Software I use and recommend

I currently use the expensive versions of software for all my creative stuff, simply because it is worth it.

I'm not saying you need to rush out and buy this stuff, but I just want to let you know that expensive is often better.

So I use...

• Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, etc) for any printable documents including pdfs, or any accounting, record-keeping, databases, etc.
• Macromedia suite (Dreamweaver, Flash, Fireworks - recently all bought out by the company Adobe) for website stuff, animations and picture creation

The Macromedia suite in particular is awesome if you want to get into some very serious web and picture editing.

These programs cost US$400 to US$1000.

Free software

Everything below is FREE

You can usually do a lot of stuff with free software from the internet.

It might be a little more frustrating or slower to use if you want to do complex stuff, but if you are just starting to acquire skills in this area, or only need to do simple stuff, then the free programs are the way to go.

The programs that are already on your computer when you first buy it are usually not good enough for serious professional marketing.

So try these instead...

Picture creation and manipulation:

Gimp picture editor

I have used this, and it is fairly good.

Website design

Sound manipulation:

WavePad

I use this program whenever I am recording or manipulating sound.

MixPad

You can mix a number of sounds together using this program. You can layer songs, voices, sound effects etc into one sound file.

CD ROM creation :

Quick Menu Builder

I use this free program to make CD ROM title screens. You know, the special little box that appears automatically on the screen when you put the CD in the drive. Then the user doesn't have to open Windows Explorer and search for the right file to load to start your CD ROM - it all happens automatically. Click the button for an example of a start-up screen.     This program actually generates VERY professional looking start-up screens for CD ROMS. Useful if you are creating and selling your own CD ROM material like: educational courses software pictures and videos etc... Basically, just copy all your CD ROM files to a new folder. Create a start-up screen with this program, and save it in the same folder. Burn it all to a blank CD. Bingo. Easy as that.

PDF file creation

Thousands of other programs

If you need something else, here's what you do...

Go to Download.com

I use this site all the time.

Type the kind of program you are looking for in the Search box - for example, web page maker, or picture creator.

You will get a long list of programs that you can download to do what you want.

However, not all of them are free - most are paid versions.

So, look for the filter boxes at the top of the list of search results.

Simply change the "license type" from "All licenses" to "Free"

Click the "Filter" button.

The list will change to show only those programs that are free.

The free programs are usually small programs created by companies to get you interested in their larger paid version.

Or they are created by students, or programmers trying to start their own small business.

But they often do the job quite well.

It usually takes a few hours to sort through all your options and try out the different programs until you find one that is actually good.

Then you are all set - you have your free program.