More Free Art Tools

Two top quality free digital art tools for you to play with:

1. Vue 6. This is a free version of the software I use to create most of my stuff. It can do pretty much everything the full version does except that I think it adds a watermark to the final render. It specialises in 3D terrains and landscapes though you can do just about anything with it. It's called a Personal Learning Edition and can be downloaded here.



2. Google Sketchup. This is a really addictive program for creating illustrations and diagrams - it's really geared for more technical illustration or for architectural drawings, but again, you can have a lot of fun just doodling with it. Apparently some people use it for art therapy! Download from here.

With its more architectural hat on, one possible use for Sketchup is to plan the use of a worship space - to try to visualise how things will be laid out - could be really useful if you're planning something complex.

Here's a Google Sketchup diagram I drew of the house my parents live in - I managed it after watching 2 video tutorials lasting just 30 mins in total!

It may be at some point in the future worth gathering together anyone who's keen to learn the basics of 3D art ... interested?

by Richard Lyall