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For this example, I want to add a
sawtooth edge to this illustration of a Hand-Saw. The handle
fill is a variation of the Creating a Wood Grain Texture
tip in the Tip Archive.
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I hide the Handle on a separate layer
so it's not so distracting. Next you need to Shift+Click on the
points highlighted above, and use the Split command under
the Modify menu. By doing this, we will just be editing
the side of the saw blade that we'll be adding the sawtooth edge
to.
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Version
Addendum
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In FreeHand 9 and above,
hold the Option (ALt) key down and click on
the bottom line. This selects just that segment of
the shape. Then use the Split command under
the Modify menu.
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Now with the single line selected,
click on the Add Points button in the Operations
palette (this can also be accessed via the Xtras -> Distort menu).
As you can see above, this added one point in the exact middle
of the line.
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Applying the Add Points operation
several more times to the same line will keep adding points, "splitting"
each section in half. You can add as many points as you like,
but keep in mind the next step before you go and add 200 points.
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Next you need to Shift+Click
on every other point starting with the second from the
Left. It will be easier zooming in on the line first to see the
points better like I've done above.
I wish I could say that there is an easy way to do this step, but there isn't so you really have to be patient and hope you didn't make hundreds of points to work with from the last step. |
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Now while your points are still selected,
use the arrow keys to move the points down and over to the left.
You can drag the points if you like, but I found I could control
the points easier with the arrow keys, and not accidentally deselect
the points with the Mouse (very frustrating).
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Now once you have an edge you like,
select both the sawtooth edge, and the rest of the saw blade shape,
then use the Join command to make them a closed path again.
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Next you can reveal the handle again,
and add some life to the saw blade by applying a Gradient Fill
that mimics a Metallic surface.
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There, that's it. Just remember not to go nuts when using the Add Points operation, because you'll pay for it when you start selecting every other point afterwards.
If it's a sawtooth edge around a circle shape you're looking for, check out the Shapes Around a Circle tip in the Tip Archive. 
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