Free Graphic Design Tools
Ok Guys, so this isnt by LAW FREE - it is OpenSource - whih to most simple people liek myself IS FREE. The difference is that you are not allowed to resell an opensource product and make money that way, although you are allowed to use it as a tool to make money or charge for services related. A Side Note on this one - I did a lot of research and found that there are a lot of OpenSource Software Guides - this one seems best so I have added this guys content onto the site with links back to him - I hope you enjoy it!
http://www.desktop-publishing-software-review.com/
Here are some of the cool gadgets:
I have personally been using The GIMP almost from when it was first released. I have written books on it and Trained people how to use it for years. Today The GIMP is better than ever, with a huge range of free Plug ins and Scripts that make this one of the most powerful Image manipulation programs available today. You can visit my Web site The Gimp Tutorials for free Tutorials on The GIMP. A copy of The GIMP can be found by clicking at their home site.
The GIMP open source Photo editing program:
You can add CMYK functionality to The GIMP by installing these three Plug ins. ICC-ColorSpace.exe Separate.exe Separate_Import.exe It is also a good idea to install the free Adobe ICC profiles: There is a Tutorial on how to install these Plug ins at my site The GIMP Tutorials - Tutorial 1 There is also a Tutorial on how to use the CMYK plug ins at The GIMP Tutorials - Tutorial 5
Download a copy of Inkscape from their homesite
Inkscape is a Vector Drawing program developed under the Open Software licence. It is a truly serious Illustration program capable of producing accurate and complex artworks. Its interface is both intuitive and well laid out. As a serious Illustration program it is arguably the easiest to use of any professional Vector program available on the market at any price.......and Inkscape is free. Inkscape can be used to create Logo's, Illustrations and finished artwork. It is a great tool for creating artwork for the Web and can output work in the SVG file format or the latest version now allows to to export your artwork in PDF . I have found that Inkscape files integrate well with other graphics programs. You can create Vector artworks in Inkscape and include them in multi page documents created in Scribus. Desktop publishing has never been more accessible to the general public and for free!what more can I say..... I love the program You can learn the Inkscape basics with an excellent online manual. Then explore the Tutorials on my Web Site called Inkscape Tutorials..
Scribus Desktop Publishing:Scribus is similar to In Design, it allows you to combine Vector Graphics, Photo Images and Text into documents ready for publication. You have a wide choice of layout options and the program is capable of producing anything from a Brochure to a Book.The development of Open Source Software has now reached a point where truly Professional standards can be achieved, meeting all of the requirements needed by commercial printers. Scribus will export finished files in the PDF X3 format converting images and content to CMYK and embedding Fonts and Line work to exacting industry standards.
You can learn how to use Scribus by visiting My Web Site Scribus Tutorials.
Open Office can be downloaded from their Web Site.
Open Office is a suite of Applications released under the Open Source licence. The suite includes a Writing program, Spread Sheet, Data Base, Presentation and Vector Drawing program. It also enables you to create HTML web pages and sites in a variety of different ways. There is considerable help and tutorials built into the program. Open Office is cross compatible with the Microsoft Office products and can also create PDF files from any application in the suite.
You can download Foxit Reader from their web site.
The Foxit reader is free and is a great companion to PDFCreator. The reader is small, fast to load and very easy to use. It also has much of the functionality of Adobe Acrobat, but for free. You can add text, notes, annotation, bookmarks and much more. And for most people that's all you will need. For a little extra you can purchase the full blown Foxit editor for the fraction of the price of Acrobat.
The Essential Desktop Publishing Utilities Pack:
The programs below are the best time saving little utility programs that I have found. They are very small, fast and I don't know how I would deal without having them on my computer. Best of all they are all FREE !
Jarte Powerful, fast, fully featured Text Editor:
It allows you to open and save documents in DOC, RTF and TXT and absolutely brilliant for writing text used in Web pages. I have found its spell checker accurate and the Screen capture feature fast and simple. It also allows Hyperlinks and much more.
You can download the program from their web site.
Fotosizer super fast Image file conversion utility:
This is an extremely fast program that changes a files size, resolution or file type. You can drag and drop files into its work area. You can convert multiple files at once, even entire folders.
You can download the program from the developers Web Site.
CR8tracer very fast bitmap to Vector conversion tool:
This little gem converts .bmp files to Vector files and allows you to save them as EPS,PS files.
You can download it from the developers Site.
A faboulous collection of Free Fonts at Creamundo.com. There is an Article at my Hub Pages on Installing Fonts and Modifying them.
Rod Taylor wrote the information on this page.
Please visit his huge collection of Graphic Design 'How To' information using Open Source and freeware programs at Hub Pages.
Fotosizer super fast Image file conversion utility:This is an extremely fast program that changes a files size, resolution or file type. You can drag and drop files into its work area. You can convert multiple files at once, even entire folders.
You can download the program from the developers Web Site.
CR8tracer very fast bitmap to Vector conversion tool:This little gem converts .bmp files to Vector files and allows you to save them as EPS,PS files.
You can download it from the developers Site.
Gifted Motion:
Very small compact Animated Gif Tool. Open multiple image files and turn them into animated Gifs.
You can download this program from the developers Web Site.
Please visit his huge collection of Graphic Design 'How To' information using Open Source and freeware programs at Hub Pages.
