47fa3bec$1@news.povray.org...
>I have decided that I need a new box that is totally dedicated to
> graphics of all descriptions (Don't ask why, that's just the way it's
> going to be). Ignoring the hardware 'cos we seem to have many
> discussions about that, what software do you consider a) essential, b)
> desirable and c) nice to have. Two requests - it must be FOSS and
> preferably at least in final stages of beta. No alphas please.
>

Nobody's answering so I may as well give some (obvious I guess) pointers.

1. Gimp for bitmap work
2. Inkscape for vector work
3. Blender for 3D (modelling/animation) work
4. Kerkythea for high-end rendering from Blender. It's freeware and closed 
source though. A second choice could be Indigo (also freeware and 
closed-source, but less mature)

You can of course add POV-Ray and Wings3D to the lot.

I don't think that there's a FOSS high-end renderer with a significant 
following right now (there are many dead, stillborn or fledgling projects of 
course). Yafray is FOSS but according to the Blender folks it's no longer 
actively developed and stuck forever in 0.0 Hell.

Apart POV-Ray, the only software I'm more or less familiar with is Wings3D 
(that I recommand) and the Gimp (that I dislike). I've tested Blender quite 
a few times and I've never been able to "get" it.

Inkscape and Kerkythea look fine : at least I could understand the basics of 
both programs, I could do stuff with them immediately and they didn't crash 
on the spot, which is already nice for non-IT-related FOSS projects.

None of those have the polish, general usability and feature-completeness 
(particularly in relation with production work) of their high-end commercial 
counterparts so be careful if you want to use them professionally. I'm not 
sure of the status of CYMK support in the Gimp for instance, so if you want 
to send stuff to a professional printer it could be painful.

G.


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