45
Best Freeware Design Programs
Image
editing
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a freely
distributed piece
of software suitable
for such tasks as photo retouching, image
composition, and image authoring. It is a
powerful piece of software
with capabilities not found in any other free software product.
Note: You will need to download both GTK+ Runtime Environment and The
Gimp
installers. Install GTK+ before installing The Gimp.
Overview | Download
GIMPshop is a modification of the free/open source GNU
Image
Manipulation Program
(GIMP), intended to replicate the feel of Adobe
Photoshop. Its primary purpose is to
make users of Photoshop feel
comfortable using GIMP.
Overview | Download
Transfer, find, organize, edit, print, and share images,
all with
this easy-to-use
product. Watch Picasa automatically organize all your
pictures into elegant albums
by date. Having all your photos in one
place means no more time wasted searching
for folders or files. The
program works with JPEG, GIF, BMP, PSD, and movie files
and is
compatible with most digital cameras; it detects your USB
driver and
imports
pictures into albums. Editing tools include cropping (standard
or custom), removal
of red-eye, and enhancing–even switching from color
to black and white. Create
slide shows set to your MP3s. Integration
with Picasa’s free Hello instant
picture-sharing software lets you
share hundreds of photos in seconds
and chat in real time.
Download Picasa with the Free Google Pack
Paint.NET is free image editing and photo manipulation
software
designed to be used on computers that run Windows. It supports layers,
unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and
powerful tools.
Overview | Download
Ever tried using a color picker on a
high resolution
monitor? It’s
impossible. That’s why this color
picker has a magnifier attached. Grab
palettes of up to 16 colors at once and use four advanced color mixers
to select a spectrum of possibilities.
Overview | Download
Ever needed to see what’s going on the screen down to the pixel level?
That’s where
the Magnifier comes in. Simple and easy to use, the
Magnifier is always handy for when
you need to see all the details.
Magnifier has the following features: no popup adverts or spyware, easy
to use with any other program, resizable magnification area,
adjustable
zoom factor, overlay a grid.
Overview | Download
Create thumbnails and scaled copies of all your images. With Easy
Thumbnails, you can
find and process images individually, in groups, or
in whole folders using a simple file
selector and built-in image
viewer. Use slider controls to rotate images and adjust
contrast,
brightness, sharpness, and other attributes. Thumbnails can be created
in any existing folder or a new folder, and you can identify them
clearly by adding a prefix or
suffix to their names.
Overview & Download
-
FastStone
Photo Resizer 1.4
FastStone Photo Resizer is a free image converter and
resizer
intended to enable users (especially digital-camera owners) to convert,
rename, resize, crop, rotate, change color depth, add text, and
watermarks to images in a quick-and-easy batch mode. The
application
supports major graphic formats including BMP, JPEG, JPEG 2000, GIF, and
PNG. Drag-and-drop mouse operation is well supported.
Overview | Download
ImageDiff is a pixel by pixel image comparison tool.
ImageDiff
allows you to compare two images side by side, and see a difference
mask showing you the exact pixels that have changed. Features include:
Compare images of different formats, including JPG, GIF, BMP,
and TIF,
PNG. Compare images of different proportions and imageDiff will scale
and
calculate the difference automatically.
Overview | Download
IrfanView is a fast and compact image viewer/converter. It is trying to
be simple for
beginners and powerful for professionals. Many supported
file formats and features.
Features include: multi-language support,
Thumbnail option, slideshow, toolbar skins, fast directory browsing,
batch conversion/editing, multipage editing, file search, change color
depth, scanning, cut/crop, IPTC edit, capturing, lossless JPG
operations, effects
(sharpen, blur, Adobe Photoshop filters), EXE/SCR
creating, many hotkeys, command line options and plugins.
Overview | Download
-
FastStone
Image Viewer 3.2
FastStone Image Viewer is a fast, stable, user-friendly image browser,
converter and
editor. It has a nice array of features that include
image viewing, management,
comparison, red-eye removal, emailing,
resizing, cropping and color adjustments. Its innovative but intuitive
full-screen mode provides quick access to EXIF information,
thumbnail
browser and major functionalities via hidden toolbars that pop up when
your mouse touch the four edges of the screen. Other features include a
high quality
magnifier and a musical slideshow with 150+ transitional
effects, as well as lossless JPEG transitions, drop shadow effects,
image annotation, scanner support, histogram and much more. It supports
all major graphic formats including BMP, JPEG, JPEG 2000, GIF, PNG,
PCX, TIFF, WMF, ICO and TGA.
Overview | Download
Alch Icon Suite is a powerful icon editing studio this small
application is extremely easy to
use and has a range of effects that
can be applied to icons, not only can you edit any
(16 X 16, 32 X 32,
48 X 48, 64 X 64) existing windows icons you can create your
own
icons
fast and effectively.
*Update* 7/22/2007
Users have reported the presence of the virus “win32 adload.aw” in this
program.
Download for this app is not supported any more. Thanks for
the help.
Overview
| Download
Ilustration
Inkscape is an Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities
similar to Illustrator, Freehand, CorelDraw, or Xara X using the W3C
standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)
file format. Supported SVG
features include shapes, paths, text, markers, clones, alpha blending,
transforms, gradients, patterns, and grouping. Inkscape also supports
Creative Commons meta-data, node editing, layers, complex path
operations, bitmap tracing, text-on-path, flowed text, direct XML
editing, and more.
Overview | Download
SmoothDraw NX is an easy yet powerful freehand drawing
tool. It’s a
limited yet free
version of SmoothDraw. It produces the most smooth and
expressive stroke through
your tablet. It also smoothes mouse input for
who don’t have a tablet.
Overview & Download
-
SPRAY
vector generator 0.1
SPRAY vector generator is intended to produce helper
objects for
vector illustration
software like Xara X, Corel Draw, Adobe photoshop.
You can easily generate huge
number of circles with random position,
fill, outline color; random paths, grids, and rays.
You can place
generated objects thru clipboard at your favorite illustration
app.
Developed for Xara X but also works with Corel Draw or Adobe
Illustrator.
Download
ParticleDraw is a novel windows drawing program powered
by a state
of the art general system simulation engine. The brushes are dynamic
systems of particles with interesting behaviours, which you can
completely customise. Each brush is intricately tuneable with
many
underlying physical parameters and one can construct arbitrary systems
of
particles and use these as brushes.
Overview | Download
InsightPoint creates sophisticated illustration and layout for Web and
print. When it
comes to spell out and share your ideas, in text and in
graphics as well, InsightPoint
is the fastest and easiest way to get
you there. Built on top of XML technologies, comprehensive
object-oriented vector design tools, trivial learning curve, and
smooth
drawing experience.
Overview & Download
Authoring
Tools
Unleash your creativity with Serif’s powerful drawing
and graphics
software - at no cost!
You’ll be amazed how easy it is to create high
quality graphics and animations without
having to spend hours designing
or pay for expensive training.
Overview | Download
This is a free program for the PC developed in VB by
special fx
artist, animator & novelist
Dan Ritchie and made available for
free
downloading and use (but not for resale without express written
permission - please contact Dan if you wish to include a copy of
his
software with your commercial products). Any non-commercial
distribution is fine; that
includes placing it on cover CDs with
magazines and books.
Overview | Download
-
AmitySource
Userbar Generator
AmitySource Userbar Generator is an easy-to-use program for generating
unique and attractive userbars. With it you can create nice-looking
userbar within five minutes and without any technical or artistical
knowledge. It has everything you need for creating
personal userbars:
you can choose colors, special effect, pattern, a glow effect,
an
overlay image for your composition. AmitySource Userbar Generator
allows to save the created userbar in different popular formats.
Overview | Download
Terragen is a scenery generator, created with the goal of generating
photorealistic
landscape images and animations. It is available for
Windows and the Mac OS. At this
stage in its development, Terragen is
free for personal, noncommercial use.
Although Terragen is a continually evolving
work-in-progress, it is
already capable of near-photorealistic results for professional
landscape visualisation, special effects, art
and recreation.
Download | Overview
uMark Lite enables you to add a text or image watermark
to your
digital photos. You can choose from 9 pre-defined watermark placements,
set a custom font, size, and color, as
well as opacity level. The
freeware version can batch process up to 50 images in a single
run. The
watermarked images are saved in a new folder, so your originals
remain
unchanged. 50 images at a go, adds uMark Lite watermark.
Overview | Download
Animation
TouchArt Sampler is a great way to learn the art and
skills of
performing live visuals and
VJing. TouchPlayer and 21 interactive 2D
and 3D animations (synths) are included in this sampler. Touch lets you
manipulate visuals in real-time, giving you control of various
parameters like lighting, color, textures, motion, video playback, and
composing. Play
some audio and you can sync visuals to the BPM.
Overview & Download
Synfig Studio is a vector based 2D animation program. It
is designed
to be capable of producing feature-film quality animation. It
eliminates the need for tweening, preventing
the need to hand-draw each
frame. Synfig Studio features spatial and temporal resolution
independence (sharp and smooth at any resolution or framerate), high
dynamic range
images, and a flexible plugin system.
Overview | Download
AnimPixels is an animated movie software specialized in
Isometric
Pixel Art. Use your own movie components, or download them from the
Web, to create a original pixelized
animated movie. Download the free
AnimPixels animation software. No evaluation period
or limited feature.
Overview | Download
UnFREEz is a high-speed Windows application that will
take any
number of images, saved
as separate GIF files, and create a single
animated GIF from those images. What makes
this program unique from its
competitors? First and foremost, UnFREEz is freeware, which means you
may use it forever without paying a cent or feeling the slightest bit
guilty
Overview & Download
3D
Modeling & CAD
LOOXIS Faceworx creates a 3D head out of two standard 2D
photos. You
need two well illuminated pictures; one from the front (mugshot style)
and one from the side.
Overview | Download
Create breathtaking realistic 3D landscapes and
animations with DAZ
3D Bryce. The easy
user interface simplifies the design process for a
novice or the seasoned professional.
Start out building or importing a
landscape as impressive as the Grand Canyon. Populate it with
buildings, people or any other object you create or from the extensive
DAZ 3D library. The Light Lab provides you robust control over your
sunsets, moonlight nights or high-noon ambiance.
**Update 7/30/07**
At the official site you wont find any free download link for the Bryce
5.5, because the download is provided via download.com, a direct link
to the program @ download.com is provided below.
Overview | Download
Blender is the open-source software for 3D modeling, animation,
rendering,
post-production, interactive creation and playback. It is
available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public
License
Overview | Download
Google SketchUp is a free, easy-to-learn 3D-modeling
program with a
few simple tools to let you create 3D models of houses, sheds, decks,
home additions, woodworking projects, and even space ships. You can add
details, textures, and glass to your models, and design with
dimensional accuracy. .
.
Overview
| Download
3D Canvas is a real-time, 3D modeling and
animation tool
that
incorporates a drag-and-
drop approach. Complex models can be
constructed from simple 3D primitives or created
using
3D Canvas’s
object-building tools. Creating an animated scene is as simple as
positioning
the objects within your scene for each point in time in
your animation. 3D Canvas will
ensure the resulting animation runs
smoothly.
Version 7.0.1.2 adds support for Windows Vista.
Overview
| Download
3D Box Shot Maker is an easy and FREE tool to virtually
design
quality box shot as your
software box cover. It is important to present
a professional boxshot to attract your
potential customers to take a
closer look at your products. An impressive box shot
will make your
software outstanding, and easily defeat your competitors at the start.
Overview
| Download
-
Alibre
Design Xpress 9.2 SP1
Alibre Design Xpress 3D solid modeling software delivers
the
features you need to get
started with 3D design and tackle projects for
your business or workshop. Alibre Design Xpress is a rich and capable
3D solid modeler for creating parts, assemblies, and 2D
drawings.
Overview
| Download
Flash
Tools
-
Flash
Slide Show Maker Professional 4.31
Flash Slideshow Maker is an ultra slide show Flash tools
that helps
you display photo album and slideshows on your own web site. With
dozens of preset themes, you can easily make XML driven photo galleries
for website. Flash Slideshow Maker is a template based Flash authoring
tool, you don’t need to know anything about XML or FLASH coding, there
are only three simple steps to build a Flash photo slideshow. Each
template can be customized, so
the slideshow can easily be styled to
match your own website design.
Overview
| Download
LiveSwif Lite 2 is a free Flash maker that lets you
create Flash
movies, buttons, or banners quickly and easily. It provides several
classic vector-drawing tools, including Freehand,
Curve, Shape, Spline,
Contour, and an in-place text editor. LiveSwif is a typical,
keyframe-based animation system. Based on the capability of drawing
tools, it provides a path-motion and transform-motion tool. In setting
a new position, angle, size, or color in keyframes, LiveSwif will blend
the in-between frames automatically. The setup package contains 500
library components.
Download
-
Sothink
SWF Catcher for IE
Sothink SWF Catcher for IE is a free and useful extension to Internet
Explorer that enables you to save multiple Flash based charts,
presentations, e-cards, games and Flash movies in
it at one time. The
small size allows it embedding in IE by just adding a new button. With
only few clicks you can store your favorite Flashes easily.
Overview & Download
Browse installed and uninstalled TrueType fonts, viewing
sample
text, individual characters, and detailed font information. Easy
font-management functions let you install, uninstall,
print, copy, or
delete any number of fonts at once. You can even store your own notes
with them, filter them according to type (serif, sans serif, and so
on), and group them
into collections for convenience. This version lets
you choose your font colors, set up drop-down lists
of standard text
samples, rename font files to avoid conflicts, and load fonts
temporarily for use without installing them.
Overview
| Download
FontHit Font Tools is a manager that allows you view,
preview,
install, uninstall, print in
color, customize size and text of the
previews, browse your hard drive for fonts, create
your own folders
that you can drag fonts into, convenient and automatic categorization,
drag-n-drop to add font files (even folders and zip files with fonts)
to the preview list, and character map. You can also search
the Web for
fonts and font-related Web pages
Download
FontRenamer renames TrueType font files (*.ttf) with the
real name
of the typefaces.
Simply select a folder of font files and click Rename
button. ‘Arial bold italic.ttf’ instead of ‘arialbi.ttf’ or
‘Brush
Script.ttf’ instead of brushscn.ttf’. FontRenamer is available in
English
and German languages (auto detection).
Overview
| Download
Plugin creates new PDF file which contains font names, parameters and
recoding tables ToUnicode and xlatTable. Version 1.1 may include
unspecified updates, enhancements
or bugs fixes.
Overview
| Download
Useful
Tools
Do you take any photographs, own a digital camera or
work in multimeda
or design?
This user friendly tool was created specifically to batch process
images quickly, applying flexible resizing methods, rotation, cropping,
scaling, watermarking, renaming and more.
As a multimedia designer
Digital Image Tool has come in very handy…..we made it
originally for
use in-house but decided to put a little more effort into the program
and
release it for free to the public!
Overview
| Download
From the developer: “The JR Screen Ruler is a great tool
that allows
you to accurately measure anything on your screen. This is especially
useful when measuring graphics, web page browser sizes or whatever.
Screen Ruler can display Pixels, Inches, Picas or Centimeters.”
Overview
& Download
-
Quick
HTML Color Picker 1.0
Quick HTML Color Picker is a free Windows color picker
tool. With
Quick HTML Color Picker,
you can easily pick any color from the screen.
You can preview the color, use mouse or keyboard to select the color
you wanted, and get the color in RGB and HTML format. You
can cancel a
capture by “Esc” key or right-clicking. Supports saving HTML color
value to clipboard automatically.
Overview
| Download
LS Screen Capture, this small application
proforms a
small but
needed function. It captures
your desktop in several handy ways.
Capture the entire desktop screen, the entire
desktop work area,
capture using your mouse by creating a rectangle, capture an entire
window, the entire window work area, capture any active window with key
stroke
(Ctrl + F2).
Overview
| Download
Wisdom-Soft ScreenHunter is a free screen-capture tool
for you to
easily take screenshots. ScreenHunter can capture a full screen, an
active window, the client window, or a
rectangular area. It
automatically saves captures in BMP or JPEG format, so you
don’t
have
to stop each time you capture, and you can capture as many as you like.
It also can save captures to the Clipboard to be copied to other
programs, such as Motion Studio and Word. ScreenHunter has a selectable
hot-key capture (F1 to F10) and delayed capture, and uses virtually no
system resources on standby. ScreenHunter freeware version has no
expiration date and can be distributed free of charge.
Overview
| Download
Portable Document Format (PDF) is the de facto standard
for the
secure and reliable distribution and exchange of electronic documents
and forms around the world. CutePDF Writer (formerly CutePDF Printer)
is the free version of commercial PDF creation software. CutePDF Writer
installs itself as a “printer subsystem”. This enables virtually any
Windows applications (must be able to print) to create professional
quality PDF documents with just a push of a button.
Overview
| Download
|
