ConceptDraw (specifically the MindMap component) is the software I'm using to design my site map. You can download a free 30 day trial here.
Does anyone know of an easy to use drawing program for Mac? It can either be open source or something with a trial.
It depends too much on what you want to do. There are a number of programs that you can use to "draw". The question is do you need a bitmap program (pixel based) or a vector graphics (scalable) program.
ReplyDeleteIn the first category you have Photoshop or Gimp which is the open source alternative. With Gimp you can use pencil or brush mode to draw but you can also draw "vector graphics" in pen mode, The difference is: bitmap graphics are not scalable, in other words whatever resolution you draw at, that is it (you can scale it down but not up or you lose a lot of quality. But in most cases that is OK (to draw at the needed resolution to begin with.)
It is usually easier to draw or paint in bitmap mode because it is a more forgiving, usually "freehand" medium, while SVG requires a little more careful planning in general (more like technical drawing, although you can use it freehand as well)
Vector graphics means that you draw with lines that are not really bitmaps but rather mathematical descriptions of, for example, a curve, circle, etc. The are also called SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)because they are "resolution independent", so you can enlarge them to your heart (and eye) content even to large mural size and they will retain maximum resolution since they are simply mathematical descriptions of whatever you drew.
So, without knowing what you need to do, Gimp would be my first choice. But if you want a really simple bare-bones program to draw or sketch or even do animation there are other options like the free PENCIL, which is available for PC and Mac and is both bitmap and vector capable.
I second GIMP. I've found it very easy to use.
ReplyDeleteAnother option is using Illustrator or Photoshop in one of the labs.