need help finding a gfx prog for drawing experiment paradigm

Post by **[xeno]Julios** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 1:04 am

writing up a paper and wanna be able to create images like this:

I could use paint, but that's tedious. Would powerpoint be a good way to do it? (can u export the slides into jpeg or something?)

also needs to be free and simple and not bloatware.

tx

Post by **SOAPboy** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 1:05 am

Gimp

http://www.gimp.org/

Post by **[xeno]Julios** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 1:07 am

thanks man

Post by **SOAPboy** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 1:11 am

No problem.. Think of it as generic photoshop

Post by **[xeno]Julios** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 1:13 am

just installed it - looks solid. I love these open source things - i use openoffice too

Post by **[xeno]Julios** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 2:04 am

hmm - seems like it's primarily an image manipulation progy, not a painting progy. Means you have to do some weird indirect things to make a simple square or rectangle.

Also, how would i align things precisely?

like say i just wanna make an image like this:

http://img113.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... ent5js.jpg

in fact, the image i wanna create is very similar.

I want to be able to create squares, and create copies of them which are perfectly aligned along vertical and horizontal axes. I also want to be able to create fixation crosses which are perfectly centred between the squares, etc.

ok i think i figured out how to align - there's a coordinate system which i could use. With the help of a calculator i can align things in a centred fashion. But creating simple squares and shapes seems hard...

Post by **[xeno]Julios** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 2:12 am

ok i figured out how to create a rectangle. Now how do i select just that rectangle?

i'm beginning to think this isn't the program for this purpose...

though i will definitely keep it since it looks quite powerful for other things.

Post by **Pext** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 2:27 am

you're right. bitmap editing is just crap for what you want to do. instead, you need a vector based cad programm like adobe illustrator. misfortunately, i don't know a free alternative

Post by **Pext** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 2:32 am

as it got me interrested myself, i googled for you:

http://vinterstille.dk/free-alternative ... e-software

The vector graphics market is more or less “owned” by Adobe Illustrator. Macromedias Freehand and Corels Draw are a long way behind. (Even though I’ve found Corel to invent all the new sleek features only to be ripped off by Adobe an Illustrator release later?). *BUT * you could consider switching to Inkscape for a rapidly evolving vector app with a W3C compliant SVG file format. Of course it’s not yet at the same level that Adobe Illustrator is, but it’s gaining ground.

http://inkscape.org/

Post by **[xeno]Julios** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:01 am

tx pext looks promising

i've just emailed my supervisor asking what he uses.

Post by **FragaGeddon** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:28 am

[xeno]Julios wrote:tx pext looks promising

i've just emailed my supervisor asking what he uses.

Pen & paper most likely.

Post by **a13n** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:14 am

Excel without doubt.