Free Graphic Design Applications

Free Creative Suite CS3 Alternatives

There are so many free open-source applications out there that can save money for new designers and even allow designers who work in one medium to explore other mediums as well.Here’s a list of everything I could think of.

Free Illustration & Vector Art Applications

Inkscape Product Page - Download Site

A free illustration and vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format. It is very easy to edit nodes, perform complex path operations, trace bitmaps and much more. Featuring transparency, gradients, node editing, pattern fills, PNG export, and more.

InsightPoint Product Page - Download Site

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. Besides popular bitmap outputs, InsightPoint can also create high-quality, Web-deployable multipage slide shows in the compact, sharp SVG format. Version 3.2.5.2 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.

Karbon 14 - Product Page

Karbon is a vector-based drawing application for KOffice. It allows artists to create complex drawings without losing image quality when zooming in on, or resizing the drawing. You can use Karbon to add finishing touches to diagrams created using Kivio or charts created using KChart. Graphic design ideas can be quickly and easily transformed into high quality illustrations with Karbon.

SodiPodi - Product Page - Download

Sodipodi is a vector-based drawing program, like CorelDraw® or Adobe Illustrator® from the proprietary software world, and Sketch or Karbon14 from the free software world. It is free software, distributed under the terms of the Gnu General Public License, Version 2.

Skencil - Product Page

Skencil is a Free Software interactive vector drawing appliction. Known to run on GNU/Linux and other UNIX-compatible systems, it is a flexible and powerful tool for illustrations, diagrams and other purposes. A somewhat unique (for a drawing program) feature of Skencil is that it is implemented almost completely in a very high-level, interpreted language, Python. Python is powerful, object-oriented and yet easy to use.

Read more