Some selected shareware programs
Purpose
This page is a list of some very useful utilities for web programmers.
They are all shareware, which means you can try before you buy. If
you like these programs (and you probably will) you will probably want
to send in the registration fee for them.
So far all programs are for Win '95 / NT, but if you have some
suggestions for other platforms, let me know and I will add them to
the list as well.
Getting the software
Since these programs are designed for the PC, and we are serving our
pages on a unix platform, it would seem difficult to use them, but
that is not the case. When you are using a PC with an internet
connection, shift click on the link to download the file as a binary
file. You will then need to unzip the file with winZip or some other
unzipping software. Winzip will automate the installing process for
you in most cases.
Using the software
Most of these programs allow you some form of graphic editing best
done on the PC. Get all the files you need stored on the local
machine, then go crazy editing the files. When you have used the
program to create the file you want, use an FTP program to return the
files to your klingon/DS9 account.
The files
- WinZip
Win Zip. A utility that unpacks files downloaded from the
internet. You will need this program to open and install the
others. If you have trouble downloading it from here (some
browsers do not allow executable files to be downloaded) go to
www.shareware.com, and download it from there.
- Paint Shop Pro 32
Kind of a "poor man's photoshop". Very nice graphic editor.
This is an older version, but it does not commit suicide after a
number of days like the newer versions.
- The Gimp
Very powerful graphic editor. Absolutely free, but a beta version.
My personal favorite. This is the Windows version.
- Gif Construction Set
This is a TERRIFIC program! It allows you to convert many
different types of files into GIF format, create animated GIFS,
banners, and slide shows. The animated GIFs you create may be
HUGE, so don't go overboard, but there's some very nice
capability here
- Morpher
This lovely little program allows you to create a set of fluidly
morphed images, given two starter images. You can actually
create some spectacular effects with this.
- POV-RAY for windows
- An excellent 3D visualization tool. Does things that usually
require programs costing thousands of dollars...
POV-RAY documentation
- VRML Editor
a simple but powerful VRML creation tool. Allows you to make
simple VRML worlds with relative ease.
Example
As an example of what can be done with these programs, look at the
image below. It began as two pictures, one of myself, and one of my
daughter. I made 15 intermediate images with Morpher, then linked
them together with Gif Construction Set.
© Andy Harris
Indiana University / Purdue University, Indianapolis
email:
aharris@klingon.cs.iupui.edu
homepage: www.cs.iupui.edu/~aharris