Links:Graphic Applications

2D Graphic and Animation Applications

GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP)

"GIMP is a freely distributed program for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring."

• Homepage: http://www.gimp.org
• License: GNU-GPL
• Operating systems: "Available for Windows, Linux, Sun Solaris, FreeBSD or Mac OS X."

INKSCAPE . Draw Freely

"INKSCAPE is a Linux & Windows vector graphics editor (SVG format) featuring transparency, gradients, node editing, pattern fills, PNG export, and more. Aiming for capabilities similar to Illustrator, CorelDraw, Visio, etc."

• Homepage: http://www.inkscape.org
• License: GNU -GPL
• Operating systems: "All 32-bit MS Windows (95/98/NT/2000/XP), All POSIX (Linux/BSD/UNIX-like OSes), Linux, OS X"

LunarCell

LunarCell is a Photoshop compatible plugin that allows you to create instant planets. Create fractal, reality-based, or just strange worlds in seconds. It includes real clouds downloaded from weather satellites and comes with dozens of presets, and you can design your own planets too. LunarCell also generates maps for 3D animation, fantasy mapmaking, and QuickTime 5 cubic VR.

• Homepage: http://www.flamingpear.com/lunarcell.html
• License: Commercial

Spacescape

Free program for making space skyboxes.

• Homepage: http://alexcpeterson.com/spacescape
• License: MIT
• Operating systems: Windows

2D Graphic Converters

GIMP DDS Plug-In

This is a plugin for GIMP version 2.x. It allows you to load and save images in DirectDraw Surface (DDS) format.

• Homepage: http://nifelheim.dyndns.org/~cocidius/dds/
• License: GNU GPL
• Operating systems: Windows, Linux
• Binaries and source (version links might be out of date, please check homepage for downloads)
  • Windows: http://nifelheim.dyndns.org/~cocidius/download.php?filename=gimp-dds-win32
  • Source: http://nifelheim.dyndns.org/~cocidius/download.php?filename=gimp-dds

nVidia Texture Tools

Tools (nvcompress, nvddsinfo, ...) for manipulating graphic files and optimize them for the graphic card.

• Homepage: http://developer.nvidia.com/object/texture_tools.html
• License: MIT License
• Operating systems: Windows, Linux
• Binaries and source (version links might be out of date, please check homepage for downloads)
  • Windows: http://developer.download.nvidia.com/tools/texturetools2/NVIDIA_Texture_Tools_2.04.1016.0025.exe
  • Source: http://nvidia-texture-tools.googlecode.com/

xNormal

Application to generate normal, ambient occlusion, parallax displacement, and relief maps.

• Homepage: http://www.xnormal.net/
• License: ?
• Operating systems: Windows, Linux under development
• Binaries and source
  • Windows: http://www.xnormal.net/Downloads.aspx
  • Source: http://www.xnormal.net/Developers.aspx

Image Viewers

• Irfanview (freeware for Windows) supports the DDS image file format. You may want to add the string "|IMAGE|TEXTURE" at the end of the option "Load custom file types" under "Options/Set file associations" for smooth browsing of VS image and texture files.
• KDE's image libraries (version >= 3.3.0) support reading the DDS file format, so e.g. gwenview, kview and konqueror can view texture files.