Topic outline

  • A selection of free open source programs that are totally recommended.

    Also check out the section on my favourite apps for the iPad/iPhone - some of which are paid but not everything in life is free!

  • Office Tools

    • URLOpen Office URL

      Open Office is the open source office application package.  It can do all the things found in MS Office and save in a compatible format.

  • Graphics and Animation Tools

    • URLGoogle Picasa URL

      Windows | Web | Mac

      Everyone needs something to organise their photos these days and Picasa does that just nicely.  It also makes a great little entry level photo editing suite too.

    • URLGimp URL

      Windows | Mac | Linux | Portable

      The GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) remains PCMAG Editor's Choice for free image editing for good reason: This open-source classic has all the high-end tools you could want, short of spending hundreds of dollars for Photoshop

    • URLInkScape URL

      Windows | Mac | Linux | Portable

      InkScape is open source and unlike most Adobe Illustrator and other vector-based drawing programs is not expensive - in fact its free.  It uses the SVG format for files to support features like markers, clones, and alpha blending.

  • 3D Tools

    3D Tools for animation and CAD.

    • URLBlender URL

      Windows | Mac

      Blender is the free open source 3D content creation suite, available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public License.

    • URLSketch Up URL

      Windows | Mac

      Excellent piece of software (now with paid pro version) that allows you to create 3D drawings.  More technical than animation.

    • URLWings 3D URL

      Windows | Mac | Linux

      Wings 3D is an advanced subdivision modeler that is both powerful and easy to use.

  • iPad and iPhone Apps

    • URLBeFunky URL

      There’s No Such Thing As A Boring Photo (Just Boring Photo Editors)

    • URLPhoto Toaster URL

      PhotoToaster provides a deep toolbox of photo corrections, then adds fast non-destructive image adjustments and provides three different ways to adjust them. The Toaster can do everything from crop, simple lighting adjustments and color corrections to elaborate multi-layer composite effects and noise reduction.

  • Teaching Tools

    • TripTico A desktop resource that contain lots of interactive teaching tools like random generators, countdown timers and quizzes.