Home


Home
Help
Portfolio
Tools
Tutorials
Students
Chat

News
The following links provide access to valuable tools for you to use while developing your portfolio. Many of these products are available for download as shareware or demo versions. Shareware versions generally allow you to use the product for a limited time, after which you are asked to pay a registration fee (even though in many cases you can still use the program). Demo versions are also referred to as trial or evaluation versions and usually either have limited features or expire after a certain period (which usually means you can't use it any more). Prices vary greatly, so you're sure to find something with the features you want at the price you need.

General Computer

  • Norton AntiVirus - If you're not already running Norton, then go get your free copy from Virginia Tech. Otherwise, it's only a matter of time before your computer becomes infected with a virus.
  • WinZip - A great Windows utility that compresses and decompresses files so they take up less space and can be transmitted faster. You'll need this if you ever download a file with the extension ".zip".
  • Aladdin Expander - Another Windows decompression utility. This one even handles Mac-based Stuffit (.sit) and Binhex (.hqx) files.
  • Stuffit Expander for Macintosh - Decompression utility for Mac users.
  • WS_FTP - FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol and simply allows for the transfer of files over the Internet. This is a Windows utility. Be sure to choose the WS_FTP LE version.
  • Fetch - This is the popular Macintosh FTP utility.
  • SnagIt - Provides Windows users with an easy way to do screen captures. Very flexible.
  • Snapz Pro - Popular screen capture utility for the Macintosh. Trial version available.

Web Browsers - Allow you to access content on the World Wide Web. Some prefer Communicator, some prefer Explorer - take your pick. You also may need to upgrade periodically.

Browser Plug-ins - Plug-ins extend the capabilities of your browser by allowing you to hear audio clips, view video clips, and access other interactive content on the web. All plug-ins are free for downloading.

  • RealPlayer - Streaming audio and video without the long download times - a must-have! Also works with MP3s.
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader - The Acrobat Reader allows you to view, navigate, and print PDF files across all major computing platforms.
  • QuickTime - Allows viewing of QuickTime audio, video, and virtual reality files.
  • Macromedia Shockwave - Lets you view high-quality, streaming content created by Director and Flash.
  • Authorware Web Player - Allows you to view web applications developed with Authorware.
  • HyperStudio Plug-in - This plug-in lets you view programs created with HyperStudio, a multimedia authoring tool used a great deal by educators.

Web Design

  • FrontPage - An easy to use tool for creating and managing web sites. There's no free demo currently available, but this site will give you lots of information about the product.
  • Dreamweaver - Popular web site creation tool. Trial version available.
  • Adobe GoLive - Advanced web creation software from the folks at Adobe. They usually have a trial version available.
  • NetObjects Fusion - This is an advanced web site creation tool that allows you to incorporate dynamic HTML in your pages. Trial version available.
  • Fireworks - This program allows you to edit images, optimize files, slice images, create mouseovers, and animate GIFs. Use it to add advanced features to your web pages. Available for Mac and Windows. Trial version available.
  • Flash - Flash is widely used to create flashy effects and advanced interactivity on web sites. Mac and Windows versions available. If you need a challenge then give their trial version a try.
  • NetStudio - Great Windows program that allows you to easily and quickly create web graphics such as buttons, banners, and text. Trial version available.

Image Editing/Paint Programs

  • Adobe Photoshop - The most popular graphics program for Windows and Macintosh. If you can afford it, this is the one graphics program to have. Current versions also include ImageReady, which allows you to optimize files, as well as create slices, mouseovers, and animated GIFs. Tryout versions available.
  • Paint Shop Pro - Another popular Windows graphics program - similar to Photoshop but cheaper. Trial version available.
  • PhotoLine - Nice image editing program available for both Windows and Macintosh. Similar features to Photoshop. Shareware version available.
  • PhotoImpact - Another popular image editing program for Windows - this one also contains an assortment of features geared to web designers. Trial version available.
  • Ultimate Paint - Yet another really nice image editing program for Windows - this one is shareware, and there's also a freeware version.
  • PhotoStudio - Windows and Mac image editing program that features a large assortment of tools and effects. Trial version available, and the full version is reasonably priced.
  • The Gimp - Awesome Windows image editing program with Photoshop-like features. The difference is that The Gimp is free.
  • Rainbow Painter - Image editing program for the Macintosh. Shareware version available.

Other Graphics Programs - For optimizing files and creating animated GIFs, mouseovers, and buttons.

  • Clipart.com - Not really a "tool", but a good site to visit if you are looking for ready-made graphics for your web site.
  • GIF Construction Set - Windows program that allows you to create animated GIF files - like this:  gcsdem19.gif (21560 bytes)
  • GIF Builder - Popular program for creating animated GIF files on the Macintosh.
  • Graphic Workshop Professional - A graphics viewing and converting program for Windows. It converts images between many different formats. Shareware version available.
  • Imagery - A free graphics viewing and converting program for the Macintosh.
  • GraphicConverter - Another good graphic conversion program for the Macintosh, this one with some extra features.
  • Image Optimizer - This Windows program allows you to optimize the file sizes of the images you use on your web pages. This results in smaller file sizes and shorter download times. Trial version available.
  • SmartSaver Pro - Another Windows optimization program that also does image slicing and mouseovers. Trial version available.
  • Ignite - This Windows program optimizes images, but it also lets you create mouseovers and animated GIFs. Trial version available.
  • Xara 3D - This cool Windows program creates high-quality 3D graphics for your web pages, such as titles and buttons. Trial version available.
  • 3D Magic - Another Windows program for creating 3D titles for your web site. Trial version available.
  • Xara WebStyle - This is a template-based utility for creating web graphics such as custom buttons, banners, bullets, dividers, backgrounds and 2D and 3D headings. Trial version available.
  • Applet Button Factory - This Windows program creates Java buttons and mouseovers without learning Java programming. Shareware version available.
  • Button Artist - Simple Windows program for creating simple buttons. Free to download.
  • Buttons - Cool Macintosh program that enables you to easily create buttons and backgrounds for your web pages. Shareware version available.

Sound Recording and Editing

  • Sound Forge XP - Excellent Windows program for recording and editing sound files. This is a lower-priced personal version of the full-featured Sound Forge program. Demo available.
  • Sound Edit 16 - Popular Macintosh program for recoding and editing sound files.
  • Cool Edit - Syntrillium has several versions of this Windows audio editing program at varying prices. Shareware version available.
  • SndSampler - Great, inexpensive sound recording and editing program for the Macintosh. Shareware version available.
  • Sound Studio - Another good shareware sound editing program for the Macintosh.

Electronic Presentations

  • PowerPoint - Widely used presentation tool from Microsoft.

Instructional Design and Development

  • Designer's Edge - Designer's Edge is an integrated software package that leads you through the Instructional Design process. It helps you write goals and objectives, generate forms and reports, and generate storyboards. The site allows you to download an evaluation copy to try out. Windows only.
  • Hot Potatoes - This is a great utility that generates interactive online quizzes - including multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and others.
  • Visio - This is a full-featured program for creating flowcharts, technical drawings, and numerous other diagrams. It's very useful for instructional design. Trial version available. Full version reasonable priced at JourneyEd.com.
  • Inspiration - This diagramming program is used by many educators to help students develop ideas and organize thinking. It also works great for flowcharts and instructional analyses.
  • Authorware - Macromedia product for creating multi-media training and learning applications.
  • Director - Another Macromedia product, this one for combining graphics, sound, animation, text, and video to create multi-user, interactive content.
  • HyperStudio - Popular presentation tool, with advanced features that enable you to create interactive learning applications.

Warhol