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Photoshop alternative
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Mac Elite
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Feb 11, 2007, 06:50 AM
 
My needs are very simple. I am creating geometric patterns as part of an art project. All I need for this is a grid and the line tool.

But damn. Photoshop is a freaking headache. Locked layers, opaque layers, a million different over-complex settings I don't understand.

Why isn't there a graphics program somewhere between MacPaint and Photoshop?
     
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Feb 11, 2007, 07:16 AM
 
Try ChocoFlop or GIMP

Chocoflop is probably more to your needs and is fast too.
     
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Feb 11, 2007, 08:12 AM
 
How about Photoshop Elements?
     
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Feb 11, 2007, 09:45 AM
 
Maybe Seashore? Seashore - Preview

Warning, it's in beta, so save often...or don't use it at all possibly, depending how much is at stake.
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cgc
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Feb 11, 2007, 10:41 AM
 
Maybe Graphics Converter?
     
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Feb 11, 2007, 10:47 AM
 
it annoys me how all the Photoshop Alternatives are Photoshop Clones.
we don't have time to stop for gas
     
zro
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Feb 11, 2007, 10:51 AM
 
     
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Feb 11, 2007, 11:35 AM
 
Sketch is a *very* simple drawing program. It's included free in OS X as a part of the developer tools.

Hard Drive > Developer > Applications > Utilities > Build Examples > Sketch
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Feb 11, 2007, 11:56 AM
 
Originally Posted by slpdLoad View Post
Sketch is a *very* simple drawing program. It's included free in OS X as a part of the developer tools.

Hard Drive > Developer > Applications > Utilities > Build Examples > Sketch
You know, it's a shame that Sketch is as close as you can get to a simple drawing application. All others are way too bloated. Whatever happened to MacDraw Pro from the OS 9 days?? Now there was a great drawing program! I would play with that all day as a kid...
     
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Feb 11, 2007, 12:44 PM
 
OK, slightly off-topic, but since this is in the Lounge and not Apps...

Originally Posted by Tiresias View Post
My needs are very simple. I am creating geometric patterns as part of an art project. All I need for this is a grid and the line tool.

But damn. Photoshop is a freaking headache. Locked layers, opaque layers, a million different over-complex settings I don't understand.

Why isn't there a graphics program somewhere between MacPaint and Photoshop?
I get that with mobile phones. Like, tried to buy my mom one the other week. No, I don't want one with a camera. No, I don't want one with a zillion ring tone. No, I don't want one with Internet access. I just want a sturdy basic phone with largish buttons that a mature woman with no interest in geek paraphernalia can use as a phone. Can I get one? No. Everything's got to be whizz-bang, even at the lower end of the market, because that's what the bean-counters say will sell product.
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Feb 11, 2007, 01:12 PM
 
Originally Posted by slpdLoad View Post
Sketch is a *very* simple drawing program. It's included free in OS X as a part of the developer tools.

Hard Drive > Developer > Applications > Utilities > Build Examples > Sketch
Hmm, mine was located (source-only, had to build it) at /Developer/Examples/AppKit/Sketch.

And not to spill the beans on it, but I've been developing something fairly similar to this on my own for about a month or two now (GPL, of course). I'd expect a pre-alpha release before summer (time permitting; this semester has been kicking my ass). Mine is a bit more MSPaint-esque, in that lines/shapes/etc don't maintain their individuality; they become part of the image and can't be dragged around or resized or anything.

Any ramblings are entirely my own, and do not represent those of my employers, coworkers, friends, or species
     
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Feb 11, 2007, 02:00 PM
 
Originally Posted by Doofy View Post
OK, slightly off-topic, but since this is in the Lounge and not Apps...

I get that with mobile phones. Like, tried to buy my mom one the other week. No, I don't want one with a camera. No, I don't want one with a zillion ring tone. No, I don't want one with Internet access. I just want a sturdy basic phone with largish buttons that a mature woman with no interest in geek paraphernalia can use as a phone. Can I get one? No. Everything's got to be whizz-bang, even at the lower end of the market, because that's what the bean-counters say will sell product.
Let me know when you find that phone because I want one for myself. I have been eyeballing the phones meant for kids.

I am looking at this one: Firefly Mobile: The Mobile Phone for Mobile Kids

     
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Feb 11, 2007, 03:46 PM
 
RE: simple phones
Is there nothing available in the USA like the 'Simply' range of phones that Vodafone have in the UK?

These are mobile phones designed for people who ether don't want, or plain can't cope with all the complex stuff that's been added to most handsets. No Camera, NO Multimedia Messaging, NO WAP, NO Internet. Just voice and text.
(Last edited by Mediaman_12; Feb 11, 2007 at 03:53 PM. )
     
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Feb 11, 2007, 05:46 PM
 
Originally Posted by Mediaman_12 View Post
RE: simple phones
Is there nothing available in the USA like the Simply' range of phones that Vodafone have in the UK?
These are mobile phones designed for people who ether don't want, or plain can't cope with all the complex stuff that's been added to most handsets. No Camera, NO Multimedia Messaging, NO WAP, NO Internet. Just voice and text.
Any idea if those phones can be made to work with O2? Only coverage the old dear can get.
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That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
     
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Feb 11, 2007, 05:48 PM
 
my samsung (the super slim, non-slidey one) is a nice easy, just a phone phone.
we don't have time to stop for gas
     
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Feb 11, 2007, 06:02 PM
 
Originally Posted by Peter View Post
my samsung (the super slim, non-slidey one) is a nice easy, just a phone phone.
Model?
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Feb 11, 2007, 06:09 PM
 
we don't have time to stop for gas
     
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Feb 11, 2007, 06:20 PM
 
Cheers for the info.

The inside of her handbag would kill that in about five minutes though.
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That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
     
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Feb 11, 2007, 06:33 PM
 
There's a ton of simple phones out there...

Nokia 3120 or lower (2652, 2651, 2300... a 10's of others), Sony Ericsson J-series or the low K-models like the K220. Others probably offer a ton of simple phones as well...

You don't HAVE to get a phone from O2, you can get your own.. All of those phones are probably pretty cheap.

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Feb 11, 2007, 06:46 PM
 
Originally Posted by Goldfinger View Post
There's a ton of simple phones out there...
No there isn't. Not ones which work with O2.

Originally Posted by Goldfinger View Post
Nokia 3120 or lower (2652, 2651, 2300... a 10's of others), Sony Ericsson J-series or the low K-models like the K220. Others probably offer a ton of simple phones as well...
No, you're not understanding. Even something which you think is simple (like a K310i, which I've tried her with) is far too complex. Buttons on the side of the thing is a no no, for starters.

Originally Posted by Goldfinger View Post
You don't HAVE to get a phone from O2, you can get your own.. All of those phones are probably pretty cheap.
I wasn't saying I want to get one from 02 - I was asking if they work with 02. Some phones are locked to particular service providers, yes?
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Feb 12, 2007, 12:54 AM
 
Buttons on the side of the thing is a no no, for starters.
Sounds like she needs a phone that's a plastic rectangle with only one button: "Call Doofy."
     
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Feb 12, 2007, 05:28 AM
 
Originally Posted by Tiresias View Post
Sounds like she needs a phone that's a plastic rectangle with only one button: "Call Doofy."
Yep. And that button must be protected from being pressed while the thing is in the depths of her handbag. I don't know what's going on in there because the bottom of a woman's handbag is a scary thing, but the handbag gnomes have called me a few times (even with the keylock supposedly on).
Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
     
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Feb 12, 2007, 05:51 AM
 
TheoCryst: I'd be very interested in that app. The main thing I like paint for is that you can just stick an image in and draw all over it, or in my world 'annotate'.

Doofy: eBay > Nokia 3510. Just fixed three of these for my brother in law, some of the buttons were very unresponsive, took them all apart (6 hex screws and some clips) cleaned the button contacts and they're as good as new.
     
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Feb 12, 2007, 06:37 AM
 
Originally Posted by Doofy View Post
Yep. And that button must be protected from being pressed while the thing is in the depths of her handbag. I don't know what's going on in there because the bottom of a woman's handbag is a scary thing, but the handbag gnomes have called me a few times (even with the keylock supposedly on).
Yeah before I went with the clam shell design I used to pocket dial.

I know a guy that did that once while he was at a girls house making moves on her. He accidentally pocket dialed his girlfriend.
     
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Feb 12, 2007, 09:58 AM
 
Originally Posted by Kevin View Post
I know a guy that did that once while he was at a girls house making moves on her. He accidentally pocket dialed his girlfriend.
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That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
     
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Feb 12, 2007, 10:57 AM
 
Originally Posted by Kevin View Post
Yeah before I went with the clam shell design I used to pocket dial.

I know a guy that did that once while he was at a girls house making moves on her. He accidentally pocket dialed his girlfriend.
I had a friend who's phone sat perfectly in his pocket that it pressed the button to speed dial me nearly everytime he got in his truck. I often got to hear his awesome [monotone] signing along [at the top of his lungs] with his radio.

I saved some of them and when we were alone I replayed them for him. He now is better with his keylock.
     
   
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