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The best free software for graphic designers 2018 - 2D and 3D

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SpaceRay
SpaceRay

Posts: 12299
Filters: 35
Here I have just found this list of some the best the best free software for graphic designers 2018 that is for 2D images and also one 3D software, most are very famous and well known and want to share it here, as none of them are in any way against FF, so there is no problem.

https://www.techradar.com/news/the-bes...gners-2017

You do not always have the money for this kind of software so here it is

Be aware that Blender has a LOT of websites, forums, tutorials with related content and there is also the www.blendermarket.com to get additional useful add ons
Posted: February 25, 2018 12:37 pm   Details E-Mail
Skybase
2D/3D Generalist

Posts: 4025
Filters: 76
So, pardon my condescending flavor here, a generic list that always lists the same thing year after year by a person probably with a mild background in art but no further than photoshop. lolol

I think its always been this list.
Posted: February 26, 2018 6:26 am   Details E-Mail
The_Funktasm
"SALT THE FRIES"

Posts: 59
Filters: 8
The internet did kind of ruin lists. Is it at least a list where you see all the items at once rather than clickbait style?
Posted: February 26, 2018 7:57 am   Details E-Mail
Skybase
2D/3D Generalist

Posts: 4025
Filters: 76
It's just common things on it. I don't think the internet ruined it, just that these programs are super common, super popular, and obvious top-of-the-line search results in no matter what year you look them up. They're recommended by countless people for obvious reasons that they're opensource and free, and probably 95% of the writers who conjure these articles don't even use them as often as they sound.

I'm not saying that the programs are bad, I just think that I see this same list since the year 2006 or 7.

Nobody seems to ever pick up those really really really niche, minor, specialized, and extremely obscure little programs that do interesting things that these programs don't do at all. Of course, those don't ever get picked up because nobody knows about them, nobody talks about them, and nobody continues development after a certain amount of time given people lose motivation.

I also don't wanna leave people off on that note so here's my list of badass graphics programs in the year 2018.

Affinity Photo/Designer
Modo
Artmatic Designer
Natron
Black Magic Fusion
Pixelmator Pro (if you happen to hate Affinity Photo for whatever unknown reason)
Paintstorm Studio
Clipstudio Paint
Fire Alpaca
Sai

ok now I'm just listing a bunch of drawing programs.

FILTERFORGE

And the insane countless other varieties of online apps that you can run from Chrome for free that does anything from vector design to photo editing.
Posted: February 26, 2018 9:03 am   Details E-Mail
SpaceRay
SpaceRay

Posts: 12299
Filters: 35
Here I put a copy of the list so you do not need to go the page, and only go if you are interested to download or see the additional links

The list is of 5 free software

1. Inkscape.---- A powerful vector graphics tool that's free and open source

2. Krita --- Free software packed with advanced drawing aids and templates

3. GIMP ---- An incredible tool for any designer who works with photos

4. Blender ---- The ultimate free tool for graphic designers creating 3D content

5. Easel.ly ---- Infographics made easy with free templates and a clear interface

Quote
Copied directly fr om the website

1. Inkscape

A powerful vector graphics tool that's free and open source

Comprehensive toolkitExcellent format supportCan be slow
Open source vector graphics editor Inkscape is widely known as the free counterpart to Adobe Illustrator – and for good reason. This free vector editor is a great choice for budding graphic designers thanks to its huge array of advanced tools and effects, including complex path operations, node editing, bitmap tracing and path-based text.

Like most free vector editing software, Inkscape’s chief format is SVG (scalable vector graphics) – an open source standard based around XML.

Inkscape is available for Windows, Mac and Linux, and is a great cornerstone of any amateur graphic designer’s toolkit.

2. Krita

Free software packed with advanced drawing aids and templates

Customizable brushes and toolsLots of drawing aidsCross-platform
Krita was created by artists, for artists, with the belief that top-quality drawing software should be accessible to all graphic designers – regardless of income.

Krita is designed primarily for comic book artists, with a set of carefully designed tools including halftones and pre-made templates, but it’s also great for other forms of drawing. It offers a great set of drawing aids, including vanishing points, smooth shapes, layer masks and advanced selection functions.

If you’re venturing into illustration or comics, Krita is amazing. It's so feature-packed, you might find it a little overwhelming, but there's an excellent set of tutorials to get you started.

3. GIMP

An incredible tool for any designer who works with photos

Packed with customizable toolsRegularly updatedEasily expandableInterface can be inconsistent
GIMP is the free photo editing and graphic design software we use most here at TechRadar, for one simple reason: it's brilliant.

Whether you're adjusting photos, creating a digital painting or compositing several different elements, GIMP is fantastic. It doesn't have all the tools you'll find in Photoshop, and the fact that it's produced by a huge team of volunteers fr om around the world means its interface can be a little inconsistent in places, but it's packed with advanced brushes, filters, layers and masks.

In the event that it doesn't provide everything you need, you can always expand it using a huge archive of extensions, or install Photoshop plugins.

4. Blender

The ultimate free tool for graphic designers creating 3D content

Highly customizableExcellent format supportSteep learning curve
Blender is a 3D content creation suite that's completely free – even if you use your creations commercially. Whether it's modeling, rigging, rendering or animating, Blender has it covered.

Animators use Blender to create short films, TV shows, and even feature films, and its creators are constantly working to develop it further.

Its interface might look intimidating at first, but it's fully customizable and you can even create your own tools and extensions to suit the way you want to work.

5. Easel.ly

Infographics made easy with free templates and a clear interface

Easy to masterExcellent templatesNo watermarks
When you need to create an infographic, you can do it manually using a vector graphics suite like Inkscape, or you can reach for a dedicated tool like Easel.ly.

There's no shortage of web apps for visualizing data, but Easel.ly is one of the best. It offers a good selection of templates for you to experiment with, plus a wide selection of shapes and other tools for editing the existing designs or creating your own fr om scratch.

You can download your completed infographics in PDF or JPG format, with quality settings optimized for web and print use.

The basic tool is free and extra elements are available for a small fee, but unlike many free data visualization tools, Easel.ly won't watermark your work.

Quote
The_Funktasm wrote:
The internet did kind of ruin lists. Is it at least a list wh ere you see all the items at once rather than clickbait style?


I absolutely agree that there are LOTS of websites with lists wh ere the only reason of existing is to show you LOTS of advertisement and as you say well are clickbait, but this is not one of them, well, at least all the information available is on one only page and is shown right

I would never put here a list wh ere you have to keep clicking on pages to get all the related parts
Posted: February 26, 2018 11:30 am   Details E-Mail
Haras Arch
Hara's Crown
Posts: 226
Thank you for the lists. I have Krita, Gimp, and Blender from the free list, and ClipStudioPaint from the not-free list -- but I hadn't heard of some of the others.

I have been having fun with some of Media Chance's software, especially Dynamic AutoPainter, recently. I like PhotoFiltre Studio and ever so often FotoScape is handy (wish it could make tifs). I have the free version of ON1Effects but haven't used it enough. PhotoPOS Pro 3 has a wonderful flame brush, but I haven't bought the full version and the free version only will do small pictures.

I sometimes make multiple versions of pictures, using FF and other software, then combine them in Machinery HDR effects.

Anybody else have lists of software that they are using in conjunction with Filter Forge?
Posted: June 12, 2018 12:10 pm   Details E-Mail

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