IBM Lotus Freelance Graphics
| Company type | Software |
|---|---|
| Industry | Presentation software |
| Predecessor | Graphic Communications Inc. |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Graphic Communications Inc. |
| Products | Presentation program and information graphics application |
| Parent | Lotus Software |
Lotus Freelance Graphics is a presentation program and information graphics application created by Lotus Software following their 1986 acquisition of Graphic Communications Inc. Originally designed for DOS and OS/2 platforms, it was subsequently incorporated into the Lotus SmartSuite package for Microsoft Windows. The executable file maintained the original developer’s initials, appearing as GCIFL.
The initial releases accommodated mouse input through compatible drivers, though many users favored keyboard shortcuts to navigate its vector graphics environment, which allowed for more efficient use. The Windows iteration supported the generation of text, digital imagery, diagrams, fundamental drawings, and charts—including bar and pie varieties—assembling these components into digital slideshow presentations. While initially focused on drawing capabilities, it later added charting functions by enabling either manual data input or importing data from the Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet application.
Freelance operated under DOS to create slides comparable to those produced by Microsoft PowerPoint, which was originally developed for the Macintosh. Lotus’s emphasis on OS/2 development provided an opportunity for Microsoft to enhance its Windows version of PowerPoint. After IBM acquired Lotus, Microsoft capitalized on delays in licensing to launch Office approximately six months before Lotus SmartSuite appeared on Windows 95. As OS/2 failed to achieve widespread adoption, Freelance’s market presence diminished.
Eventually merged into 1-2-3 for Windows as part of SmartSuite, Freelance contended with the dominance of PowerPoint and Excel. Its presentations were recognized for their relatively small file sizes—typically around 50 KB—making it possible to store numerous presentations on a single floppy disk. Nevertheless, IBM’s declining support for SmartSuite corresponded with a reduction in Freelance’s product quality and its significance in the marketplace.