Hello everyone.

I'd like to build a comprehensive list on the best open source software applicable to graphics and related interests. I appreciate anyone's help. If you can give a small introduction / explanation that would be great.

In my professional work, I grew up on Adobe software, but I also find I'm growing out of it as well.  My goal is to provide a list of professional resources on 0 start-up. If anyone can test-drive these and tell your experience, that would be great too.

I intend to place this list inside of the Symbiostock package for those who wish to continue to get independent of expensive / traditional methods.

Here's a few:

www.inkscape.org - Vector editing software.
www.gimp.org - Image Editing
www.blender.org - 3d imaging and animation suite (especially high class)

---

Suggested by ToonVectors:

ImageMagick is super useful for batch manipulation of images:
http://www.imagemagick.org/script/index.php

Similarly Ghostscript for PS/EPS/PDF handling:
http://www.ghostscript.com/

ImageMagick is super useful for batch manipulation of images:
http://www.imagemagick.org/script/index.php

Similarly Ghostscript for PS/EPS/PDF handling:
http://www.ghostscript.com/

Quote from: Leo on August 26, 2013, 00:20
www.blender.org - 3d imaging and animation suite (especially high class)

Speaking of Blender, has anyone tried out the Freestyle rending engine in conjunction with SVG export?  I've been meaning to play around with it to see if it might lead to a reasonable workflow for creating 2D vector files from 3D models.

http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Dev:Ref/Release_Notes/2.67/FreeStyle

http://www.geocities.jp/blenderyard/freestyle/svgwriter_b26/README.html

Quote from: Toon Vectors on August 26, 2013, 02:32


Speaking of Blender, has anyone tried out the Freestyle rending engine in conjunction with SVG export?  I've been meaning to play around with it to see if it might lead to a reasonable workflow for creating 2D vector files from 3D models.

I've used it extensively, and your dead-on with that idea.

http://www.clipartillustration.com/image/clipart-illustration-of-under-construction-hardhat-orange-man/?r=http://www.clipartillustration.com

http://www.clipartillustration.com/image/clip-art-illustration-of-3d-orange-man-with-clipboard-and-graph/?r=http://www.clipartillustration.com

With a search on Google "open source graphic software" I have found many.

http://sixrevisions.com/graphics-design/10-excellent-open-source-and-free-alternatives-to-photoshop/

http://www.snap2objects.com/2007/08/40_best_open_source_graphic_programs/

But I don't know which ones are the best, except the ones in your first post

considering how much PS and LR are of critical importance nowadays i would rather buy Adobe and stick with a cheaper camera than wasting weeks or month trying free alternatives, GIMP in particular is horrible, not even on par with PaintShopPro.

forget it, these softwares are too complex, nobody will make good clones for free.

I have both Inkscape and Gimp but don't have enough knowledge to use them.

I do use Blender and the things people are doing with freestyle are phenomenal.  I haven't tried using it yet I usually stick to Blender internal since my graphics card can't handle Cycles.

Interesting thread!
about 1 month ago i made the jump from windows to linux, and started to use some opensource software.
A brief list:
Debian, as operating system
Gimp and Inkscape for textures
Rawtherapee and darktable for postpro - www.rawtherapee.com - www.darktable.org
Blender (i used it also on windows)
The only commercial software, is Luxology Modo, for modelling and rendering (i used it also on windows)
For keywording i use bridge on a virtual machine, but i hope to find soon a native linux software.

I have to say that i'm not a photographer, (my portfolio is 99,9% 3D and 0,1% photos) so for me is easier to finds alternatives to adobe suite. 

Surprise, no one said Irfanview yet?

http://www.irfanview.com/

Excellent batch editing and resizing, renaming, or all three at once. Handles Adobe plugins if you use those. ALso has a useful plugin download for more features, Get Them.

If you have Irfanview, hit F12 it's Paint built in - many more features like clone tool, color replacer, straighten or rotate tool. If there was a plugin for levels (which might be and I haven't found it) Irfanview would be quite usable.

None of the free ones are as good as Adobe or Corel, and they don't have as many features, but free is nice.

Irfanview...not compatible with mac

I am off-topic because it is not an open source software, but if you are using a Mac iVinci Code is free (now)
https://itunes.apple.com/fr/app/ivinci-code/id613914139?mt=12&affId=403761

I use GIMP a lot.  There's lots of free plugins that make it more useful.  Used Inkscape a bit but need to work more on that.  Here's a few more.
http://www.photoscape.org/ps/main/index.php  Photoscape is good, lots of useful filters, but they did have a non-commercial use license, not sure if they still have that but worth checking out.
http://www.getpaint.net/  Paint.net has a great forum with tutorials to do all sorts of things.
http://hugin.sourceforge.net/  Hugin is a panorama photo stitcher.  I bought autopanopro before finding this but if you want a free one, this is worth checking out.

Thanks everyone. Keep posting them as you are aware of them. Tomorrow I'm going to update the main list. I'm hoping to have it as a list of suggestions in the theme's help area.

Concept artist David Revoy is currently using Krita for painting.