You can spend hundreds of dollars on a graphics or photo manipulation software package. If you aren't a design professional, you may not need to break your budget. There are a lot of free programs available that offer similar graphics function to the big name players. Before you decide to spend the money on any big-ticket software package, try these free programs. This list consists of five graphics programs that are totally free to download. The five programs listed in this article, work on the Mac platform and the PC platform. Some of them even work on the Linux platform. Each is indicated in the listings below. Links are provided to the publishers download site for each software program.
GIMP
Mac/Windows/Linux
http://www.gimp.org/
GIMP is an image manipulation program. It can retouch photos, compose images and it can be used as a simple paint program. GIMP is a very powerful free photo editor. GIMP is often compared to Adobe Photoshop, which has a very high price tag in comparison.
Picasa
Mac/Windows/Linux
http://picasa.google.com
Picasa is a free photo organizer from google. Picasa allows you to manage your photos, locate and organize your photos on your computer. You can also share your photos with friends and family through email access, photographic prints, and on the web.
Google SketchUp 6
Mac/Windows
http://sketchup.google.com/
SketchUp is a free 3D modeling software program. Consider SketchUp for a remodeling project in your home or a landscaping project for your yard. It is fast and easy and fun according to the publisher. If you need something more professional, google offers a pro version but it comes with a $495 price tag.
Art Rage
Mac/Windows
http://www.artrage.com/
Art Rage is a software paint program. It utilizes all the traditional art mediums like paint, charcoal, pens, pencils... If you pair it with a pressure sensitive tablet, you will get a truer rendition of those tools. Art Rage does have a fully functioning version upgrade for less than twenty dollars, the free version has a few functions locked. But for the price, if you like the software, you'll probably spring for the upgrade.
KoffeePhoto
Mac/Windows/Linux
http://www.koffeephoto.com/en/
KoffeePhoto is more a photo sharing software package rather than a photo editing or managing software package. KoffeePhoto allows you to share your images online. You can create slide shows and add music. You can access you photos from any Internet connected computer. Consider this free program as a way to backup your photos.