Portable applications have been known to be used
by the professional “on-the-go” for quite some time now. These
amazingly lightweight applications allow us to use them without the need
of installation. This makes them highly accessible and easy to use.
If you’re an on-the-go freelance web designer, then these useful and
popular applications that you can always take with you will be useful!
Below we’ve taken the time to compile 20 portable applications that we
feel should benefit designers one way or another.
Inkscape is an Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities
similar to Illustrator, CorelDraw, or Xara X, using the W3C standard
Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format. t is very easy to edit
nodes, perform complex path operations, trace bitmaps and much more. We
also aim to maintain a thriving user and developer community by using
open, community-oriented development.
GIMP is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely
distributed program for such tasks as photo retouching, image
composition and image authoring. GIMP is expandable and extensible. It
is designed to be augmented with plug-ins and extensions to do just
about anything. The advanced scripting interface allows everything from
the simplest task to the most complex image manipulation procedures to
be easily scripted.
PhotoFiltre is an image retouching application that lets you complete
an array of tasks ranging from simple to advanced. It’s extremely easy
to use and has a fast learning curve.
Artweaver is a simple painting application that allows you to record
all of your painting steps and replay them at a later time. It’s ideal
for creating detailed video tutorials. Artweaver also comes packaged
with several predefined brushes that let you configure each
individually. You’re also able to create new custom brushes and overall
simulate natural brush tools.
Blender is a free open source animation tool that allows you to
create 3D graphics and edit them as well. You’ll receive various useful
tools, while you’re able to control them through a fluid user interface.
This is essential for an application on-the-go.
The portable version of Cyberduck is easy to interact with and allows
you to manage and control the uploading of files to your website with
little or no issues. You’ll be able to carry this app around with you
everywhere you go, allowing you to upload any needed files while you’re
away from your work area.
Diagram Designer is a simple vector graphics editor that allows you
to create quick flowcharts, UML class diagrams, illustrations and more.
Designers can find this app useful for creating quick wireframes or
mock-ups.
This easy to use icon editor application lets you design and retouch
icons, cursors, animations, and static images. It’s an all-in-one icon
solution. It has multi-language support and works with ICO, CUR, ANI,
PNG, XPM, BMP, JPEG and GIF files.
If you’re on the go and can’t reach a notepad or text editor in time,
then use the reliable portable version of Nvu. It’s the complete web
authoring system that lets you swiftly edit your website while you’re on
the go.
SiteShoter is a small utility that allows you to save a screenshot of
any Web page into a file. It automatically creates hidden window of
Internet Explorer, loads the desired Web page, and than save the entire
content of the Web page into an image file (.png, .jpg, .tiff, .bmp or
.gif). You can also use SiteShoter to convert .html file on your local
drive into image file.
Because many clients like to use Word documents as a way to interact
with designers and send vital information such as web design contracts,
project details, and more. It was only fair that we add a portable Word
processing application that allows you to view, edit, manipulate, and
collaborate Word documents.
This program is an easy to use but powerful font manager, which
allows getting a quick overview of both installed and non installed
fonts. It can install and uninstall fonts, and organize them in
categories. Perfect for the designer who works with fonts on a regular
basis.
Although there are a variety of browsers that are great for
designers. The usual choice would be Firefox. The portable edition of
Firefox is a full-featured and powered web browser that has a wide-range
of improved features for a much better portable experience. A few other
portable browsers are
Google Chrome Portable
and
OperaUSB
XAMPP is an easy to install Apache distribution containing MySQL, PHP
and Perl. XAMPP is really very easy to install and to use – just
download, extract and start.
Oiko CSS comes with a visual editor that allows you to separate
definitions of structured documents such as HTML, XHTML, and XML from
their content so that you’re able to access and edit any CSS.
PicPick is an all-in-one software for software developers, graphic
designers and home user. It has an intuitive interface and simple,
elegant operation. After starting the software, you simply select one of
the tool from the PicPick Tools trayicon menu when you want.
MobaPhoto is a nice freeware for managing your digital photos.
MobaPhoto allows you to resize, crop, correct red-eyes of all your
pictures very easily in “batch-mode”. It allows you to create
automatically some beautiful photo galleries and upload them on your
website without having any knowledge in website creation.
ToDoList is a fee portable application that allows you to keep track
of tasks and freely manage your time. Tasklists are stored in XML format
so that your then able to view them in a wide range of ways such as
your desktop or on the web. This is a nifty tool for the freelance
designer who needs to have his/her memory refreshened once in a while.
As designers we’re constantly interchanging important files and
applications. What better way to compress your files with a
high-compression ratio then with this Windows based portable
application.
FontMatcher is a handy portable tool that lets you match a font based
on an image. Ideal for designers who use various fonts for a variety of
projects. It only supports TTF fonts, but it’s definitely effective and
worth the try.
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