Diagrams, Illustrations and drawings - What Good, Free Applications Are There?

We'll take a nice JPG diagram as long as the resolution is at leat 150 DPI and the image is at least 800 x 600 - larger is better.

Even better is a nice vector-based diagram that scales infinitely. We'll take AutoCad files in .dwg or .dxf format. Also there's the Adobe suite - Illustrator, Photoshop, Fireworks - we'll take diagrams in one of those formats. We'll take Canvas drawings as well.

Finally, there's the free Google SketchUp tool. You can download and use the tool for free, and as a bonus the 3D files can be manipulated and displayed in all their 3D glory with Google SketchUp.

In fact, if we could find someone who's good at Google SketchUp, we would be delighted and would like to talk about contracting that person to do work for hire for us with SketchUp. If you know SketchUp and would like to have your hobby maybe pay it's way somewhat, then please contact us!

I agree with Joe, Google Sketchup is a great tool - and cross platform to boot! Our Studio Art department even uses it for Architecture classes.

Joe, thanks for the information and advice.

Today I tried SmartDraw.  I have to say I was impressed with it but it's not free.  Within minutes of running the application I was able to draw what I wanted without reading any instructions or viewing any tutorials.  I like when software is that intuitive!  Now if it would only export to JPG without a attaching a $200 watermark... [wink]

I don't recall ever using AutoCad before.  I do use other CAD drawing programs for circuit schematics and blueprints/floor-plans.  The CAD application I use for schematics does not perform well when exporting to image files however, as you may have noticed Joe...?  I have used PhotoShop for drawing to a degree but I don't consider it ideal.  Illustrator is better but my older version of it does not want work with this Vista based 64 bit laptop so I have not used it in ages.

I've used Sketchup but I would not claim to be all that good with it!  It's a fun program but I have really only scratched the surface with it.  I did a few drawings for the article in question with Sketchup but it takes too long for me to achieve what I am after with the application.  I guess I need to spend more time with it and go through some tutorials.

Try Inkscape. Its ostensibly for UNIX/Linux but there is a windows version as well and it is a very nice package. There's also Gimp, another program that originated on Linux but the windows version is reasonably good. I use both of them fairly often.

Thanks for the tip jwhitten!

I've downloaded Inkscape and will be giving it a whirl today.

Google Sketchup...There are so many things about this program that I like and it is quite intuitive, but while I seem to make quantum leaps with some functions, I run into other road blocks that I can't seem to get past so far. I must be missing something...

Yesterday I used Sketchup to draw a simple 3D model of a section of a printed circuit board with a resistor mounted on the underside, component leads through the copper traces on the board, soldered in place.  It really wasn't hard to do until I wanted to draw lines around the body of the resistor to make the color bands etc.  There must be a way to easily draw on the surface of a cylinder that I've extruded from a circle but so far I haven't figured it out.

Sketchup's extrusion and path following tools are way cool!  They're what keep me plugging away trying to master the applications tools.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

I downloaded sketchup yesterday after reading this thread, but haven't had time to try it out.  There are a number of help videos, though, if you aren't already aware.  Not sure they'd help you in your current situation or not.

http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en_uk/training/videos/new_to_gsu.html 

Yes, I've watched a few tutorials which have helped me get to where I am with it.  I obviously need to watch some more and play with the tools a bit more to figure out what I am doing wrong. The potential for this program is incredible. It's really a great app.

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

Like BlueHillsCPR (Kevin) I too have been playing with the Goggle Sketch all mourning and will need more training as I thought I was doing good until I tied my sketch into a weird Knot. Up to that point I was doing really good and I'm still not sure what I did wrong so it's back to the study hall for me and Goggle sketch.

Everybody should try it just for fun if for no other reason.

Dan

I've started goofing around with it. I can see lots of applications down the road.  Now, to finish what I already have on the go.

Blue the answer in Sketchup for doing what you are trying to do is to use an image and wrap it around the cylinder. Doing that's pretty easy in Sketchup.