Editing

Pinta

Pinta is a cross-platform image editing program. There are plenty of free image editors available. Pinta’s advantage is it is light on the system. In spite of its many features, the program can run on older pieces of hardware. The software has a plethora of drawing tools. You can make everything from basic shapes to complex polygons. You can use layers for intricate images.

NeoOffice

NeoOffice is a full featured free office suite. The main applications are the Writer word processor; Base, the database component; Draw, for creating graphics; Impress (presentation) and Calc, for making spreadsheets. Each application is feature packed. Calc has many features comparable to commercial products. You can add formulas and use basic and advanced functions. Some of its more impressive features are the Intelligent Sum Button, Natural Language formulas and Advanced DataPilot technology. Writer has all the features you would expect from full-featured word processors like formatting, bibliographical references and indexing. You can create tables of contents and many more.

Pic Stitch

Pic Stitch is a photography app for the iPad and iPhone. Developed by Big Blue Clip LLC, it is used for combining (stitching) several images into one framed photo. The app’s interface makes it very easy to learn and use. Even if you are not a pro, it is very easy to create works of art. The app can be used to make a photographic series, combining your favorite pictures and producing a before-and-after sequence. While the program’s goal is simple, it has many features. Pic Stitch allows for high resolution export and can be saved into albums.

Snowmix

Snowmix has many functions, but it is essentially a computer software that allows you to mix recorded and live video feeds. The program was developed by Peter Maersk-Moller and the Copenhagen Suborbitals StreamTeam. The project came about because existing Linux video encoders didn’t have the features the developers wanted, namely to combine several video streams and graphics, text and video overlaying.

Notepad ++

Windows has undergone numerous changes, but no improvement has been done for Notepad. Fortunately, there is Notepad++, a freeware substitute. The software is designed for programmers, but even casual users will benefit from it. The easiest way to describe Notepad++ is as a combination of WordPad and Notepad. But it isn’t exactly a clone of both. One of its most important features is support for multiple tabs. When using Notepad++, you’ll be able to work with several documents simultaneously. C programmers will appreciate its line remembering feature too.

123D Sculpt

Traditional sculpting is a difficult and messy business, but 123D Sculpt by Autodesk simplifies things a lot. Designed specifically for the iPad, it comes with a tutorial that will get you up to speed. You can create human heads, dinosaurs, birds and other complex shapes. There are tools for smoothening, pulling and pushing a model. Use your fingers to twist, pinch or swipe. These sculpting tools can be selected directly. You can sculpt the mesh or the model. Some creases appear on the reverse side. However, this really isn’t a problem because there is a symmetry mode.

Bean

Bean for Mac is a word processor that can handle basic writing tasks and a bit more. It doesn’t have as many features as full office suites. But it doesn’t take as much space either. Bean combines a beautiful interface with several helpful editing tools. Even better, it is very quick and doesn’t have the intricacies that come with office suite based word processors. The product has some limitations; it cannot display style sheets or footnotes; compatibility with Word is partial. However, it has plenty to offer. There is a grammar / spell checker, dictionary, change format font style, color, size and a live word count. The font manager makes it simple to organize and add favorites.