Free Graphics Programs

Free Graphics Programs an eBook reference created by Lisa Mayette, aka Hafapea ©2012
Cern’s Crest by Hafapea
Freeware, Open-source and Learning
Software for Windows, Mac and Linux
A user’s guide and reference
Compiled by Lisa Mayette, aka Hafapea

Free Graphics Programs 2
Free Graphics Programs
Absinthe Tulips by Hafapea
This eBook is a compilation of some of the best free graphics programs available on the Internet. It is by no mean
comprehensive, as there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of such programs available. Regardless, it is an
excellent resource that you can use to get you started in the search for your ideal digital creation tool.
In addition to the sites where you can download the programs, I have included links to any and all resources that
I could find to help you become familiar with using them: tutorials, forums, program specific tools, etc. The more
popular programs have more available resources, however, popularity does not necessarily relate to quality.
What matters is that you find the program what works best for you.
In the unlikely event that none of these prove to be what you are looking for, at the end of the eBook you will
find a “Sources” section containing a list of sites with links to additional free graphics software. If you still aren’t
able to find what you are looking for, then please feel free to contact me and I will do my best to help you find it.
As an MLIS graduate and research specialist, my best is usually rather good.
One last note: the programs are not listed in order of quality. Since this eBook is designed to be a reference, they
are instead listed in alphabetical order.
Om Shanti,
Hafapea

Dance of the Dolphins by Hafapea
ArtRage
http://www.ambientdesign.com/artrage.html
Freeware artistic painting program designed to provide a realistic simulation of using paint on a canvas, along
with pens, pencils, crayons, and other tools. It is an easy to use program designed for use with Windows, Mac OS
X, and iPad.
- Tutorials can be found here:
http://www.artrage.com/artrage-tutorials.html
- They also have a forum where you can find stencils, stickers, colors along other program specific extras
and more:
http://www2.ambientdesign.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=20
- This page here contains even more ArtRage resource downloads:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=artrage
Artweaver
http://www.artweaver.de/index.php?en_version
Freeware paint program for Windows designed for creative painting: realistic brush simulation, artistic effects,
etc.
http://www.karlyns.com/art-weaver-tutorials/
- Go here for more resources:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=artweaver

Brush Strokes
http://www.photo-freeware.net/brush-strokes-image-editor.php
Brush Strokes is a free image editor, paint program, photo manipulator; an bitmap editor that supports GIF, JPEG,
BMP, PNG, TIFF, PCX, TARGA and AVI file formats. It can also be used for GIF animations, filters, rotations,
transformations, and more.
GIMP
http://www.gimp.org/
A freeware image editing program that runs in Windows, Linux, and X-Windows. Arguably the most popular free
graphics software available, the GIMP is a GNU Image Manipulation Program suitable for such tasks as photo
retouching, image composition and image authoring.
- You can find tutorials here:
http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=gimp+tutorials
- Brushes here:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=gimp+brushes
- Scripts & Plugins here:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=gimp+scripts
- And even more Resources here:
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/gimp/The_GIMP_Resources_and_Tutorials.htm
i.Mage
http://www.memecode.com/image.php
i.Mage is a small and fast graphics editor designed for easy pixel editing. It is not a large program with a lot of
plugins, so it launches quickly for fast and simple image editing tasks without fuss. It is a great tool for simple jobs
and is meant to be a go-to program for every day edits, rather than for actually creating artwork – unless what
you want to create is pixel art. It is, in fact, an ideal program for pixel artists who are just looking for a simple,
user friendly, light weight program. i.Mage is open source meme code software, so, if you know how, you can
also build upon the source code to create a program that is specifically tailored to meet your needs.
Image Anvil Lite
http://www.photo-freeware.net/image-anvil.php
Image Anvil is a light weight image editor that supports all of the major image formats as well as PDF. The
interface is simple and basic which makes it easy to use but, no less capable. Image Anvil can also rename
batches of images; an essential tool for organizing photo uploads from digital cameras. The batch tool can also be
used to convert the format of files.
Image Enhance
http://home.bip.net/baxtrom/imageenhance.htm
Image Enhance is a free image editor for Windows 95 and later. It features support for bitmap and JPEG images,
webcams, digital cameras and scanners. You can digitally enhance your images by applying its various built in
filters and effects, including sharpen, contrast, grayscale, invert, find edges, old photo and more. You can also
create your own filters.
Jans Freeware Collection
http://www.jansfreeware.com/
Painter 25 is free image editor for Windows named for its 25 useful features: backdrops, effects, and filters,
banners, GIF and JPEG optimizer, airbrush, textures, clone, morphing, mirror, flip, whirl, etc. It is just one of
several freeware programs that Jans Freeware Collection contains. There is also an animator and non-graphic
software that you may want to check out while you are there.

Paint.NET
http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/index.html
Freeware paint program for Windows 2000, XP, Vista, or Server 2003. It supports layers, unlimited undo, special
effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools.
http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/forum/18-tutorials-publishing-only/
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=paint.net
- Plugins are available here:
http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/forum/7-plugins-publishing-only/
- They have a user’s forum, as well:
http://forums.getpaint.net/
PhotoFiltre
http://photofiltre.free.fr/frames_en.htm
PhotoFiltre is a complete image retouching program. It allows you to do simple or advanced adjustments to an
image and also supports a vast range of filters. It is intuitive and easy to use with a short learning curve.
- There are tutorials here:
http://photofiltre.free.fr/tutorials_en.htm
- Plugins can be found here:
http://www.photofiltre-studio.com/plugins/plugins-en.htm
- There is a forum here:
http://www.photofiltre-studio.com/forum/
- And you can fine even more resources here:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=PhotoFiltre
PhotoPlus6
http://www.serif.com/free-photo-editing-software/
Free professional photo editing program from Serif Software that, according to PCPlus, is a contender for Adobe
Photoshop.
- Tutorials for this version are available on the Website, along with a host of other resources
- These tutorials are for version X3, but will probably work with 6:
http://www.major-confusion.co.uk/tutorials/photoplus_tutorials_home.html
PicsA!ive PhotoViz 3.3
http://www.picsalive.com/
PhotoViz is a shareware with a set of innovative tools that extends the traditional uses of images.
PhotoViz automatically fixes problems in photos, extracts secret messages, content and photo galleries
embedded in images.
Pixia and Phierha
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/mighty/knight/aboutpixia.html
Pixia and Phierha is Japanese freeware; painting tools made exclusively for full color graphics. Images may have a
maximum graphic size of 10240 x 10240 dots, if your computer has enough ram to support it. They can also be
created using up to 64 layers. It is compatible with all TWAIN32 devices and printers that work in Windows. It
can also be sued with a tablet (Wacom, Yutron, etc.) .
- You can find tutorials here: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/mighty/knight/tutorials.html
Rendera
http://www.rendera.net/
Rendera was created to be used for digital painting, retouching photos, colorizing images and creating seamless

tiles. It emulates common art tools and features an easy-to-learn, labeled interface. The edge-wrapping and
interactive offset functions make it perfect for Web background tiles.
sTile
http://www.harmware.net/stile.htm
sTile is a program designed to create seamless tiles; small images that repeat to create a larger pattern with no
discernible borders. Because of their small file size, they are used quite frequently in Web design. The program
can do other things, but that was (and still is) its primary purpose.
http://www.harmware.net/tutorials.htm
TwistedBrush Free Edition
http://www.pixarra.com
TwitedBrush is a freeware paint program very suitable for creating artistic images and effects. In their words,
“TwistedBrush has more than 5,000 brushes available, along with all the features that artists love to use: layers,
realistic media, photo cloning, tracing, masks, particles, filters, script recording, scripts to AVI, drawing tablet
support, brush shapes, patterns, textures, Adobe compatible plug-in support, integrated scanner support, image
brushes, drawing guides, reference image views, dirty brushes, scratch layer, dynamic palettes and a whole lot
more.”
- Tutorials: http://www.pixarra.com/sketchbook_tutorials.html
- Forum: http://pixarra.invisionzone.com/
- More Resources: http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=twistedbrush
Ultimate Paint
http://www.ultimatepaint.com
Ultimate Paint is a full-featured 32-bit Windows graphics program. It can be used for photo editing and image
creation with support for many file formats, including JPEG, GIF and PNG, making it compatible with other, more
high-powered programs. Both freeware and shareware versions are available and the trial version is fully
functional, so you can get an honest feel for whether or not it is worth buying. It also has an excellent GIF and
JPEG optimizer making it useful for shrinking the size of image files to be used on Web sites.
- Tutorials for Ultimate Paint can be found on these sites here:
http://www.ultimatepaint.com/tutorial/index.php
http://www.seabreezecomputers.com/tips/ultimate.htm
VCW VicMan's Photo Editor
http://www.vicman.net/vcwphoto/
VCW is a freeware photo editor with an intuitive and skin-able interface included among its variety of features. It
is a versatile image editor with an intuitive interface and a wide variety of features; a powerful application that is
user friendly, offering simple image editing, high productivity and easy customization.
- There is a user’s forum here: http://room.vicman.net/

Free Vector Drawing Programs
Heart Mandala by Hafapea
The vast majority of these programs have been designed to be used with Linux/Unix, however, some will work
with Windows and Mac operating systems. Keep in mind that this list is for programs specifically designed to
create SVG vector images but, most the programs in the previous section are capable of creating vector graphics
in addition doing other things. So while as a traditional OS user your choices for a free vector specific program
may be limited, the availability of general graphics designing freeware that you can use for creating SVG images is
not. There are also links to two sites in the Sources section of this eBook that list additional free vector programs
where you will find a larger selection of Windows and Mac compatible offerings.
Draw
http://www.openoffice.org/product/draw.html
Draw is an open-source freeware vector graphics editor. It is part of the Open Office suite of software, meaning
that if you know how, you can code it to create a customized version specific to your needs. It is capable of
taking creating any sort of image from a quick sketch to a complex plan; complete with the tools you need to
create graphics and diagrams. With a maximum page size of 300cm by 300cm you can also use it as a tool for
technical or general posters, etc.
http://www.kaaredyret.dk/openoffice_links.html#Draw
- The Open Office Blog is here:
http://openoffice.blogs.com/openoffice/2006/10/custom_openoffi.html
- There is a collection of Icons here:

http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=openoffice+draw
DrawPlus 4
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/DrawPlus/default.asp
This vector drawing is another of those created by Serif and is especially suited for with Windows operating
systems. Bright Hub calls it “A top-notch illustration and design application.”
http://www.minifigcustomizationnetwork.com/howto/2749
http://www.major-confusion.co.uk/tutorials/drawplus/pentool_introduction.html
-They have a forum here:
http://forums.serif.com/index.php
Gill
http://webscripts.softpedia.com/scriptDownload/GNOME-Art-Download-16931.html
Gill = Gnome Illustration Application is a free open-source vector drawing program for Linux.
- Web site: http://art.gnome.org/
- Developer: http://www.levien.com/svg/
Inkscape
http://www.inkscape.org/
A freeware and open-source vector graphics drawing program for multiple operating systems, with capabilities
similar to Illustrator, Freehand, and CorelDraw. Tutorials and other resources are available on the Web site
- More resources can be found here:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=inkscape
Skencil
http://www.skencil.org/
Skencil is a Free Software interactive vector drawing application that used to be called Sketch. Known to run on
GNU/Linux and other UNIX-compatible systems, it is a flexible and powerful tool for illustrations, diagrams and
other purposes. Tutorials and other resources are available on the Website.
TGif
http://bourbon.usc.edu/tgif/index.html
TGif is another free interactive 2-D drawing tool for Linux/Unix.
Xara Xtreme
http://www.xaraxtreme.org/
An open-soruce general purpose graphics program for Unix platforms including Linux, FreeBSD and (in
development) OS-X. There is also a Windows version but, it isn’t free.
- Tutorials can be found on these sites here:
http://www.xaraxone.com/html/tutorials.html
http://www.xara.com/us/products/designer/tutorials-demos/
http://site.xara.com/support/xtreme/hints/default.asp
sK1 Project
http://sk1project.org/
sK1 is an open-source illustration program that can substitute professional proprietary software like Corel Draw
or Adobe Illustrator. It is also a Linux/Unix program, but they are working on making it usable with Windows and
Mac operating systems.

Free Animation & 3D Software
Journey to Soul by Hafapea
3D Schrift Generator
http://maennerseiten.de/3dtitel.htm
3D Schrift is a free program that you can use to create 3D texts. The Web site and program are in German. Enter
the URL into Google and click on "Translate this page," if you don't read German.
3Dbase
http://www.3dbase.at/
3D modeling and animation program with a small set of easy to understand functions; especially suited for 3D
beginners. If you don't speak Russian, follow the instructions above to translate this site.
3DPLUS 2
http://www.serif.com/free-graphic-design-software/
3DPLUS 2 is another of Serif’s programs. This one is used for creating 3D effects and animations. Transform plain
text into 3D works of art with just a few clicks of your mouse.
- Download:
http://www.topshareware.com/Serif-3DPlus-download-2262.htm
Amabilis
http://www.amabilis.com/products.htm
3D Canvas is a real-time 3D modeling and animation tool that incorporates an intuitive drag-and-drop approach
to 3D modeling.

- Tutorials:
http://www.amabilis.com/tutorials.htm
- Plugins:
http://www.amabilis.com/mediadownloads.htm#Scripts
- Models:
http://www.amabilis.com/mediadownloads.htm#3DCModels
- Textures:
http://www.amabilis.com/mediadownloads.htm#TextureLibraries
Anim8or
http://www.anim8or.com
Anim8or is a freeware 3D modeling and character animation program.
http://www.anim8or.com/main/index.html
- There are scripts here:
http://www.anim8or.com/scripts/index.html
- More resources are available here:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=Anim8or
http://www.anim8or.com/resources/index.html
Art of Illusion
http://www.artofillusion.org/
Art of Illusion is a free, open source 3D modeling and rendering studio. It is written entirely in Java, so it should
run on any major platform (such as MAC, Linux, or Windows).
http://www.artofillusion.org/documentation
-Their forums is here:
http://www.artofillusion.org/forums
Aztec 3D Modeller
http://sourceforge.net/projects/aztec/
Aztec is a 3D Modelling and Animation tool that is intended to provide a decent set of tools for use in the game
development process.
Biodesigner
http://www.pirx.com/biodesigner/
Biodesigner is a molecular modeling and visualization program for personal computers. The program is freely
available for downloading. Biodesigner is capable of creating homologous models of proteins, evaluate, and
refine the models.
Blender3D
http://www.blender3d.org/
Blender3D is open source freeware with cross platform capabilities. It is a 3D creation suite that allows fully
integrated modeling, animation, rendering, post production and interactive 3D creation and playback. They are
in the process of bringing back the old Blender product website. For the time being check
http://www.blenderartists.org/forum/ for more information.
- Download:
http://blender.en.softonic.com/
- Tutorials and more:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Blender_3D:_Noob_to_Pro#Miscellaneous_Tutorials
- More resources:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=Blender3D

Cryptic AR
http://www.crypticar.com/
Cryptic AR (Animation Rig) allows animators of all experience levels to familiarize themselves with the same tools
used in a professional development environment. Cryptic AR is not an approximation of production tools, but
the very tool currently being used to produce next-gen game visuals at Cryptic Studios. Like Maya and Houdini, if
you plan to use this sort of thing professionally, then practicing on the free version would be the way to go!
DAZ 3D
http://www.daz3d.com/
DAZ 3D is the most popular and most widely used freeware 3D graphics and animation program for Windows and
MAC. The free version is actually called Bryce and is only allowed to be used for non-commercial production.
Regardless, it is an excellent learning tool and, should you decide to go pro, with versions available at $50, $225
and $450, this is an excellent program to do that with.
In the meantime, here are links to what DAZ3D has to offer:
- Free resources:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=daz3d
- Community:
http://www.daz3d.com/i/community/0?_m=d
- Tutorials:
http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/tutorial/0
http://forum.daz3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=23870
At the time of this eBook’s creation, DAZ Studio was being offered as a free download but, I do not know how long
the offer will last.
DeleD
http://www.delgine.com/index.php?filename=product_deled
DeleD is a 3D modeler designed to help you create content for game projects, whether you are a professional or
indy game developer. Other areas in which you can put DeleD to good use are educational services, Web design,
prototyping, and image creation.
- Tutorials:
http://www.delgine.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=6
- Forum:
http://www.delgine.com/forum/
Flash Builder (aka Flex)
http://download.cnet.com/FlashBuilder/3000-10247_4-10153624.html
Adobe offers this software as a free trial which, as most folks know, is an awesome thing to learn. As the most
commonly used animation software on the Web, knowing how to use it is a valuable skill for anyone wanting to
design Web sites and/or mobile applications for a living. For amateur graphics enthusiasts, it is an awesome
away to create animated images, as well. If you qualify, you can also get a free version on a non-trial basis.
- Tutorials:
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/videotraining.html
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/tourdeflex.html
Gloodle
http://www.wondertouch.com/gloodle.asp
Gloodle is a freeware 3D drawing program for Windows. It means "doodle with globs" and is a program that
draws using 3D shapes to create 2D images with richness, complexity, and depth.
- A tutorial can be found here:
http://www.wikihow.com/Scribble-in-2D-With-Gloodle

Google SketchUp
http://sketchup.google.com/
Google SketchUP is an easy-to-learn 3D modeling program made by Google for use in Windows and MAC
operating systems.
- Tutorials
- More Resources:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=Google+SketchUp
k-3D
http://www.k-3d.org/
K-3D is Free Software. Run it on your choice of platform. Adapt it for any purpose. Receive it at no cost. Share it
with your friends. All of the K-3D source code is available under the GNU General Public License.
Maya Personal Learning Edition
http://www.alias.com/glb/eng/products-services/product_details.jsp?productId=1900003
If you are looking for a more serious AutoCAD, Autodesk Maya is the next step up but, while you can get a free
trial version of this program, be forewarned; the full version costs over $4,000. Houdini is another high end 3D
program that offers what they call a learning edition for free. If you plan to work in the film industry, I would
recommend taking the time to learn these programs, even if you never buy the full version for yourself.
- Tutorials
- More tutorials:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=maya+autodesk+tutorials
Misfit Model 3D
http://www.misfitcode.com/misfitmodel3d/
Misfit is an OpenGL-based 3D model editor that works with triangle-based models. It supports multi-level undo,
skeletal animations, simple texturing, command-line batch processing, and a plugin system for adding new model
and image filters. Complete online help is included. The primary design goal is to be easy to use.
Munty Engine
http://muntyengine.sourceforge.net/
Munty is a small 3D engine for making virtual characters. It includes a simple GUI interface for building a
character with physics and procedural animation using neural networks. Developers can use the engine library to
make simple games or to run simulations.
ngPlant
http://ngplant.sourceforge.net/
ngPlant is a plant modeling software suite. Designers can use interactive tool to create 3D models of different
plants and trees. Software developers can use 3D API-independent library to use generated plant models in their
3D applications, or to create plant modeling plugins for different 3D modeling tools.
- Tutorial:
http://www.opendimension.org/blender_en/ngplant_from_source.php
- Videos:
http://tinyurl.com/4pb9duk
OpenFX
http://www.openfx.org/
OpenFX is an Open-Source 3D modeling, animation and rendering suite created by Dr. Stuart Ferguson. He made
the decision to release the source code to the public in the middle of 1999, and the product formerly named
SoftF/X was renamed to OpenFX. It has now been released under the terms of the GNU General Public License.
- Forum:
http://www.openfxforum.org/
- Resources:

http://www.openfx.org/resources/index.html
PlantStudio
http://www.kurtz-fernhout.com/PlantStudio/index.htm
PlantStudio is a freeware tool for creating 3D plant models and 2D illustrations. PlantStudio simulates herbaceous
(non-woody) plants like wildflowers and cut flowers, vegetables, weeds, grasses, and herbs using a parameter-
driven simulation of plant growth and structure. You can "grow" plants over their life cycles, producing lifelike
images at any age. You can design, animate and breed a wide variety of plants. By using the "evolutionary arts"
of variation and selection in the plant breeder, you can quickly and easily create whole families of unique plants
for your 3D scenes.
- Tutorials: http://www.kurtz-fernhout.com/PlantStudio/tutorials.htm
PovChem
http://www.chemicalgraphics.com/PovChem/
PovChem is a chemical visualization and illustration program with a new graphic interface. It takes molecules in
the PDB format, lets you to set up a picture with fine control over details of the illustration - colors, atom and
bond radii, view orientation, etc. It will even calculate and display hydrogen bonds. It then exports the picture in
POV-Ray format, which allows you to render the image with a state-of-the-art raytracer, giving high-quality
images at any resolution, for anything from web page thumbnails to full-size high-resolution images for journal
covers, advertisements, posters, anything!
- Official PovChem Distribution Page:
http://www.chemicalgraphics.com/paul/Distribution.html
POV Ray
http://www.povray.org/
POV is a free program for creating realistic three-dimensional images and animations.
- Resources:
http://www.povray.org/resources/
- Tutorials:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=POV+Ray+tutorials
http://library.thinkquest.org/3285/
- Free Objects & Scripts:
http://www.oyonale.com/modeles.php?lang=en&format=POV
http://objects.povworld.org/
- Webring:
http://hub.webring.org/hub/povrayring
- Unofficial Extensions:
http://megapov.inetart.net/
PyMOL
http://www.pymol.org/
PyMOL is a user-sponsored molecular visualization system on an open-source foundation. It is capable of
creating still and animated images.
- Tutorials:
http://ihome.cuhk.edu.hk/~b102142/pymol/pymol_tutorial.html
http://www.ebi.ac.uk/~gareth/pymol/
http://bioquest.org/nimbios/2010/wp-content/blogs.dir/files/2010/07/pymol_tutorial3.pdf
http://www.jhu.edu/pfleming/compbio/files/PyMOL_Tutorial.pdf
http://www.virology.wisc.edu/acp/Tutorials/PyMol-E-density.pdf
http://www.chem.ucsb.edu/~kalju/CSUPERB/index.html
http://www.bio.ph.ic.ac.uk/~scurry/pdfs/PyMol_tutorial.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDlyfk2zC-k

http://www.carlyhuitema.com/pymol_tutorial.html
Squrlz Water Reflections
http://www.xiberpix.net/SqirlzReflect.html
Sqirlz Water Reflections is a way of adding rippling pools of water, and rain or snow effects, to images or existing
AVI videos. The pools can be animated to give lifelike rippling reflections of the scene above them, and can be of
any shape. Choose from a variety of ripple shapes, and control details such as wave size, perspective, water
transparency and flow direction. The raindrops and snowflakes can be adjusted in many ways, including size, speed,
direction, transparency and scene depth effects. Animations can be saved as Macromedia Flash (SWF) files,
animated GIF files, AVI video clips, and sets of bitmap, JPEG, PNG and TIFF files.
Synfig
http://synfig.org
Synfig is a freeware and open source 2D vector graphics and animation program for Linux, MAC, Windows
capable of producing "feature-film quality animation with fewer people and resources."
- Forum:
http://synfig.org/forums/
Teddy
http://www-ui.is.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~takeo/teddy/teddy.htm
Teddy is freeware program for use in Windows, MAC, Linux, and Solaris that is written in Java. It is a sketch-based
3D modeling program that enables you to make interesting 3D models just by drawing freeform strokes.
- Smooth Teddy:
http://www-ui.is.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~takeo/java/smoothteddy/index.html
- Tutorial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2H35SlLmUA
- Resources:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=Teddy+3D+modeling#/d2hkyfn
Terragen
http://www.planetside.co.uk/terragen/productmain.shtml
Terragen is a scenery generator for generating photorealistic landscape images and animations. For Windows and
Mac OS. Currently Terragen is free for personal, noncommercial use.
- Forum:
http://forums.planetside.co.uk/
- On site resources:
http://www.planetside.co.uk/terragen/resources.shtml
- Off site resources:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=terragen
- Official user guide:
http://www.planetside.co.uk/terragen/guide/
Visual Terrain Maker
http://www.ungsoft.com/vtm/index.html
Visual Terrain Maker is a simple and free 3D-modeling program that allows you to create landscapes (maps) for
games or other purposes. It works in all Windows XP/NT/2k based operating systems. The program is not critical
to the video adapters and drivers and it can export to Direct X file format (*.x). It is also suitable for use by
DarkBasic programming developers.
Vue3D
http://www.e-onsoftware.com/products/?page=try

Like Maya and Houdini, Vue 3D is a high end program that offers a free learning edition download. It is fully
functional and never expires. You cannot use your finished creations for commercial purposes, however, also as
with Maya and Houdini, this is a great opportunity for someone wanting to learn how to create 3D graphics for a
living.
Wings3D
http://www.wings3d.com/
Wings 3D is an advanced subdivision modeler that is both powerful and easy to use. Originally inspired by Nendo
and Mirai from Izware, Wings has been developed since 2001, when Björn Gustavsson and Dan Gudmundsson
first started the project. Wings is currently maintained by Richard Jones who has been with the project since
2006.
- Forum:
http://nendowingsmirai.yuku.com/
- More Resources:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=wings3d
YafaRay
http://www.yafaray.org/
YafaRay is a free open-source raytracing engine. Raytracing is a rendering technique for generating realistic
images by tracing the path of light through a 3D scene.
- Forum:
http://www.yafaray.org/community/forum
- Tutorials:
http://www.yafaray.org/documentation/tutorials
- Shaders:
http://yafaray.thomasbaron.net/

Free Fractal Programs
Out of This World by Hafapea
Creating fractals is what I love. My personal favorite is Apophysis. Of the many versions available, I like 7x. Not
because, as of this writing, it is the newest version but, because it is the best of all the previous versions with a
greater capacity for plugins. Prior to the 7x release, I used 2.08 3D Hack. This is also very good and, if you don’t
care about loading up your program with plugins, may be a better choice for you. Of all of the free fractal
programs available Apo, as it is affectionately known, is the most intuitive and easiest to use. That being said, it
is not capable of doing what many of the other programs can do, such as building Incendia’s towers, but it still a
creator’s favorite and can produce some wonderful images.
Apophysis 2.02
In order to use any of the later versions, you must first download and install version 2.02:
http://www.apophysis.org/downloads.html
The resources listed here are but the tip of the proverbial iceberg. If you do a search for Apophysis, you will find
a bunch more.
- Tutorials:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=apophysis+tutorial
http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/tutorials/33-outstanding-apophysis-tutorials-part-2/ (Just so you
know, the “Part 2” refers to it being part 2 of a feature on Apophysis, not part 2 of the 33 tutorials. All of the
tutorial links are on this one page.)
- Plugins: http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=apophysis+plugins
- Gradients: http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=apophysis+gradients
- Starter Flames: http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=apophysis+flames
- Scripts: http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=apophysis+scripts
- More resources: http://apophysis-resources.wikispaces.com/
Apo 7x: http://xyrus02.deviantart.com/art/Apophysis-7X-134116371?q=boost%3Apopular+apophysis+7x&qo=0

2.04: http://www.klitetools.com/comments.php?shownews=4956&catid=61
2.06 3D Hack: http://news.deviantart.com/article/35595/
2.06bzplus: http://gygrazok.altervista.org/apo.php
2.08 3D Hack: http://www.terranuts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10527
2.08 JK: http://lu-kout.deviantart.com/journal/23721961/
Aros Fractals
http://www.arosmagic.com/Fractals/default.htm
Aros is a freeware fractal program that you can use to explore some classical fractal images at extremely high
resolutions (physical size and color depths).
Chaos Pro
http://www.chaospro.de/
ChaosPro is a real time freeware fractal generator for MS Windows with support for many different fractal types
(2D and 3D), true color and animation support. Due to its integrated compiler it is quite fast even if you write
your own formulas. Tutorials are available on the Web site.
Dofo-Zon Elite 4.21
http://www.mysticfractal.com/dofozon.zip
Dofo-Zon is actually an obsolete fractal art program still used by some. I included it here for any readers who
may be die-hard fractal program collectors whose life would be made more complete by having the chance to
play with a classic. The owner of Mystic Fractal has created several programs of his/her own, as well. They are
not freeware, buy you should still check them out while you are there. You might think one or two of them are
worth buying.
Double Fractal
http://www.schulers.com/fractal/
Double Fractal is a program that creates fast and easily high complex images. No specific knowledge is needed to
use this program; it is a program that can be run just for fun!
Fast Floating Fractal Fun
http://sourceforge.net/projects/ffff/
FFFF is a Win32/OSX Mandelbrot generator. Features OpenGL, realtime zoom, SSE/AltiVec QuadPixel calc, SSE2
and 3DNow! It also features DualPixel calc, FPU per pixel calc, GPU asm (FragmentProgram/VertexProgram) calc,
multiprocessor support, and benchmarking.
(For those who do not know, the logic behind fractal creation is mathematical).
Fractal Explorer
http://www.eclectasy.com/Fractal-Explorer/download.htm
No mathematical knowledge is required with ChaosPro which generates several fractals simultaneously in
different windows, all at the same time. ChaosPro can create fractal animations, generate 3D fractal
transformations in 2D, and create true color fractals. Of course, the processing power required to do this is great
so, unless you're working on something NASA might use, you will need to connect several PC's together to get
the most out of its power.
- Tutorials:
http://tutorial.fractalfairy.com/
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&global=1&q=Fractal+Explorer+tutorials
- Spot Files:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&global=1&q=fractal+explorer+spot+files
Fractal Forge
http://www.fractovia.org/uberto/

This site is dedicated to Fractal Forge, one of the fastest fractal generating applications available for Windows
95/98/NT/2000/XP.
- Tutorial
- Resources:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&global=1&q=Fractal+Forge+resources
Fractal Snowflake Generator
http://a-i-studio.com/snowflake/
Fractal Snowflake Generator is a small freeware utility that can be used to create fractal snowflakes, patterns and
backgrounds.
Fractice
http://fractice.sourceforge.net/
Fractice is a free, open-source fractal explorer and renderer for XP/Vista/Win7. It supports navigation, history
thumbnails, previews, antialiasing, deep zoom, printing, posters, palettes, multicore and distributed processing,
movie recording, undo/redo, color cycling, and job control. It also has VJ features, such as mixing, mirroring,
origin motion, palette tweening, dual-monitor, and MIDI. A 64-bit version is available.
Gnofract 4D
http://gnofract4d.sourceforge.net/
Gnofract 4D is a free, open source program which allows anyone to create beautiful images called fractals. The
images are automatically created by the computer based on mathematical principles.
- Manual
http://gnofract4d.sourceforge.net/manual/index.html
GNU XaoS
http://wmi.math.u-szeged.hu/xaos/doku.php
XaoS includes many animated tutorials that make learning about fractals fun and easy. These tutorials are also a
great introduction to all of XaoS’s features.
Incendia
http://www.incendia.net/
Incendia is a 3D Multiprocessor Fractal Engine that allows you to explore the realm of the 3D fractals.
- Tutorials:
http://www.incendia.net/wiki/index.php/Tutorials
- Resources:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&global=1&q=Incendia+resources
Making Magic Fractals
http://skyscraper.fortunecity.com/terabyte/966/download.html
Making Magic Fractals is a 32-bit DOS freeware program created by Dave Makin.
Mandala Explorer
http://www.russellcottrell.com/MandalaExplorer/
Mandala Explorer enables you to draw various fractal image types, exploring endless possibilities by changing the
parameters of the underlying equations.
Mind Boggling Fractals LE
http://ftp.surfnet.nl/simtel/win95/graffrac/mbflit23.zip
This is the free "Lite" version of the Mind Boggling Fractals program written by Paul Carlson. Paul is no longer
selling the full version but you can download the light version from this link.
- Tutorial

MSPlotter
http://www.aswsoftware.com/products/msplotter/msplotter.shtml
MSPlotter (Mandelbrot Set Plotter) helps you create fractal images using the Mandelbrot and Julia sets.
Sterling2
http://soler7.com/Fractals/Sterling2.html
Sterling2 is based on Sterling, a fractal-generating program written in 1999 by the redoubtable Stephen C.
Ferguson.

Sources
DeviantArt: http://www.deviantart.com (a great source of resources and inspiration)
Freebyte's Guide to Free Graphics Software: http://www.freebyte.com/graphicprograms/
Photo Freeware http://www.photo-freeware.net/image-editing.php
Animation
3DBuzz: http://www.3dbuzz.com/vbforum/showthread.php?172393-Animation-Resources-links-to-help-you-
learn-the-art
Free Computer Animation Programs: http://animation.about.com/od/referencematerials/a/freesoftware.htm
Free Animation Software Downloads: http://www.freewarefiles.com/category_3_32.html
3D Art
3DTotal: http://www.3dtotal.com/ - tutorials and more
3D.SK: http://www.3d.sk/ - human photo references for 3D artists and game developers (not free)
3dmd.net: http://www.3dmd.net/ - free design resources
3DValley: http://www.3dvalley.com/ - tutorials and more
Art Head Start: http://www.art-head-start.com/ - free resources, art lessons and more (some free, some not,
mainly Vue3D)
Cornucopia 3D: http://www.cornucopia3d.com/classroom/makingofs.php (Vue3D)
Fine Art: http://fineart.sk/ - free human anatomy references for 3D artists and game developers and more
Vector Art
14 Free Vector Drawing Programs: http://www.maa.org/editorial/mathgames/mathgames_08_01_05.html
14 Free Vector Art Resources: http://www.thegraphicmac.com/14-free-vector-art-resource-sites
49 Amazing Resources for Free Vector Graphics: http://speckyboy.com/2009/09/18/49-amazing-resources-for-
free-vector-graphics/
Free Vector Drawing tools on X Window System: http://bourbon.usc.edu/tgif/vector.html
Ultimate Resource List for Vector Graphics: http://designrfix.com/resources/ultimate-resource-list-vector-
graphics
Fractal Art
Amazing Seattle Fractals: http://fractalarts.com/ASF/Fractal_Links.html - educational resource
Apophysis: http://apophysis.deviantart.com/
Fractal Forums: http://www.fractalforums.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=6d6ce7ac3ee986bc0683ee2180537f70
Fractal Programs & Resources: http://fractals.uwpagina.nl/
Fractal Programs & Software: http://www.chaffey.org/fractals/programs/index.html
Fractal Resources Group on DeviantArt: http://fractal-resources.deviantart.com/
Fractal Resources: http://exoteric.roach.org/res/index.html
Fractalus https://www.fractalus.com/fractal-art-faq/
Sunblue: http://www.subblue.com/blog/2009/5/14/fractals_and_generative_art_resources
Ultra Gnosis: http://www.ultragnosis.com/fractals/fractal-art-resources.html

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