What's a good graphic design program?

[janas19]

Hi guys. So basically I would like to know if someone could recommend me a basic but solid graphic design program. I'm a hobbyist who does little engineering projects and I just need something that I could make clean and simple visual representations. Like a schematic showing how the pieces fit together and labeling them precisely. Something that would basically look like the factory car manuals, those big expensive manuals that show an exploded view of each piece of the car and the name.

So I know jack shit about graphics programs, the only one I've ever used was Microsoft Paint. Any help is appreciated.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Right of the bat:

2D design...
Paint.NET
Gimp

3D design...
Blender
OpenFX

 

[janas19]

Right of the bat:

2D design...
Paint.NET
Gimp

3D design...
Blender
OpenFX

Thanks man!

 

[Modelworks]

The program I think you want is freecad
http://sourceforge.net/projects/free-cad/

Probably the easiest solid modeler that is free.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

The program I think you want is freecad
http://sourceforge.net/projects/free-cad/

Probably the easiest solid modeler that is free.

Forgot about that one...

 

[wcgrafix]

hello, what program or plugin did they do this chrome NEW YEARS 2012 title in ?...(thanks guys)

http://i39.tinypic.com/2lsw2sj.jpg

 

[janas19]

The program I think you want is freecad
http://sourceforge.net/projects/free-cad/

Probably the easiest solid modeler that is free.

Thanks so much, appreciate the help! That's kind of what I was looking for but didn't know how to ask - thanks! I'll be downloading ASAP

 

[LokutusofBorg]

Google SketchUp is a damn cool program that I found recently. Seems to fit the bill quite nicely for what you described.

 

[janas19]

Google SketchUp is a damn cool program that I found recently. Seems to fit the bill quite nicely for what you described.

Good look, I'll check that out.

 

[LokutusofBorg]

I would like to also mention that Macromedia/Adobe Fireworks has been my go-to graphics program for years now. I use it for work (software developer) as well as all kinds of personal stuff. I found Google SketchUp when I decided to just look real quick for any free program that would let me mock up my fireplace to plan out how to mount my HDTV to it. It is more of a CAD/3D Modeling type of program, whereas Fireworks is a Photoshop type of program. I've tried using Paint.Net, GIMP, and even Photoshop, but always come back to my trusty Fireworks. It just works so damn well at the stuff I do with it that I love it dearly.

 

[lxskllr]

LibreCAD for 2D...

http://librecad.org/cms/home.html

 

[janas19]

I would like to also mention that Macromedia/Adobe Fireworks has been my go-to graphics program for years now. I use it for work (software developer) as well as all kinds of personal stuff. I found Google SketchUp when I decided to just look real quick for any free program that would let me mock up my fireplace to plan out how to mount my HDTV to it. It is more of a CAD/3D Modeling type of program, whereas Fireworks is a Photoshop type of program. I've tried using Paint.Net, GIMP, and even Photoshop, but always come back to my trusty Fireworks. It just works so damn well at the stuff I do with it that I love it dearly.

That sounds nice! If I could have a program for 2D modeling that has the familiar instrumentality of Paint, that's icing on the cake!

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[janas19]

LibreCAD for 2D...

http://librecad.org/cms/home.html

Will check it out, thanks!

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