Free Graphics Software
In this category, FreebieList.com takes a look at the Internet's best free graphics programs. If you happen to stumble across an outdated link, we'd very much appreciate it if you could report it.
Shrink Pic - If you work in an office, you or your colleagues may be required to resize pictures ready for the Web. This handy program speeds up the process by lurking in the background, waiting until an image needs to be sent. Once you're ready, Shrink Pic springs into action and automatically resizes the image according to a pre set criteria.
Splashup - This free Web-based image editing service (previously known as Fauxto) allows you to edit images in your Web browser, without the need to download software. Splashup features an interface similar to most top graphics programs, and supports the use of layers, filters, brushes, and other standard tools you would expect to find. The service is also great if you wish to edit and share images using Flickr, Picasa, Facebook, etc.
WebShot Free - This nifty little program could prove a real time-saver if you need to take numerous screenshots of Web pages. In the click of a few buttons, WebShot will take a screenshot of a Web page of your choice, then export this as either a full-sized image or smaller thumbnail. You may select how you'd like to save the file: GIF, JPG, PNG or BMP.
PhotoPlus - Here, you can register for a free download of Serif's fine "PhotoPlus" graphics editing software. The program includes many powerful features, such as an imported image optimiser and allows you to slice images, draw shapes and add editable text areas, just as if you were using a commercial graphics program. Note: this version does not support .gif or .tif file extensions.
Album Burger - A free, easy-to-use and useful program for organising and presenting digital photographs. Album Burger allows you to label albums and photos with comments, dates and various other details. What's more, since the program integrates directly with your digital camera, searching, viewing and exporting photographs can be done on the fly. The integrated image editor is ideal for making minor adjustments to images.
Gadwin PrintScreen - This handy (and free) print screen utility allows you to easily capture any portion of your computer screen and instantly save it as a file. You may also paste the image to the Windows clipboard, print it, or e-mail it to a recipient of your choice. If your work involves frequent screen captures, you may find Gadwin PrintScreen a real time-saver. Once on the site, scroll down to the appropriate download link.
IrfanView - Here's a cool freeware image viewer (for personal usage) that supports a wide variety of popular image formats, including GIF, animated GIF, JPEG, BMP, FPX and many more. IrfanView features a "drag and drop" facility, thumbnail tool, directory view mode, cut and crop tools, special effect implementation and to top that off, comes ready to run in a single and very handy .exe file.
PIXresizer - If you use digital photos in e-mail attachments or on the Web, this freeware program comes in handy for quickly resizing them. It can instantly reduce the file sizes of your photographs, allowing them to download much quicker than usual. As well as this, this nifty program is able to convert the file format of any images you have and will output BMPs, GIFs, JPEGs, PNGs, etc.
Picasa - This free photo organising utility from Google allows users to quickly locate, organise and share digital photographs at the click of a button. The program also features a number of tools that will allow you to edit and perform minor modifications to your images, so you can perfect them before sharing. Picasa's album building function makes creating a digital photograph library simple and efficient. (Currently Windows 2000 and XP only)
Ultimate Paint - Here's another excellent tool from the people that created the "Ultimate FX" program (featured above). The slightly older freeware version has plenty of features to satisfy even the most creative designers amongst you. For example, you'd be hard-pressed to find another non-commercial package that offers over 100 different functions and effects.
Paint.NET - An award-winning, free and popular image editing and manipulation utility. Paint.NET was originally designed as a replacement for MS Paint, but grew into a more powerful program whilst retaining its simple and intuitive interface. Paint.NET includes numerous features, including layer support and special effects. You may undo (revert back) your images an unlimited number of times. File size: 4.5MB.
PhotoView - An easy-to-use and compact photo image viewer for Windows-based platforms. PhotoView allows you to view and organise digital photographs, so they're easier to access in the future. With such a small file size (approximately 500KB), PhotoView downloads within minutes on a dial-up modem and within seconds on a broadband connection. It's ideal for photo collectors.
Behemot Graphics Editor - Sergio Perani's Behemot Graphics Editor allows you to model, then render 3D objects. Scenes/objects that you have created can be exported as various file formats (DXF, VRML, etc.), including MPEG, BMP and 3DS. Other features to this program are the ability to change the way light shines on the object's surface, skeleton structure view and camera view.
A Smaller Gif - This clever graphics tool allows you to compress .gif files so that they download quicker on the Web without lowering the actual quality of the image. Ultimately, it means your Internet pages appear on the screen faster as images are smaller in file size. Although A Smaller Gif is a great Net program, it has many other uses and is ideal for simply creating extra disk space.
FastStone Image Viewer - Here's a speedy, safe, and user-friendly image browser, converter and editor program. FastStone assists users in organising digital photographs, but also performs many other functions, such as red eye removal, resizing, cropping and other colour adjustments. In addition, the program allows users to add drop shadow effects and features an excellent zoom mode. All major graphical file types are supported. File size: 2.5MB.