Free Software Links and Info

[f700es]

Hello all, I thought that I would make a sticky to list some of the free and open-source software I have tried and use. These will cover anything to image editing (raster and vector) to 3D. If any links dont' work or if I missed one that you know about please let me know.

Cheers

 

F7

 

 

The Gimp!

The Gimp is a image editing program that has been called the free photoshop. It is very powerful and has about 75% of the functions of other expensive image editors. Originally written for Linux, it is now for windows, unix, linux and mac OS.

 

http://www.gimp.org/ original site

http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/ win32 site

 

 

Inkscape

Inkscape is a vector drawing program similar to Adobe Illustrator and Corel Draw. It uses SVG (scalable vector graphics) as it's native format. Still in development phase but very usable it seems.

 

http://www.inkscape.org/

 

 

Sodipodi

Here is another vector drawing program like Illustrator and such. It also uses SVG as it's native file format.

 

http://www.sodipodi.com/

 

 

Wings3D

Wings3D is a very nice open-source sub-division 3D program. It is based on OpenGL and is very fast. It is still in development but again, very usable. It uses it's own file format but it can import .3ds, .ai (rel 8 ) and .obj files and can export .3ds, .mdl, .eps, .obj and .wrl. It can even link to a few free rendering engines such as Yafray (http://www.coala.uniovi.es/~jandro/noname/).

 

http://www.wings3d.com/

 

 

OpenOffice

Here is a free MS Office type suite of applications. They claim compatibility with MS Office. I tried an earlier version and it was pretty good. I guess that I am spoiled with having the real Office but this one was not bad. It has a Writer (Word), Calc (Excel), Impress (PowerPoint), Draw (Visio like I guess) and Database (Access) all inside. I would say that when I tried it, it did not have all of the functions of say MS Office 2000 but for a small business user or home user it should do most of what you want.

 

http://www.openoffice.org/

 

 

CutePDF Writer

Supposed to be a free PDF creation application. Can't say much about it as I have not tried it but someone listed it once and I bookmarked it so give it a try.

 

http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp

(Thanks CAD Tutor )

 

 

Well, there is a good start. Like I said if there is a good one that you know about let me know and I'll add it. Take care all.

[CADTutor]

Great list F7. I've been meaning to do something similar for a while now - I'll add a few more later but just one point of clarification: the free version of CutePDF has recently been renamed "CutePDF Writer" in order to differentiate it from its paid-for big brother. You can get it here:

 

http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp

 

It does just what you want, no bother and it's free.

[f700es]

Great list F7. I've been meaning to do something similar for a while now - I'll add a few more later but just one point of clarification: the free version of CutePDF has recently been renamed "CutePDF Writer" in order to differentiate it from its paid-for big brother. You can get it here:

 

http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp

 

It does just what you want, no bother and it's free.

 

Cool thanks David Yeah, a question like this does come up every so often and it just hit me again this morning (well for me anyway ) and thought that it would make a great sticky. Feel free to edit the original list if you see a incorrect link or such like above. Thanks again bro!

[f700es]

Here is one that should be a must have..

 

ArtRage:

http://www.ambientdesign.com/artrage.html

It is a image editor with a pen base feel. It works well with a mouse though. A wonderful application. Their download link did not work but here is a place to get it...

 

http://www.tucows.com/adnload/375689_139591.html

 

 

have fun

[madaryl]

hello

i got interest in wings3d... i tried the link, but i found no link or icon in where i can download it

is it for free?

thanks! and merry christmas!

[hyposmurf]

Try the second link then select your conuntry and click one of the links.The open /save file dialogue box should then pop for you to download.Not sure if its free as I havent downloaded myself

[David Bethel]

Some freebies I use on a regular basis:

 

Image Editor:

Ifranview

http://www.irfanview.com/

 

Text Editor:

Notepad++

http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/about.php

 

Software Untilities:

AnalogX

http://www.analogx.com/welcome.htm

 

CAD Utilities:

Govert's Tools

http://www.output.tmfweb.nl/

 

 

Slide Show:

ThumbHTML

http://www.output.tmfweb.nl/

 

-David

[f700es]

hello

i got interest in wings3d... i tried the link, but i found no link or icon in where i can download it

is it for free?

thanks! and merry christmas!

 

 

http://www.wings3d.com

 

Just checked it, it should work. Yes, it's free

[f700es]

Some freebies I use on a regular basis:

 

Image Editor:

Ifranview

http://www.irfanview.com/

 

Text Editor:

Notepad++

http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/about.php

 

Software Untilities:

AnalogX

http://www.analogx.com/welcome.htm

 

CAD Utilities:

Govert's Tools

http://www.output.tmfweb.nl/

 

 

Slide Show:

ThumbHTML

http://www.output.tmfweb.nl/

 

-David

 

Ah, some more good ones. Thanks David

[CADbug]

but is there anything like AutoCAD, which is free and as freindly as AutoCAD!!

[f700es]

but is there anything like AutoCAD, which is free and as freindly as AutoCAD!!

 

Not that I am aware of. the best so far would be A9Tech's CAD software. It's free and not too bad but no where near as friendly as AutoCAD.

http://www.a9tech.com/

[CADTutor]

The world is still waiting for a good open source (free) AutoCAD replacement. My feeling is that we have a long time to wait before we get something like GIMP or Blender.

 

I guess we have to accept that quality CAD applications are difficult to create and that, on balance, Autodesk are doing a pretty good job.

[Methuselah]

Maybe you all should give ProgeCAD LT a try. Its free if you stick with just the LT version and you can set it up to almost perfectly mimic AutoCAD in every way. It uses IntelliCAD as its base CAD programming.

 

You can get it here: http://www.progecad.com/downloads/index.html

[f700es]

Maybe you all should give ProgeCAD LT a try. Its free if you stick with just the LT version and you can set it up to almost perfectly mimic AutoCAD in every way. It uses IntelliCAD as its base CAD programming.

 

You can get it here: http://www.progecad.com/downloads/index.html

 

Good link Methuselah. I have tried it but I just don't get the same feel like I do in Acad but it's not bad for the price

[Mark Ruble]

Here is my list of free software.

 

For web browser and e-mail I've been using:

Mozilla Firefox for the browser and Thunderbird for the e-mail:

http://www.mozilla.com

 

For Anti-Virus protection at home I've been using:

AVG

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

 

I like OpenOffice as well.

http://www.openoffice.org/

 

Mark

[MattW]

Here's a few free open-source raster to vector convertors.

AutoTrace

potrace

Ras2Vec

[f700es]

Here's a couple of free open-source raster to vector convertors.

AutoTrace

potrace

 

Thanks Matt, those types are often asked about.

[MattW]

It's my pleasure! I've been doing raster to vector conversion for a long time and I've used both AutoTrace and potrace. They're good but a bit difficult until you just simply force yourself to use them more. I'm going to expand this list if I find any more I haven't used before.

[f700es]

Ok all here is another one....Paint.net

http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/

A free photo editing program. Looks good.

[Methuselah]

Ok all here is another one....Paint.net

http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/

A free photo editing program. Looks good.

Thanks f700es... I'm getting sick of FastStone, although that's also a good one. I don't have the link off the top of my head so if you want info pull it off google.