Graphics/Design

Pinta

Pinta is a cross-platform image editing program. There are plenty of free image editors available. Pinta’s advantage is it is light on the system. In spite of its many features, the program can run on older pieces of hardware. The software has a plethora of drawing tools. You can make everything from basic shapes to complex polygons. You can use layers for intricate images.

NeoOffice

NeoOffice is a full featured free office suite. The main applications are the Writer word processor; Base, the database component; Draw, for creating graphics; Impress (presentation) and Calc, for making spreadsheets. Each application is feature packed. Calc has many features comparable to commercial products. You can add formulas and use basic and advanced functions. Some of its more impressive features are the Intelligent Sum Button, Natural Language formulas and Advanced DataPilot technology. Writer has all the features you would expect from full-featured word processors like formatting, bibliographical references and indexing. You can create tables of contents and many more.

Pic Stitch

Pic Stitch is a photography app for the iPad and iPhone. Developed by Big Blue Clip LLC, it is used for combining (stitching) several images into one framed photo. The app’s interface makes it very easy to learn and use. Even if you are not a pro, it is very easy to create works of art. The app can be used to make a photographic series, combining your favorite pictures and producing a before-and-after sequence. While the program’s goal is simple, it has many features. Pic Stitch allows for high resolution export and can be saved into albums.

123D Sculpt

Traditional sculpting is a difficult and messy business, but 123D Sculpt by Autodesk simplifies things a lot. Designed specifically for the iPad, it comes with a tutorial that will get you up to speed. You can create human heads, dinosaurs, birds and other complex shapes. There are tools for smoothening, pulling and pushing a model. Use your fingers to twist, pinch or swipe. These sculpting tools can be selected directly. You can sculpt the mesh or the model. Some creases appear on the reverse side. However, this really isn’t a problem because there is a symmetry mode.

Granimator

Granimator is a wallpaper creator with a twist. It makes great use of the iPad’s screen size to display stunning, unique images. You don’t need to be an expert to create high quality wallpaper; you just tap the screen and images will appear. This app from ustwo has cool music playing in the background as you draw.

123D Make

So you just made a cool 3D model, but wouldn’t it be great if you could turn that into a real object you can hold? Well, 123D Make by Autodesk allows exactly that. How does it do that? It turns a 3D object into cardboard templates. After printing these templates, you can use these to cut cardboards or foams. Glue them together, paint and your virtual 3D object is literally in your hands. The program is a bit different from other 3D graphics software, but it will only take a while to get used to the interface.

Seamless3D

Seamless3D is 3D modeling and animation software. Just like other 3D programs, it takes time to get familiar with the interface. But if you are serious about making 3D models and animation, this is a good choice. There are many features in the program so it can be used as an animator or mesh editor. But it is best known for its build node technology. In simple terms, the software allows you to do 3D operations in real time.