The document compares the open source programs Gimp and Inkscape to their commercial counterparts Photoshop and Illustrator. It notes that several images were made using only open source software and challenges the reader to identify which were which. It concludes that open source programs provide suitable tools for teaching entry-level college courses given their comparable quality to commercial software but free cost.

1. Gimp vs. Photoshop & Inkscape vs. Illustrator

2. Please study the images on the following slides closely. Can you tell which were made with an Adobe product and which were made with an Open Source option?

15. How did you do? Did you notice which were Open Source and which were Adobe?

16. The answers: None of them were made with any Adobe product Gimp/Gimp shop The first seven slides were all made using Gimp or Gimpshop. Both are Open Source alternatives to Photoshop. Inkscape The rest of the images were created using Inkscape. This is an Open Source alternative to Illustrator. If the end quality of product is comparable but the software is free. Does this not make an adequate argument that Open Source programs provide a suitable tool for teaching an entry level college course?

17. As an added testimony to Open Source, this presentation was made using Open Office Impress. An Open source alternative to Powerpoint which also has animation an web development tools built in.

18. ADOBE ICONS FROM ADOBE.COM INKSCAPE_OS_X BY ZALADQUIEL El GIMP AND CS4 BY zALADQUIEL SOAP BUBBLE BY HAM_BURGERX CHAIN ASSUAGED BY PAUL PODS BY PAUL PAGES BY PAUL BIRDS ON ROOF BY PAUL !!! BY PHOTOCOMIX SPACED OUT BY PHOTOCOMIX WELCOME… TO ALICE IN WONDERLAND BY PHOTOCOMIX GREEN WALLPAPER BY RORE NEXO MARIA BY NEXO 3D MODELS IN INKSCAPE BY PROKOUDINE Image credits: All photos are creative commons from Flickr.com except for 2 adobe icons