Computer Graphics Software

I use GIMP, PowerPoint, Paint Shop Pro 8, and Adobe Photoshop to process pictures and other digital media. I tried to trace a bad clip art with PSP, GIMP, and Photoshop but kept getting pixelized lines.

I am looking for software that uses vectoring to create drawings. I just bought one of those drawing pads for less that $50 to do some free hand drawing. I am also looking for software that can convert any graphic or MS Office file into PDF

What do you guys use for graphics?
What do you recommend?

- Raul

Software can be a personal thing. What works for me isn't necessarily the best for everyone else.

OK, disclaimer finished.

I use Xara Xtreme for vector graphics work. It has some very nice photo editing features as well. The bitmap tracer included is better than most (IMHO). A demo version is available, and if you are using Linux, a cost-free open source version is available.

https://xara.com/products/xtreme/default.asp?v=pro&t=


Acrobat Distiller is still the best software for creating PDF documents. However there are a number of cost-free alternatives. Most are Ghostscript based. If you Google "make PDF free" you will find dozens.

https://www.primopdf.com/

https://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/Writer.asp

https://www.pdfdesk.com/winpdf.html

For the above, I found a freeware program on CNET by Docudesk called DeskPDF which acts as an optional 'printer', and creates pdf's that way.

Check it out at cnet.com & let me know what you think of it.

2 words.... adobe illustrator

Adobe Illustrator for vector art. Not cheap, but powerful. Since I use it for my business, I can write the cost off. Plus its what I have experience with. I like it.

Here are a couple open source (read: free) vector graphics programs:

1) Inkscape. https://www.inkscape.org/ Full featured program that would be analogous to Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw.

2) OpenOffice Draw. https://www.openoffice.org/ I would consider this for basic functionality. However, when you consider that it is part of the Open Office suite, which has excellent cross-platform functionality with MS Office, there's a lot going for it.

Lastly, I've been more than impressed with the functionality of PDFCreator (also open source). https://www.pdfforge.org/products/pdfcreator

HTH,

Thanks guys.. I have downloaded a few of the applications and will be trying them soon to see which one works for me. I should have asked this question on this forum a long time ago...

PDFCreator is great for making PDFs. Photoshop Elements (and probably Photoshop) has some capabilities for making PDF, but it is rather limited.

I played around with Macromedia Freehand 10 for vector graphics, but I think they phased it out (I don't know if they integrated it with Fireworks or replaced it with Illustrator in the Adobe merger).

I have the full Adobe Suite but still prefer Corel Draw over Illustrator. Older versions of Corel Draw can usually be found in the bargain bins at computer stores for under $20.

I perfer Corel Draw over Illustrator also. I recently purchase Coreldraw suite 11 for under 100 bucks to use at the house, I'm using ver. 13 at work, which has more 3d, bells and whistles but for rocket plans, details, graphics and decals 11 has done everything I've ask of it

yep corel draw is annother good choice and much easier to learn than Illustrator.

Hey, I use Paint Shop Pro 8 for most of the graphic doodling I do. It definitely draws vector files if you want it to. I do it all the time.

Read the help files on vector format. It does it, you own it, you're good to go, DUDE!

Jerry

I'm an Adobe guy. I go to them first for just about everything. There's a high learning curve to be sure, but later versions (once they started using the "CS" names) come with really good built-in help files. Adobe also follows the Microsoft model - if you know one of their programs you know them all - same keyboard shortcuts, etc.

If you're already comfortable with Photoshop, go with Illustrator.

For Portable Document Format printing, I recommend and use PrimoPDF.

This is an actual printer driver you install. This means you choose PrimoPDF as the printer from inside any application and it will print to a PDF document. It is totally FREE and no ads and has all the features you would want in a PDF utility including security, passwords, document properties (to make searches easier).

This is an awesome tool. And the price is right!

PrimoPDF v3.0

I'm using PSP-V7, and I also have V-10., I agree with JBeau, it will do vectoring, no problem. Hit the HELP tab, INDEX files, VECTOR drawing, and jump in. I always switch back and forth between rastor/vector several times in the drawing of one model depending on what it is I'm trying to accomplish.
...Software truly is a personal thing though. Of the other paper model folks I regularly correspond with, I don't think one of us actually uses the same set of programs as another.
...think I'll check out that primo PDF since I saw it...
AX'E

coreldraw can also create pdf's with ease.

and can be had for around $30

As said, it's a personal thing
...I have Corel Draw, tried it, and don't like it.
It maybe should mentioned that Corel also now owns PSP, and has their format on V-10.
I still use V-7, and prefer the format as it was set up under JASC.
Strictly my personal opinion of course.

I've used every version of Paint Shop Pro from 4-8. Version 7 was probably my favorite, it took me a while to get used to the changes in v8 but I did and I'm glad.

That's probably what stopped me from upgrading to 9 or 10 since then, it's working great for me and I figure why deal with the frustration of getting used to new stuff when I'm already happy.

As others have said, Photoshop and illustrator. One thing not mantioned is Adobe Streamline. It converts rasterized files (JPG for example) into vector files. It has limitations but I've found it very usefull.

I'd use Illustrator if I could afford it, but it is ridiculously expensive. You could buy lots of rockets with that money...

Long ago I was pretty good at Corel Draw (way back in v5 and 7 days). Might try that again if I can find it cheap.

Currently I too use Inkscape. It meets my minimal needs and does a fair job at tracing bitmap images. At the cost of $0.00 you can't beat the price.

And to make PDFs I use the free CutePDF Writer.

I have the CorelDraw Graphics Suite v12. Reasonably priced for the capabilities provided. Most graphics companies that I deal with in my business all support .cdr files.