Alternatives to Adobe Software

Adobe software is made accessible on Wellesley campus computers only and is not available for use on student's personal computers.

Students who want to access to Adobe applications on their personal computers have two options available to them. Students can purchase the Adobe Creative Suite for a discounted price through eAcademy. Students can also take advantage of the month-to-month Adobe “Creative Cloud” service (be sure to select the Student/Teacher edition for better pricing).

When Adobe is not a course requirement, students requiring access to pdf, image, audio, and video solutions can make use of open source software available free of charge or low cost software applications available for student purchase through the respective vendor (see list below).

Multimedia Project

licensed Adobe Software

Free/OPen Source SoftwarE

Low Cost Software

if you want to...

 try using...

or  try using...

or try ...
  • edit a photograph
  • add text to a photograph
  • add special filter effect

Photoshop
Gimp (WIN/MAC)

 
  • design a research poster
  • design vector graphics
  • create a digital drawing
  • create a digital painting
  • trace a bitmap

Illustrator            

InkScape (WIN/MAC)

 
  • design a research poster
  • create page/booklet/magazine layout
  • desktop/web publishing
  • creating interactive pdfs for iPads and other Mobile devices

InDesign

Scribus

 
  • create a pdf from scanner or by combining multiple pdf files
  • create editable forms
  • create interactive pdfs for iPads and other Mobile devices
  • edit pdf file (delete, add, insert, rotate, crop pages)
  • save as searchable pdf
  • run OCR (optical character recognition) and save pdf as editable Word or Spreadsheet documents
  • print pdf file

Acrobat Pro

Scribus

 
  • web design (wysiwyg)
  • create/edit existing HTML
  • embed HTML 5 audio/ video

Dreamweaver

BlueGriffon
NvU
Ruul (pixel measuring tool)

 
  • web based graphic
  • web based animation
  • animate primitive shapes

Flash, Fireworks

AnimationPackage
Silex (Mac Only)

 
  • edit a video
  • capture clips from a dvd
  • export & share video

Premiere Pro

Avidmux (editor)
WeVideo on Google Drive (editor)
Handbrake (video transcoder)

 
  • video compositing
  • create an audio project
  • Media and asset management

After Effects

Jahshaka 3.0

 
  • record audio
  • create an audio project
  • edit/optimize audio

Audition

Audacity

 
  • record a computer screen
  • capture a DVD screenshot
  • create a screen cast for software demonstration

Captivate

QuickTime
CaptureMe (screen capture, control selection, save as tiff,)
Skitch  
AwesomeCapture (capture, annotate, share; iOS only)

Ice Cream Screen Recorder (screen record, markup. OS X, Windows)

SnagIt