This is a list of software that made my life easier and freeware that I wish I had in the beginning.
Text Tone This handy utility is responsible for the change in color of "Smatterings" on top of the page. I've never used an easier program.
Smaller sized files are better for the Internet. Smaller sized files load faster than large size files.
Create logos, buttons, and bullets online. Their program is only compatible with Unix and OS2. If you are a windows user like me than you need to use their software online. I used it to make my Smatterings link buttons that you can copy and paste to your web page if you want to link to me.
Color Maker An online javascript webpage design program for a fast solution for some interesting backgrounds and text settings. Requires only a HTML editor for pasting the code.
Effect Bank Easy way to morph your photos into abstract art images from your photos for you website. Saves in jpg and bitmap.
Fractal Explorer Fractal Generator saves images as jpg or avi files-- Used as a starting point in my Web Creation Freeware Button on the bottom of this page. In the background on There are no Such Thing as Ghosts! Right??? I used a fractal generator as a starting block. Then I added effects, and edited it in in an editor designed to create buttons.
Reptile This freeware program is strange in that you have to register it before you can use it. But I am glad I survived the hassle. With it I made the treasure box backgrounds for this site, and created the plasma colored background at Plasma Resources.
An awesome program free for personal and non-commercial use. It generates landscapes. It only works with windows bitmap images, so you need to use a graphics editor or Iconview to covert the saved image to JPG or GIF format to use it on your webpage. I used it to generate the skys on my Easter section.
Any graphics editor that can make a rectangle and print text into it can make an awesome button for your webpage.
Create your own backgrounds and buttons. Check the program's features to help decide which one's the one for you.
Final touches for personal website graphics:
Ifran View Freeware Graphics Viewer is compatible with lots of graphic formats. It has some nice special effects. If you want to make a word processing file into a graphic, Ifran view lets you do this with a command called capture. I used this in my Comparing Formats Page. I could not use Ifran View for the Plasma Resources web site, because Ifran View is only free to use for non-commercial purposes.
Combing Pictures: (for commercial and personal use)
For websites gif and jpg formats are most commonly used. For publications say a jacket for a hard cover book - stick with tif formatting.
Image Merger is a merge wizard you can seamlessly add watermarks or fade a logo onto multiple images in a single batch process. Using multiple merge options lets you superimpose one image onto another, or have the image imposed from left to right/top to bottom/center out - creating a smooth transition from one image to another in a long list of graphic formats.
Group Shot by Microsoft Soft Research allows you to randomly merge multiple graphic files into one shot. All files must be the same size. Patience and persitance is needed - if you're looking for just the right effect it's worth a try or two. Supports jpg, tif, and bmp files.
2 Pic Cut, paste, merge multiple pictures into one final creation saves in bmp and jpg formats.
More Effects: (for commercial and personal use)
Vicmans has two graphic utilities I use: Jpg enchancher and Lighting assistant. Lighting Assistant lets you add light sources as if your picture was a stage and JPG Enchancer gets rid of the blotchness when you upgrade a jpg image to a tif image. 72 dpi output.
GimpShop Easier to set up than Gimp. Great for website graphics once you get a handle on working in layers. Can't be used for print because it is an older version of Gimp where dpi is sixe dependant and decreases as you enlarge your graphic.
When Mom's XP computer died, Vista 32 systems were all that was on the market. Very few programs worked with her new system including Microsoft products like Publisher and Office, so it was no suprise to find that none of my favorite graphic programs worked on her system. Another criteria presented itself; the need for the final output to be 300 dpi for printing a bookcover. For a web page you only need 72 dpi.
Mihov DPI to Pixel Calculator When you resize an image you also change the number of pixels but when you print out an image the printer uses a resolution that is expressed in DPI (dots per inch). Suggests the size for your resizing.
Photo Filtre Able to save 12.25 x 8.8 inch graphic in 400 dpi. Many cool tools.
Gimp Adobe Photoshop alternative. Gimp version 2.6.11 did an awesome job saving my files at 1200 dpi. Needed if you want to edit photos in Scribus on Win XP and Vista 32.
Ghostscript program needed for many sourceforge programs including Gimp, Scribus and Primo PDF.
Python must be installed prior to installing Gimp if you wish to try Gimp plugins written in Python, which is a programming language like Java or C+ but different. Check under Gimps customize option in the Windows installer to see what version Python it supports.
Everything including Python, PyGTK+ Pyobject, and PyCairo must be installed prior to installing Gimp if you wish to try Gimp plugins written in Python. You can find all 4 download files at this site. Put the Python files that you downloaded from the Gimp Registry site in the same file as you add your plugins.
GimpPlugins Plugins when they work make Gimp an awesome program. Some plugins only work on other platforms- mostly Linux.
PhotoShop Plugins Plugin so Photoshop plugins work with Gimp 2.611. Instructions I used to install pspi.
Gimp Paintbrushes Only use a couple of brushes at a time otherwise it takes too much memory for Gimp to load up much less allow you to save your work.
1000s of Free Photoshop Plugins & Filters MegaList: list of Free Photoshop Plugins along with a summary.
Partha's Place has versions of GIMP that are more compatible with Win 7 64. Only some scripts work with these newer versions. Provides compatible Plug-in packs. Installed both the last stable version and one from this site to get the best of both worlds.
Inkscape The paint program of choice for 2011 but I coudn't figure out how to add text to a graphic.
Artweaver a simple freeware program for creative painting.
Scott's Box Shot Maker From a jpg file, makes either a book graphic or a box graphic depending on what your selling for your website.
Gifted Motion easy to use GIF Animator, written in Java. A simple way, to turn a series of still images into an animation to be displayed on a webpage in gif graphics format, without the hassle of learning how to use a full blown graphics suite.
K 3D Full blown 3D modeling and animation software with tudorials. Windows, Mac, Linux, Solaris, BSD.
Sqirlz Morph Easily combime your bitmap or jpg graphics into a Flash or AVI animation.
Snap 2 Objects Reviews 45 freeware graphic design programs. Website also covers vector clipart.
