There are many wonderful tools out there to help unleash our creativity. Image editing, illustration, creating layouts all becomes very easy thanks to design software. Design software however can be quite expensive. But if you're interested in graphics design and want to learn basic digital design skills, freeware is the way to go!
Freeware is free software that has been created by some wonderful folks out there who believe that software code should be open source and freely available to all. Free software is by no means rudimentary and some freeware is just as versatile as many of the leading software design programmes.
Design and art materials can be a high investment activity. Running a professional graphic design studio, with all the peripherals such as printer ink, software, stationery and the latest gadgetry can run up pretty substantial bills. Professional designers invest in an up to date kit because it helps them keep up with the industry standards.
Most professional designers refrain from using alternative open source software simply because it is developed by independent developers, and has compatibility issues with other affiliated design tools. File formats are often the biggest issue when it comes to compatibility.
Open source software is an excellent idea, and a lot of freeware is highly versatile and able to do what industry standard software does. If you're interested in design and want to try your hand at it, it is certainly worthwhile trying to use open source software first.