The following article provides a guide to choosing and using open source graphic design software. I provide a list of some of the best free and reduced-cost graphics software available today.
My hope is that you can use this resource to help you visually communicate with your websites, blogs, and projects.
Dia
Dia was built on a single document interface (SDI) similar to Inkscape and GIMP. It is mainly used to create electronic circuit type networks, flowcharts, etc. It is integrated with many advanced features, i.e., using this to help draw relationship models in database structures, UML, simple electrical circuits. SVG and XML file formats are supported.
Using Dia, you can export SVG, EPS, DXF, PNG, JPEG all other well-known formats.
Blender
Blender is a 3D drawing creation software. The topmost famous animators use Blender to make short films, feature films, TV shows, etc.
Its interface is quite complex at first, but when you go forward to design, then it is easy. It has many customizable features; of course, you can also create your extensions and features that the way you want to design.
Using Blender, you can handle photorealistic rendering, sculpting(different types of brushes), game creation, and fast rigging.
If you are willing to spend, you should check out premium software to design 3D animation.
Blender is an open source 3D computer graphics tool for developers which can be seamlessly used for designing or creating interactive 3D applications, visual effects and animated films.
Pencil2D
Pencil2D is a drawing software; it is enabled to design hand-drawn animations using bitmap and vector graphics. It is straightforward to use, and it is integrated with a clearer interface and equipped with high-end animation tools.
So the Pencil2D drawing tool is might be the best way to know the fundamental principles of vector graphics and cartoon animation.
Skencil
Skencil is a vector drawing application. It is available in Linux/Unix/GNU-like operating systems. It enables us to create some great diagrams and illustrations and useful drawings. Skencil is built with an interpreted language, i.e., python, and it is very high-level object-oriented.
Highlights
- Ease of use.
- Gradient fills
- Write EPS files
- Blend Groups
- Transformed images and text
- Advanced rectangles and curves etc.
Krita
Krita is a powerful vector graphics creator with a heavy focus on digital painting and illustration. It is mainly used to design comic books. It is free software with advanced templates and features.
Artists designed Krita for top-quality drawing software that is available to everyone. It can help design comic books, drawing such as smooth shapes, vanishing points, advanced selection functions, layer masks, etc. If you want to enter the illustration world, Krita is the best choice in the open-source category.
Gimp
Gimp stands for the GNU image manipulation program.
Gimp is one of the most popular and open-source graphics design and photo editing tools. It is a featured-packed graphic design suite and image editor. This tool is the same as Adobe photoshop layout. A fantastic tool for any beginner or advanced designer who primarily works with photos.
GIMP is a high-quality framework for scripted image direction amidst languages including C, Perl, C++, Python, etc.
It is a counterpart to Adobe Photoshop. If you are creating a digital painting or adjusting photos and compositing various elements, it is fantastic. Of Course, it doesn’t have all the features like photoshop, but whoever created this software has an enormous number of volunteers from across the world.
Highlights
- Packed with filters, masks, layers, and brushes
- Extend the features with the extensions
- Advanced photo editing features
- Truly inspirational designs are created. It means to render the flexibility to transform images the way you like it.
- An enormous number of graphical design elements, logos, interface components. It also contributes to top-notch color management features to ensure high fidelity color management.
Inkscape
Inkscape is much like adobe illustrator and Corel Draw. It is also one of the powerful tools available free to everyone. It is also known as the counterpart of vector graphics creator adobe illustrator.
Inkscape basic and default file format is in Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG). Inkscape is available for Linux, Mac, and Windows operating systems.
As a web designer, Inkscape is a great program to have in your toolbox. The feature-rich vector graphics editor enables users to effortlessly perform complex path operations, edit notes, trace bit-maps, and a lot more. Click here for more information.
Highlights
- Styling objects
- Supports various types of file formats
- Operation depends on the path.
- Manipulation in the object can be done effectively.
- Ease of documentation
- Flexible user interface
Synfig Studio
Available on Windows, OSX, and Linux, Synfig Studio is a 2D animation software for all creative enthusiasts to bring their designs to life. Depending upon your drawing style, you’d be able to achieve just about any kind of vibe of animation you’re aiming for.
Check one of the complex animations created with this software:https://www.youtube.com/embed/PThy9_RZQ8c?feature=oembed
You can also create something light-hearted and simple if that’s your forte. As I said, it all boils down to what you’re looking to create, and consider it a nod from Synfig Studio.
Talking about the features, it gives you complete control over your vector artwork right from importing it to exporting the finished product. You can duplicate shapes, work with over 50 layers, add filters and apply gradients.
Apart from that, you can totally take over the bone system to accurately structure your design so that their movements look the way you want them to look. This can be easily achieved by utilizing their Skeleton Distortion layer, which helps you to apply complex deformations to bitmap artwork.
You can choose from two different versions – Stable and Development. The former is the one that’s well-tested and proven, while the latter is the newer one that has experimental features and additional bug fixes. Both of them are free to download as this is open-source software.
Font Forge
FontForge is a font editor, which supports many font formats for designers. It is lightweight and enables you to create smooth designs of your own-type, true-type, and postscript. It is free software developed by George Williams and written in C-programming language.
It uses FreeType rendering font creations on screen.
SVG-Edit
SVG-Edit can help to create vector graphics within the browser without any additional software installation on your system. It is a cross-browser javascript graphic design tool.
SVG-Edit consists of two interfaces, which include svgcanvas.js and svg-editor.js. These two components work mutually to create effective vector graphics.
Conclusion
As digitalization across the globe has been increasing over the years, it clearly shows that the demand for the graphic and web designing industry will be high. Choosing the right tool that suits your business needs will give you the best results.
Draw
Draw is an amazing open source tool that helps to execute everything right from a sketch to a complex plan. You can create bespoke designs, logos, technical drawings, animations and so much more with this software.
GIMP
GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) is an immersive tool for image composition, photo re-touching and image authoring. You can get more info here.
Soya 3D
Soya 3D is an object oriented, high level 3D engine for Python. It basically consists of blender2soya and blender2cal3d scripts.
Kivio
Kivo is an easy to use flowcharting application with a functionality of diagramming as well. The software allows developers to create flowcharts, organization charts, and network diagrams. You can learn more about it here.
Xournal
Xournal is an open source application that can be utilized for sketching, note-taking and even can be used as a journal using a stylus. Get more info here.
Greenshot
Greenshot is a lightweight software tool that is designed for screenshot purposes. It allows users to quickly create complete or partial screenshots. You can get it here.
Pencil
Pencil is an animation, drawing software that lets you design traditional hand-drawn animation using vector as well as bit-map graphics. You can download it here.
FontForge
FontForge is a lightweight, outline front editor that brings forth the ability to smoothly create your own open-type, postscript and true-type. For more info click here.
3D Slicer
3D Slicer is a comprehensive and effective open source software package where users can indulge in breakthrough image and scientific visualization.
OpenSCAD
OpenSCAD is a powerful software for creating solid 3D CAD objects. It is specially designed for creative web developers.
Usersnap
Usersnap is a customer feedback software that helps you improve your designs and products with the input of those who are actually using it. Collect ideas, improvements, requests, and satisfaction ratings from one place. Usersnap specializes in customer feedback, from collecting to managing, and ultimately acting on it. Check out Usersnap’s customer feedback tools today. image.gif 3)
Conclusion
Hundreds of designers are making hundreds of dollars each month by employing open source methods to make thousands of dollars. What methods are they using? Open source software. This is not merely a few students getting lucky, or anyone doing some amazing work on the side. Many graphic designers are making a living off their open source design endeavors, while hundreds more are supplementing their income in impressive ways with this method.