1. GIMP
GIMP is often called ‘the free Photoshop‘. Some of its features are customizable interface, photo enhancement, digital retouching.
GIMP works under Linux, Microsoft Windows (XP, Vista), Mac OS X, Sun OpenSolaris and FreeBSD.

2. Paint.NET

Paint.NET is free photoshop alternative. It is free image and photo editing software for computers that run Windows.

3. Inkscape
Inkscape is an Adobe Illustrator alternative. It is an open source vector graphics editor using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format. It works under Mac OS X and Windows.

4. FlashDevelop
Maybe the best free adobe flash alternative. It works under Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Mac OS X/Linux compatible using virtualization software.

Next two suggestions are two web based application that could help you, too.

5. splashup

Splashup is a powerful editing tool and photo manager.

6. picnik
Another web-based application that makes your photos fabulous with easy to use yet powerful editing tools.

I hope you’ve found some useful free adobe alternative in the examples above. If you know another free adobe alternative, I’ll be very thankful to post a comment with information about it and I’ll include its info to the list.

Here are examples of blogs that have clear, simple and effective design:

1. Chris Brogan

URL: http://www.chrisbrogan.com/

2. Code it Well

URL: http://www.codeitwell.com/

3.  Dosh Dosh


URL: http://www.doshdosh.com/

4. Pro Blogger

URL: http://www.problogger.net/

5. Zen Habits

URL: http://zenhabits.net/

6. Read Write Web

URL: http://www.readwriteweb.com/

7. Smashing Magazine

URL: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/

8. Torrent Freak

URL: http://torrentfreak.com/

P.S. I hope you’ll like the list. If you know some other blog with clear, simple and effective design, please post a link to it as a comment and I’ll include it to the list

1. Hellozeto!

It’s a portfolio site. I like here the ability to rotate 3D Cube when browse the Works.

URL: http://hellozeto.com/

2. Innove – Web & IT solutions

Just notice the navigation. I haven’t seen such drag and drop website navigation before, it’s very well done using ActionScript 3.

URL: http://innove.it

3. Mark Studio

It’s very elegant portfolio website of agency for graphic and branding design.

URL: http://www.markstudio.co.uk/

4. Cheese & Burger Society

I like the loading in the beginning. Also, the sidebar in the bottom on the page allows you to browse all burgers. Isn’t it cool idea?

URL: http://cheeseandburger.com/

5. JPEG Interactive

Elegant 3D portfolio website.

URL: http://www.jpeg.cn/

The footer is not the most important thing in a website, but if you want to create good site, all its elements should be professionally done.

Here are few ideas for your Mega Footer:

1. Add some dynamic data in your mega footer that is related to the current page.

2. Static Footer – unchangeable information, same as the Header.

3. Footer elements that urge the visitors to make some action.

4. Mix of the 1, 2 and 3

Here few site examples that have Mega Footers:

URL: http://www.andyrutledge.com/

URL: http://whoisjengordon.com/

URL: http://www.blueraydesignbuild.com/

I hope you’ll like the idea for mega footers

They are out-of-date and distracting to users.

2. Always set body background-color

Not everyone uses white in his browser as the default background color.

3. Check for Cross-Browser Compatible

Not all browsers are created equal, and not all of them interpret CSS and other languages on the same way. Like it or not, you will need to make your website compatible with the most used browsers on the market, else you will lose visitors over the long term.

4. Do Not add Audio Background

It’s annoying for 99.99% of the visitors, but If you must play an audio file let the user start it.

5. Do Not Start Videos Automatically

Same as 4. but for videos

6. Do Not use Horizontal Scroll

Do you like to scroll horizontally !?

7. Do Not Type All Text in CAPS

8. Avoid “intros”

Do not force the user to watch or read something before he can access to the real content. This is plain annoying, and he will stay only if what you have to offer is really unique.

9. Avoid Long Pages

If the visitor needs to scroll down forever in order to read your content he will probably just skip it altogether. If that is the case with your site make it shorter and improve the navigation structure.

10. Always Add Enough White Space

White space is an important principle of design missing from the page layouts of many novices. White space is nothing. White space is the absence of text and graphics. It breaks up text and graphics. It

provides visual breathing room for the eye. Add white space to make a page less cramped, confusing, or overwhelming.

URL: http://therelevantelephant.com/

Detailing the day to day happenings of Rin and Wendy

URL: http://rin-wendy.com/

Okami Design Blog

URL: http://okami.fr/blog/en/

Mike Matas Blog

URL: http://www.mikematas.com/

Elite By Design : Web Design & Photoshop Inspiration

URL: http://elitebydesign.com/

2. 310k of pure magik

URL: http://www.310k.nl

3. ZOOGAMI: CONTEMPORARY BEER

URL: http://www.zoogami.net/beer/

4.ARK PORCELANOSA GRUPO 2009

URL: http://www.ark-plus.com

5. Miguel Endara

URL: http://www.miguelendara.com/

6. Emilie Guelpa, Art director Freelance

URL: http://www.onthesly.fr

7. FOXTEL I am uniQue – build a uniQue interactive

URL: http://www.iamunique.com.au

8. Concave Scream

URL: http://www.concavescream.com/

URL: http://www.ramcat.es/

2. Harmonic 313 – when machines exceed human intelligence out now

URL: http://www.harmonic313.com/wordproblems/

3. alice + olivia

URL: http://www.aliceandolivia.com

4. Dolphins Communication Design

URL: http://www.dolphinsonline.gr/

5. ECTOMACHINE

URL: http://www.ectomachine.com/
6. Design is Kinky Studio

URL: http://www.dikstudio.net/

7. Pixelcase

URL: http://pixelcase.com.au/

8. Mellow and Yellow L.L.C

URL: http://www.mellowandyellow.com/en

9. leihu

URL: http://www.leihu.com/

10. hiroshi seo / photographs

URL: http://www.seohiroshi.com/

1. Wim Vanhenden’ portfolio website

URL: http://www.wimvanhenden.be/

2. eLaboration Web Design

URL: http://www.elabdesign.com

3. 26000 Vodka

URL: http://26000vodka.com

4. Soft Whiteroom

URL: http://www.soft.se

5. 53 Colors

URL: http://53colors.com/

6. Hugs For Monsters

URL: http://hugsformonsters.com/

7. The Toke

URL: http://thetoke.com

8. Sua Felicidade Transforma

URL: http://coketeens.com.br

9. Official Website of Call You Back

URL: http://callyouback.ch/

10. Toshiedo

URL: http://toshiedo.com.au/

11. O’Neill

URL: http://www.oneill.com/

12. Inside Piet

URL: http://insidepiet.com

1. Font Tester – CSS Font Comparison Tool

Font Tester is a free online font comparison tool. It allows you to visually compare fonts side by side with different CSS font styles applied.

URL: http://www.fonttester.com/

2. Colr.org

Play with colors and color schemes!

URL: http://www.colr.org/

3. Check Browser Compatibility, Cross Platform Browser Test – Browsershots

Browsershots makes screenshots of your web design in different browsers. It is a free open-source online service created by Johann C. Rocholl. When you submit your web address, it will be added to the job queue. A number of distributed computers will open your website in their browser. Then they will make screenshots and upload them to the central server here.

URL: http://browsershots.org/

4. Texture Warehouse

Free High Resolution Textures for Designers and 3D Artist

URL: http://www.texturewarehouse.com/gallery/

5. Free Pictures
Collections of Free Photographs for non-commercial use on the Internet.

URL: http://www.freefoto.com/index.jsp