Tools of the Trade
I’m often asked what type of software I use to create my websites, logos and the like. Everyone knows I’m a Mac guy, and they assume I use the Adobe Creative Suite. Not so fast! Assumptions can sometimes be wrong.
Yes, I’m a Mac guy. Love ‘em. Used a PC for years before finally using a Mac at work. Hands down, Macs are far better machines. Trust me. PC users are scared to switch because they’re afraid a Mac can’t do what a PC does. Wrong. Not only can it do everything a PC does, it can do it better and you won’t be pulling your hair out all the time.
Anyway… on to the real topic. What software do I use? My general rule of thumb is easy - find something that does what I want for free. The glory of humanity is this - there are people willing to donate their time and effort and ability to create a nice software package for free. This is called Open Source. When I simply can’t find a good open-source (free) program, I find one for cheap. I try to keep my overhead as low as possible.
General Graphic Art
For my general designs, this is where I don’t skimp. I use Adobe Illustrator a lot. I’m currently looking into open source programs (Inkscape), or cheap programs (Vector Designer) for my vector art needs. Until I decide if those programs are viable, I’ll use Illustrator.
Photo Editing / Raster Graphics
Photoshop? No. I use Gimp. It’s a wonderful, free program. For all of you out there using pirated versions of Photoshop because you can’t afford to buy it yourself - please try Gimp. There IS a learning curve, but it can do everything Photoshop can do. I’m very impressed with it. Not to mention, it’s more streamlined that PS and runs much faster on my computers.
Web Editing - HTML
These days, I don’t do a whole heck of a lot with HTML. When I absolutely have to code something with HTML, I use Nvu (there is also a version called Kompozer). It gets the job done and is free.
Web Editing - PHP, XML, General Coding
I’ve fallen in love with Smultron. A free, powerful text editor that plays nicely with PHP, XML, CSS, and HTML files. A nice, multi-purpose program.
Web Editing - CSS
There is a free solution here that some people might enjoy. Simple CSS. I’ve tried it and it does get the job done. But, it has some quirks that I don’t like. So, I use CSSEdit. It’s not a free program, but is in the “affordable” bracket. It’s a pretty slick program.
Wordpress
These days, I design all of my sites around Wordpress. I love the ability to maintain my sites from any computer with an internet connection. There is a learning curve to designing custom themes, but once you figure it out, it’s a breeze.
Word Processing
Sometimes, clients send me Word documents with their content. Mac does have a version of Microsoft Office, but it’s not cheap. So, I use NeoOffice to read Word & Excel files and more. A truly wonderful, free word processing program. They are constantly updating it and improving its features.
So, there you have it. If you’re looking to save some money, but still be productive, I strongly suggest looking into open source options. Small businesses, schools, churches, governments, civic groups and non-profits could benefit greatly from saving money and using these types of programs. You should at least look into them and give them a chance.