Software

Some of our tools require design or operating software to use. The following free or open source software is available online. Note that many of these products offer enhanced, paid premium versions.

2D Drawing

• ImageR
  • online tool for preparing images for lasering –
  • downloadable offline tool for preparing images for lasering – ,
• Inkscape – , ,
  • extensions – , ,
  • export-to-SCAL plugins (for use with SCAL, the vinyl cutter software) – ,
• LightBurn (for the laser cutter/engravers; trial version available) – , ,
• xTool Creative Space (for the Xtool D1 Pro laser cutter/engraver) – , ,

See also Classroom Software – 2D and 3D

3D Printing / CAD/CAM/CNC

Desktop Apps

• OpenSCAD – , ,
• Fusion 360 (free for students/makers; cloud-based) – , ,
• Blender – , ,
• SketchUp – ,
  • downloads
  • older versions

Browser-based

• TinkerCAD –
• OnShape –
• Orchard –

Control Software

• RDWorks (for the large laser cutter/engraver)
• ThunderLaser (for the large laser cutter/engraver) –
• LaserWorks (for the large laser cutter/engraver) –
• LightBurn (for the large and small laser cutter/engravers; trial version available) – , ,
• Repetier Host (for the 3D printers) – , ,
• Mach3 (for the CNC router) – free “demo” mode –
• SCAL Pro (for the vinyl cutter) – free “trial” mode  – ,,
  • export-to-SCAL plugins – for use with Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw or InkScape
• xTool Creative Space (for the small laser cutter/engraver) – , ,

See also Classroom Software – 2D and 3D

Audio /  Video Production

Audio Production

• Audacity – , ,
• Ardour – (sort of “free”) – , ,

See also Classroom Software – Audio/Video Playback and Production

Video Production

• DaVinci Resolve – , ,
• Fusion Studio – , ,
• Lightworks
• DVDStyler – , ,
• Windows Movie Maker –

See also Classroom Software – Audio/Video Playback and Production

Electronics

• Arduino – , ,
• BeagleBone
• Raspberry Pi – , ,

See also Classroom Software – Electronics, Arduino and Raspberry Pi

Image Processing

• GIMP – open source graphics manipulation package (compare to Adobe Photoshop) – , ,
  • GIMP plugins – for use with GIMP (OpenSCAD, etc)
• ImageR
  • online tool for preparing images for lasering –
  • downloadable offline tool for preparing images for lasering – ,
• Inkscape – , ,
  • extensions – , ,
• Krita – free painting program similar to GIMP, Adobe Photoshop, etc – , ,
• Light Image Resizer – fast and easy image resizer (handy to quickly downsize photos for web publishing, etc) –

See also Classsroom Software – Graphics and Animation