   Graphics generating software
  I''m new to programming in DirectX (Using directX 8)I''m looking for suggestions for good, free, graphics-generating software that will run on Windows 98. As I see it there are two types of images to be created...1) 2D images: Sprites, textures, custom fonts/icons/cursors, etc.2) 3D images: I guess this is really just meshes? (I think I''d be interested in something that generates .X files, please correct me if that doesn''t make sense.)For my current project I am interested more in 2D image generation than 3D (I want to crawl before I run!)Any suggestions/comments? 
  For 2d images u should try www.gimp.org - possibly the best free photoshop replacement.Don''t know about 3d though... ;  Last time I tried Gimp (about 2 years ago) I found the user interface to be really non-intuitive. But maybe I''ll revisit it. A lot can change in two years... ;  The Gimp has a bit of an unconventional interface to those that are used to windows-style interfaces but i''ve found that once I got used to the different interface, it was just as intuitive as any other program.  And of course, it''s free. ;  The best free 3D editor is GMax created by discreet (the same people who made 3D Studio Max). ;quote:Original post by TreborZehn  Last time I tried Gimp (about 2 years ago) I found the user interface to be really non-intuitive. But maybe I''ll revisit it. A lot can change in two years...   The UI in the stable branch of gimp hasn''t changed much in the last two years, but the UI in the development branch could be considered more user friendly. The development branch is about to be made the new stable branch, so it doesn''t really contain that many bugs right now. In other words, is pretty usable as it is now. ;  Thanks for the info guys. I think it''s interesting how much is available for free. For example I am currently using Borland''s free command line compiler and although it''s only command line ( No IDE?) it''s worked fine for the basic stuff I''m doing right now (just learning.)It''s encouraging to hear that when the time comes to make some 3D models (and good 2D textures) I have a free alternative for that as well.Thanks again. ;  Also if you are student for a relatively large university you are offered many other useful applications. First off microsoft has a program called MSDNAA (miscrosoft developement network academic alliance) which offers lots of free software. Windows XP Pro, MSDN, Visual Studio, Visual NET 2k3, etc... ;  No. I''m an "old man" I graduated 4 years ago.  