Questions for when you know what you want to do but don't know what software to use. Looking for a better/cheaper/free alternative? This is the tag for you.
10
votes
4answers
1k views
How can I effectively manage all my design assets?
I'm looking for a way to manage all of my design assets on my Mac. I've been accumulating stuff like templates, graphics, vectors, textures, stock images etc for a while, and the amount of stuff that ...
2
votes
2answers
66 views
What program can I use to convert a 2D industrial design plan to 3D model?
I'm currently working on a project to make a metal part. I have designed a 2D plan and I was wondering if there was a software out there that would enable me to transform my 2D plan into a 3D model. ...
4
votes
2answers
71 views
Looking for a software to design blueprint style technical drawings
I am looking for a software to draw a diagram like the one in this picture.
4
votes
1answer
70 views
How to create a font for free using web tools?
I realize this is an unfortunately vague question. I happen to be working with a designer with really awesome lettering skills, and we were hoping to create a couple fonts in .otf files. We are at a ...
0
votes
1answer
64 views
Making a tall texture more realistic with colours affected by light-direction ond visitors' position?
I created a tall grey building texture for a wall from this. Now if you look at the general trend in the black-white picture, you can see that certain patterns are too repeating. For an ...
2
votes
2answers
361 views
What are good alternatives to adobe software (InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator)?
Is there any professional software (for Mac) that I can use to replace some of the adobe software like InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator?
I don’t mean one that replaces all, but the equivalent of ...
5
votes
1answer
802 views
Turn image into geometric array of colours
Is there a tool like Poly (iPad app) available for Android or Windows systems? I'd like to turn images into polygones/triangles like shown on the app site.
0
votes
1answer
36 views
Is there any way to convert corel draw version 11 to corel draw version X3?
Is there any way to convert corel draw version 11 to corel draw version X3?
I have files in corel draw 11 to be converted to X3 version. Please let me know. any workaround or solution.
3
votes
2answers
92 views
Is there a command-line program that can output ascii art as an image?
Is there a command-line program (for Linux) that can convert an image to ascii art and then save that output as an image e.g. jpg or png?
To illustrate what I'm in need of, I want to convert the ...
1
vote
3answers
863 views
Are there any free tools to convert .eot files to .ttf, .otf or any other font formats?
I've been given a .eot font file that needs to be used in a desktop program. So far none of the programs that I use (Gimp, Scribus, Inkscape) can read this font type. Are there any ways to convert it ...
6
votes
7answers
6k views
Designing A Website from Scratch – Illustrator or Photoshop?
If I'm designing a website from scratch and I intend to slice it and code it up in Adobe Dreamweaver later, should I create the design of the website in Illustrator or Photoshop? Why?
2
votes
1answer
37 views
SVG coding envornment
I'm starting to learn SVG graphics coding, but I'm looking for something with a WYSIWYG kind of thing. Does such a thing exist?
And what would you advise me to make the learning process faster?
1
vote
1answer
88 views
Single operation to crop/resize to fit to specific size
I have some images that I'd like to resize to a specific size by cropping and resizing. I've tried using Paint.NET, but the resize and crop are both individual operations. How I'd like it to proceed ...
2
votes
5answers
528 views
Should I use Illustrator or Photoshop for Collateral Design?
I am creating a web advertising rate card. Basically a brochure. It will be a PDF file. Should I do brochure designs or collateral designs using Illustrator and then import the non vector images from ...
0
votes
2answers
118 views
Software to measure arc length/perimeter
I don't work in graphic design, but currently I have a problem which could be suited for this site.
I am looking for a software which allows to measure a 3D - curvature length. Just googling I found ...
0
votes
1answer
806 views
With what software I can create 3d expo booth designs?
I have to make some 3d expo booth designs. I worked with 3D Max before but I am not sure if that's the right tool for this kind of thing. Also I was not very good at it.
Some examples:
Is there ...
4
votes
4answers
145 views
Ticketing/Project Management/Collaborative Software for Graphic Design
I manage our company's in-house graphic design. We have a lot of requests that are very simple (ie, ad-resizing, simple web banners, logo-adjustments, etc) and a number of requests that are complex ...
1
vote
3answers
572 views
What's a good way to get into Concept Art?
I'm a game programmer, and so yeah, you could call me creative, but I've only created code-generated visuals.
I want to get into Concept Art. Where are good places to start?
I am looking for both ...
7
votes
3answers
141 views
How to find open source alternatives to commercial fonts?
What is the best way to find an open source alternative to a commercial font? I was thinking as some service as alternativeto.net or a whatthefont.com that would spit out fonts that are similar to the ...
0
votes
3answers
88 views
Drawing tools for scientific papers
Hello I would you to propose me a program which can be used to make figures on scientific papers. An example of a figure that I want to create is of a body (2d) with forces on it, or figures with ...
6
votes
2answers
140 views
Typesetting tools other than LaTeX
I come from a Computer Science background and i'm used to write my reports/documents in LaTeX.
They look great and things like Hyphenation and kerning (using microspace package) are automatically ...
3
votes
7answers
446 views
What tools can I use to create Fractal Art?
There are many fractal generation softwares such as the free Xaos and Fractal Architect 2. I normally use Mathematica to generate fractals and process them later with editing tool but this time have ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Is there any way to blank out lots of images automatically?
What I have is a folder full of about 100 images of various sizes and shapes spread across various sub-folders. I need to blank out all these images ( or ideally replace them with some subtle pattern ...
2
votes
2answers
170 views
Simplest way to create a product box image
Would like to present our products as pictures of 3D product boxes like this:
I think Adobe Illustrator with the persepctive tool could to it, but I wondered if there is maybe something even ...
1
vote
1answer
66 views
software similar to unbounce's WYSIWYG Editor
Im not too good with html and graphics and usually just need to make fairly simple static pages. I was wondering if anyone knew of software that is similar to unbounce.com's WYSIWYG editor in terms of ...
3
votes
5answers
11k views
What is an appropriate software for furniture design?
I want to master a software for furniture design but I don't know what's an appropriate and powerful solution.
2
votes
3answers
131 views
Apps for free-hand graphic design
I have always drawn with pencils and paper. I like drawing things that are just plain creepy. But I want them on my computer, but I don't want to just scan them on, so I've decided to draw them on the ...
-1
votes
1answer
522 views
What 3d converter can handle .iges, .step, .sat, .dwg, .gdl? [closed]
I'm looking for a 3d Converter which can handle the following file types:
Import
iges
step
sat
Export
dwg
gdl
0
votes
1answer
33 views
What software was used for this video with zooming text transitions over landscapes?
I came across this fascinating youtube video. It zooms and pans around various landscape scenes, with flying text coming in and out of focus. Does anyone know what software they used for this?
I'm ...
8
votes
2answers
879 views
Version Control for Designers / Alternative to Version Cue
I've just been searching around the net for version control that has some support for graphic/Photoshop files. We're currently using BitBucket which is free and unlimited when it comes to file size ...
3
votes
2answers
904 views
How to make a cartoon promotional video
How would you make a cartoon promotional video like google or Wufoo?
It could be done in a photoshop-like program but there are many transitions and effects required to make a video interesting. It ...
0
votes
1answer
81 views
Program to create pictures for applications
I am not very good when it comes to creating images. So, I decided that I wanted to learn. The reason is, I am creating a chat program/game where I want to be able to create some pictures. I was ...
5
votes
3answers
156 views
Recommendations on how to synchronize Photoshop actions, swatches, etc. across computers
Is there any convenient way to synchronize Photoshop settings like keyboard shortcuts, actions, swatches, custom layer sytles, etc.. across several computers, preferably in an automated way?
So far, ...
1
vote
1answer
45 views
Draw rectangle (shape) inside rectangle (other shape) with clipping?
Which software allows to draw one shapes inside another ones with clipping? I need this to be done automatically, I know I can draw this in Illustrator with Pathfinder. Is there automatic ability ...
2
votes
3answers
108 views
Markup-based graphic design
What are some graphic design environments that are fundamentally markup-code-based?
In other words, an environment where you do graphic design not with a WYSIWYG-style drag-and-drop interface, but ...
1
vote
5answers
473 views
Software for simple 2D technical drawings?
This may be a very newbie question, but I need to draw many profiles/diagrams that would be something like this:
I images I need to make would usually be simpler than that, but I need to have a 45° ...
4
votes
1answer
280 views
Digital asset management software recommendations?
I'm looking for recommendations for software to help manage my large collection of purchased icons and other image assets. I'm sure there must be software of the sort I'm looking for, but I haven't ...
2
votes
5answers
241 views
Wireframing tool to design a website idea
I have nothing to do with design, because I don't know how to mix two colors. Some time ago, I've read about some tools which are used in the creation of interfaces for application and web pages.
In ...
8
votes
6answers
653 views
How to visualize data? Which software should I use?
I'm interested to know what sort of software - beyond basic standard graphics out of Excel - people use to generate data visualisations.
Do you craft things by hand and then build them in something ...
4
votes
6answers
2k views
Good and Cheap alternatives to Photoshop for CMYK
I have been using GIMP for many years and do not want to go through the expense and learning curve issues of Creative Suite/Photoshop but occasionally I may need a CMYK file. Other than the ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
Is there a tool to extract colors at regular intervals along a curve or line?
I have an image on which I would like to sample colors.
It could look like this (it's the Novamind logo) :
I'm looking for a tool that could define a path ( Bézier, circle, regular polygons, for ...
1
vote
3answers
366 views
Tools for Drawing Isometric Software Architectures
What tools are available for (easily) managing drawings similar to the software architectures published by Amazon, such as this one. I'm looking for something like OmniGraffle or Visio, but suitable ...
1
vote
2answers
232 views
Free vector design app besides inkscape?
Does anyone know a good vector drawing application?
I tried Inkscape, but it is not a real vector design app. Technically it's an SVG editor, and as such doesn't support anything that SVG doesn't ...
1
vote
3answers
129 views
Alternative to Keynote to design great slides?
What software are designers using to create great presentation slides?
E.g.
Adding (configurable) drop shadows on text
Creating custom slide backgrounds, e.g radial gradients
Adding noise or ...
0
votes
1answer
103 views
Exporting color information and font sizes from Illustrator to PDF
I am looking for some tool that would allow me to export the all the artboards from Illustrator to PDF (can also be any common image file) that would automatically create:
labels with colors used ...
1
vote
3answers
757 views
Any program to create/edit Adobe Illustrator xml easily?
I've been using Illustrator's Data-Driven Graphics, for one of my projects. But dread using command-line programing to populate all the fields. Is there a GUI app to manage, edit and save Adobe ...
3
votes
3answers
7k views
Recommend a good font management software for Windows 7
I am looking for a good Font Mangement Software for Windows 7.
Can you guys please recommend a good professional one, something that has options like:
install/uninstall a font at the touch of a ...
1
vote
4answers
127 views
What are the biggest software pains for graphic designers?
What are your biggest software grips as a graphic designer? Some examples might be software that:
is unnecessarily complicated
doesn't allow you to accomplish what you really want to do
doesn't have ...
0
votes
1answer
89 views
Which version of Adobe Flash is the stablest?
The artist in our company has a lot of problems (crashes, corrupted files...) with Adobe Flash CS5 (last patches installed). It's really a pain in the neck...
With Flash CS4 the situation was not ...
1
vote
2answers
61 views
Software recommendations for PDF layout review
What I'm looking for is a tool (online/offline) to create reviews for layouts (in my case: mobile applications layouts) - i.e. make comments/annotations for graphic designer that would be assigned to ...
