[Tools] Some Graphics Tools

Summary: This is a list of some great Open Source and free graphics editors and utilities that may be generally useful. Also, one interesting non-free, closed-source Microsoft Beta project is included because of its coolness factor.
 
2D Graphics Editors:
  • "The GIMP":- The canonical attempt at a free Open Source graphics editor.  The user interface is a bit strange, as the GIMP came from the Linux community.  Seasoned Photoshop users may want to see the next link, though.
  • "GIMPshop": - "Basically it is just a hack of the current GIMP-sourcecode changing the menustructure, naming and key-bindings to be more like Photoshop."  See "Announcing GIMPShop": for details.
  • "Inkscape": - "Inkscape is an open source drawing tool with capabilities similar to Illustrator, Freehand, and CorelDraw that uses the W3C standard scalable vector graphics format (SVG). Some supported SVG features include basic shapes, paths, text, markers, clones, alpha blending, transforms, gradients, and grouping. In addition, Inkscape supports Creative Commons meta-data, node-editing, layers, complex path operations, text-on-path, and SVG XML editing. It also imports several formats like EPS, Postscript, JPEG, PNG, BMP, and TIFF and exports PNG as well as multiple vector-based formats."
  • "Paint.NET": is a .NET replacement for Windows Paint.  It adds considerable graphics and image editing capability and is both free and Open Source (MIT license).
  • "ImageMagick": is a free, Open Source (GPL) system for creating and editing bitmapped images.  It includes support for text, lines, polygons, ellipses and Bézier curves and has many advanced features.  "ImageMagick" supports over 90 graphics formats and can convert between them. You can download the Windows-ready binary here.
  • "Microsoft Acrylic Beta": - "Acrylic" is the codename for "an innovative illustration, painting and graphics tool that provides exciting creative capabilities for designers working in print, web, video, and interactive media."  It evolved from Creature House Expression 3, which Microsoft bought in 2003.  Acrylic lets you seamlessly blend vector paths and bitmapped images.  This is a powerful new tool, but do be aware that it is currently a Beta of something that will be part of Microsoft Expressions, a new licensed Microsoft product.
3D Graphics Editors:
  • "Blender 3D": - Blender is an extremely capable free, and Open Source 3D graphics editor.  See the Gallery  for examples.
  • "Wings 3D": - Wings 3D is a powerful 3D subdivision modeler.  See the Site Gallery for some simple examples of what Wings 3D can do.
  • "Autodesk Gmax": - A free, but not Open Source, 3D modeling and animation software product based on the award-winning Autodesk® 3ds Max® software.  Registration required.  While Gmax is targeted towards game graphics tweakers, it is useful beyond that market.
 
Image Viewers/Editors:
  • "IrfanView": - This is a "must have" graphics viewing and tweaking tool.  It's great for basic image processing, resizing, and format converting.  Free "as in beer" but not Open Source.  IrfanView also provides excellent screen capture functionality and has many other useful features.
  • "ForceVision": - An award-winning free, but not Open Source, image viewer and bitmap editor.
 
Other Graphics Tools:
 

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