Thank you all for your great suggestions. I mentioned MS due to the fact that this is what I would have available for my project through school. On the other hand, I am running Gentoo on my home system, yet, I don't have any experience with the tools recommended. I am looking forward working with Gimp. I do have another small question, do these tools (GIMP etc..) interact with any Windows based programs (alike OpenOffice)?

Dave


On Sunday, December 04, 2005  5:42 PM, Erick Stohr wrote:
>
>Date: Sun, 4 Dec 2005 15:42:58 -0800 (PST)
>From: Erick Stohr
>To: Kraig Jones <jkjones at tcq.net>, tclug-list at mn-linux.org
>Subject: Re: [tclug-list] OT: Software recommendation
>
>Are you running Linux? I would assume you are because like Kraig said you posted this to the TCLUG, which is a Linux list, not a Windows OT recommendation list. I believe Kraig covered the topic well, OpenOffice is a good option for a slide show type presentation, although somewhat resource intensive on your system, once up and running can do pretty much along with The GIMP what you are looking for. If you check out Freshmeat I remember seeing an interface implemented much like Adobe PhotoShop, or more like it if you are not comfortable with The GIMP straight up.
>
>Kraig Jones <jkjones at tcq.net> wrote: Dave Alanis wrote:
>
>>I am involved in a school project that it will involve creating a virtual image (or projection). It will involve having several layers or pieces of imagery. It will actually be putting together a data-center structure. The first thing that comes to mind is utilizing (MS Project and or VISIO) some type of autocad program, even Powerpoint. I don't have much experience with this type of software, is there any recommendations out there, that may help?
>>
>>I would like to make a presentation as realistic as possible.
>>
>>
>>Thank you,
>>
>>Dave
>>
>>
>>
>Hi Dave,
>
>Since you asked on the TC-LUG list, I assume you're looking for Linux
>and open-source software?  You mention Visio and Powerpoint -- you may
>be interested in OpenOffice (www.openoffice.org).  OpenOffice.org's
>"Impress" is a presentation program like Powerpoint.  You could use it
>to put together a slide presentation.  You can add the graphics for your
>slides with the few simple drawing tools in Impress.  And you can use
>the OpenOffice "Draw" for more powerful tools and special effects.
>
>For photographic images, and layered images, you could use The GIMP, an
>image manipulation program.  It's a little harder to learn than
>OpenOffice's drawing program, but it's powerful and has tools for lots
>of special effects.
>
>If you're making your own graphics by drawing, there's Inkscape
>(www.inkscape.org).  It's a lot like the OpenOffice Draw, but maybe a
>little easier to use for some kinds of drawings.
>
>If you're really ambitious, there are programs like Blender
>(www.blender3d.org).  With Blender, you can make realistic, animated 3-D
>graphics.  But it has quite a steep learning curve -- not recommended if
>your project is due Monday.
>
>Kraig
>
>
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>
>
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