15 Free Apps for Photographers, Designers, and Artists

Software Development is at a point where for every Commercial Application, there seems to be someone who develops a free similar product. Which basically means there is no need to pay out tons of money to get some useful software. I have compiled here, a collection of 15 amazing apps that are absolutely free. These will be useful for Photographers, Designers, and Animators. As you go through the list you will wonder how some of these are offered for free.

I know some software developers and I know that there are years of work put into some of these. Just imagine spending years of time developing something then just giving it away. There are descriptions for each app along with samples when possible. I can't say it enough, but some of these are just WOW! You can thank me by getting a friend to subscribe to the blog. Thanks for reading and I look forward to your comments.

This Has Been your find from the Search Whiz. Make Sure to Sign up for the blog and follow me on twitter. Trust me I do not disappoint!

For Photographers:

1)GimpShop : (Mac + Win) Maybe you have heard of the popular alternative for Photoshop, Gimp. Well this is a remake of the software in order to resemble the layout of Photoshop. This program can do everything that Photoshop can. Everything. It will make you say "I can't believe it's not Photoshop".

2)Adobe Kuler : (AIR based, Universal) A Great tool to simplify the world of colors. Use it to create color swatches by selecting your own colors or let the software generate its own color theme from an image. This is the kind of simple software that can save you hours of time.

3)Name Changer: I hate having to change the file names of photo sets one by one. This will let you select a batch of files and change all of the names at once and puts them in sequence. Just wonderful.

4)Shape Collage: (Mac + Win) Mostly for fun, but can inspire ideas. Use chosen photos to create a photo collage in any shape or arrangement you want.

5) PosteRazor: (Mac + Win) When you want to print out a picture in poster size, but don't have large paper or don't want to pay for a print. This will automatically split up your image into separate pages of chosen paper size and save it as a PDF file. Then you can print it and place the pages together.

6)TiltViewer: (Universal) Gives a very unique interface for your photo portfolio or album. To see a nice example, click HERE.

For Designers:

7) DrawBerry: (Mac) Create Vector based images in this fully loaded app. Simpler than using Adobe Illustrator.

8)Sweet Home 3D: (Mac + Win) An interior designers best friend. Use it to create top view layouts and then view it in awesome 3D.

9)Lego Digital Designer: (Mac + Win) Every Lego brick at your fingertips. Use it to create 3D models with lego bricks and then have the option of ordering the actual pieces in a kit to build the real thing.

For Animators:

10) Blender : (Mac + Win) Can you say "No way this is Free!" Very Powerful app for 3D Design and Animation. Even if you don't animate, you will definitely want to check this out.

11) Daz 3D studio: (Mac + Win) This goes Beyond animation. You can create amazing portraits like in a virtual photo studio. Has tons of free model downloads so you can use it just like a model. A Must Download for the sake of creativity.

12) Scratch: (Mac + Win) Developed by the genius people at MIT, a great app which can help you create simple animations and games. It is idiot proof, so even I can make my own game.

13) Flaex: (Mac) Takes Flash files and picks it apart. Saves all of the sounds, images, frames individually. Very useful.

For the Rest of you:

14) SketchBox: (Mac) You can make layered sticky-notes with text and drawings. good for quick notes and ideas.

15) Top Draw: (Mac) Use you JavaScript language to produce images at random. It can make some great looking original, abstract, images.

Don't Forget to Comment...

The Best Free Software of 2009

I am always on the lookout for free stuff and when I find it I always like to share. In this case I am referring to free software. After spending so much money on my computer and monthly internet fees, I may as well put some use to the bandwidth and download like there's no tomorrow. PCmag.com has recently listed 173 of the best free software of 2009 and here I will share with you my favorites . Why pay for Microsoft office when you can get something just as useful for nothing. My favorites are listed by category below.

If you are looking for software to download for free rather than free software, then there is a helpful link at the bottom of the post. (i.e. photoshop, office, corel paint...) I do not condone illegal software downloads, but I also am not a big fan of corporations either. As a disclaimer I will say that if you really use the software consistently, then consider purchasing.

Anyways, on to the list of Absolutely free and legal software. If you know of free software not listed here, please post a link in the comments. Enjoy.

This Has Been your find from the Search Whiz. Make Sure to Sign up for the blog and follow me on twitter. Trust me I do not disappoint!

Full list of 173 titles : PCmag.com

App Launchers

Circle Dock : (Windows) Places all of your desktop icons arranged in a circle. neat little app.

Quicksilver : (Mac) creates a desktop workflow.

Audio/Music

Mojo (Win/Mac) : Allows you to connect directly to your friends music library and download audio files onto your computer.

Wavepad Sound Editor (Win/Mac/PPC/Linux) : Recording software with plenty of effects plugins. You can even install a Pocket PC version and edit on your phone.

Backup (Win/Mac)

Mozy: this is an online backup system for free. (up to 2 GB). Better than an external HD. uploads discreetly in the background.

Blogging

ScribeFire (Win/Mac/Linux) : Firefox plugin that makes blog posting very simple.

Browsers

Camino (Mac): It's like firefox with more of a Mac style.

Calendar/PIMS

Communications/Email

Conferencing

DabbleBoard : (Web) Use it while conferencing as a virtual whiteboard.

File Sharing/Download

DownloadThemAll : A firefox plugin manages multiple downloads at once.

File Viewer/Converters

Finance

Fun/Home

Geni : (Web) Allows you to create your complete family tree online. really cool.

Springpad : (web) like an online notebook with ability to add pictures and maps. and then you can share with others.

Graphics

Artweaver : (Win) Like a free version of Corel painter.

FlauntR : (Web) online photo editor made for all the social network sites.

Gimp : Probably the best free alternative for Photoshop

Pencil : (Win/Mac/Linux) Wonderful free software for starting in animation.

Instant Messengers

Interface Enhancers

Local Search

Office

Buzzword (web): An online word processor

Google Doc (web) : googles online office suite

Open Office (Win/Mac/linux) : A Full Office Suite. very awesome.

Operating Systems

Networking

Air Raider: (Mac) Great wi-fi utility for Mac. very versatile

RSS Readers

Synchronization

Video

Cam Studio: Screen Video Capture

HandBrake: DVD backup software

As For the Source For free Software. Stay away from file-sharing programs because these files are usually bugged. Instead try TehParadox . You will find anything you're looking for. It Surely does not disappoint.

Thanks For Reading. Feel Free to Share.

Alternative Uses For Household Items

In times like these, you want to make the most of everything. So today I have the perfect site to put that concept into use. AltUse.com is a site completely dedicated to showing you all the different uses that typical household items can have. It is categorized by products and also by uses so everything is easy to find. From Aspirin to Vinegar, they all have uses that you would not imagine. I never knew that using instant mashed potato mix could be used as a rat repellant. Or that adding vodka to your shampoo will increase the shine in your hair. Really interesting site worth checking out.

Hopefully, you might save a few bucks from what you can learn on this site. All I can say is that the thought of using products for something other than the intended use just reminds me of the father from the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" . Lol

This has been your alternative find from the Search whiz. Sign up for the blog to find more awesome stuff. please comment. I'm soooooo lonely in here.

DIY, How To, Make Anything

The site for today is quite popular among "Do It Yourselfers ", but is pretty much unknown to the rest of the population. The site is Instructables.com and has tons of user submitted tutorials on how to make just about anything. These projects posted on the site range from very simple household items to complex electronics projects. This website is a paradise for people who like to tinker with everything, but it doesn't stop there. For example there is a food section where people share interesting recipes such as "How To make Plum BBQ sauce and syrup". I have been a member of this site for a while now and I use it mainly for making at home photography gear and anything else I find.

To top it off, two days ago there was a contest on the site where a picture was posted up and people could submit a funny caption. The editor chose the winner and it was ME. YAY! I won a Spy camera that attaches to your sunglasses. They have these contests randomly so keep an eye out. My Winning contest Entry.

There is a lot to cover on this site, so let me know if you find something cool to make. With a little bit of ingenuity and skills you could make something really really cool. Like this computer keyboard.

This has been your fun find from the search whiz. Don't hurt yourself and subscribe to the blog. And start commenting people. It gets lonely in here.

A funny Version of YouTube

As simple as it sounds, loopytube.com has a collection of videos that are purely entertaining. Sometimes I get frustrated searching for something interesting on youtube.com mainly because there are a ton of videos and many of them are just a waste of space. So apart from reading my blog, if you need an extra fun moment in your day just go to loopytube . Post up any videos that you would like to share.

This has been your daily find from the Search Whiz. Now While you're laughing at the following video subscribe to my blog. Just click the big orange button or enter your email.

Alanis Morissette - My Humps - Remix

Instruments and Music From Another World

As a musician I love trying new instruments and learning to play them. I mainly play the piano, then I picked up a guitar, and recently I got myself a drum set. I like to keep things interesting, so now I am considering playing the Bowafridgeaphone. It sounds strange mainly because it IS strange. Here I thought that all the instruments we have are just fine, but some people aren't satisfied and cannot control their creative side. And now you can see all of their creations at OddMusic.com complete with sound samples. Most of them are wacky re-creations of existing instruments, but some are just unheard of like the Bikelophone. I highly recommend at least looking at the pictures of these instruments because it may just inspire you to come up with one of your own. Post up some of your favorites in the comments.

This has been your daily find from the search whiz. Now enjoy the sounds of the stamenphone as you sign up for my blog.

Technorati Profile

Search Engine Alternatives

Recently you may have seen commercials for Microsoft's version of a search engine called Bing.com. This supposedly is different and not just a search engine, but please check it out and search something and you will realize it IS just a search engine. I will admit maybe it has a cleaner look and nicely organized, but its just like google in every other sense. You can put a dress on a horse, but it's still a horse in the end, right?   

So being a devoted searcher myself, I have come across two very different methods of searching that very few people know about. These two search sites I am posting are completely different and will change the way you search. Trust me on this one. The first is EYEPLORER and works like the brain does. Whatever you search for brings up a bunch of branches related to the topic and leads you down different pathways. These groups of paths are divided into a colorful pie-chart with slices in categories such as : people, society, science, work, organization, etc.   From this chart of options you can continually drag your findings under your original search to deepen your search. You have to try it out to understand cause it gets quite intricate. 

Moving on

The second search method is something completely different and never before seen. In fact it was only released a month ago. Presenting WOLFRAM ALPHA (computational knowledge engine). This is like having an instant encyclopedia with a mind of its own. I know the name doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, but hey it works. You can type in practically anything from any category and it finds information about it from every angle possible. In a sense it creates an automatic "wikipedia" page for your search. Examples include: people, city, stock, dates, size, etc...  to take things to the next level it makes it possible for you to enter in mathematical and chemical formulas.  Being a biology major myself, I can't tell you how helpful this can be. I have a feeling this site is going to be HUGE once it catches on. I would bet money on it. 

So there you go. You are no longer confined to Google and Yahoo and there are plenty more out there. Check them out and let me know your opinions.

This has been your random daily find from the Search Whiz. Subscribe! Subscribe! Subscribe!