily so that is my benchmark, and I think that while Freeform is a decent app, it's also one that could be a lot better and not helped by some strange quirks. Since it's a Catalyst app it suffers from the usual touch interface-first elements and doesn't really take advantage of the Mac's menu system/UI.

But on a feature level there are also some basic things missing, such as altering the colour of the background or even a proper document hierarchy.

Thoughts?

 

[koelsh]

Overall I'm really liking Freeform. Been using it as a journal of sorts with text and links and graphics.

I'm not familiar with Mindnode or know what you're looking for as a document hierarchy. If you mean sections that open and close within a document I doubt they're going to go that route. Feels to me like Freeform aiming for a single-layer infinite-ish canvas so they're maybe 80% of the way there.

So far my wishlist for the app would be

1. links are actual links when exporting to PDF (important)
2. drawings can be modified on macOS (moderate)
3. 3rd party fonts are copied/installed into the document (nice to have)
4. option for setting text box origin points (would make my life easier)
   • right now text boxes grow from the vertical center so I have to reposition them when adding text.

The biggest quirk/bummer/thing that needs to be fixed I'm running into is Autocorrect activating before a word is even finished. For instance, trying to type the word interference at my normal speed Freeform insists on changing it to Interneerence. The only way around it so far has been to type the word s l o w l y and d e l i b e r a t e l y.

 

[eyeseeyou]

We need to allow collaboration with other users regardless of whether they have an IOS account similar to how guests are allowed on mural. Oh allow freeform through a web browser.

 

[McScooby]

Add a ruler.

 

[daabido]

I predict it will quickly meet the fate of most Apple first-party apps and be abandoned, apart from occasional inconsequential updates, as the best magpie developers move on to shinier and sexier projects.

 

[nelloismello]

I think being able to share and collaborate with non-Apple devices would make this application better. I do like this better than Google's Jam Board, but Freeform is not as good as Figma's FigJam.

 

[Tagbert]

I predict it will quickly meet the fate of most Apple first-party apps and be abandoned, apart from occasional inconsequential updates, as the best magpie developers move on to shinier and sexier projects.

Notes and Reminders have been doing pretty well in recent years. There is hope.

 

[koelsh]

Add a ruler.

Along the edges like Adobe or the drawing ruler from the Notes app?

It is really strange that Apple has at least 3 different versions of the drawing pallet. One for annotating, a slightly different one in the Notes app, and yet another slightly different one in Freeform.

 

[Tagbert]

Along the edges like Adobe or the drawing ruler from the Notes app?

It is really strange that Apple has at least 3 different versions of the drawing pallet. One for annotating, a slightly different one in the Notes app, and yet another slightly different one in Freeform.

Even within Freeform, the drawing palette is different between iPad and MacOS. I still don’t understand why there are no freehand drawing tools on Mac OS. Sure, it’s not an easy with a trackpad or a mouse, but does Apple not remember Mac Paint. We did lots of drawings with that one-button, mechanical mouse.

 

[GlenK]

Tried it when it first came out but haven't used it lately. Just didn't seem to fit anything I needed. Guess I need to take another run at it.

 

[Soi Dog]

So far i Find it somewhat great. but it needs improvements. Something i am not sure Apple will deliver with their usual software upgrades in mind. I used before goodnotes but stoped in the long run. The infinitte canvas is much more important for me than multiple pages for what i use it.

Note: i only use these kind of apps on ipad because of pen support on screen, even though i use wacom tablet daily on MacOS.

A paper background would be nice to set as default instead of filing a box area.

What i miss and want to be better:

• Much better Pencil selection tools. you have to use your fingers to much. i would like it to work 100% on pencil unless it is zoom and pinch.
• Ability to add links to own made objects/photos and edit links thumbnails
• Fix the PDF export to ie. 300dpi of canvas size. My big walls look crappy when i zoom in to them. Pictures get way to heavy blurred.
• the pencil casse is a bit stupid (across all Apples apps). not really for productivity, to simple as if it was made for children that want to paint.

 

[mcgandalf]

Here's a question...is it not possible to annotate a line in Freeform?

Every other sketch/process modelling tool allows me to add whatever text I want to a connector.

I appreciate I could, relatively laboriously, add a text box and drag it to the line...but the text and the line wouldn't be explicitly linked.

 

[Tagbert]

Here's a question...is it not possible to annotate a line in Freeform?

Every other sketch/process modelling tool allows me to add whatever text I want to a connector.

I appreciate I could, relatively laboriously, add a text box and drag it to the line...but the text and the line wouldn't be explicitly linked.

That explicit linking of visual elements would be a welcome addition.