I need to create some 2D graphics. I want to create artwork in the form of cartoon like characters and convert photos into illustrations ("cartoonize" a photo). Obviously to get proficient in this sort of area requires many hours of learning to use an application. Before I even start I feel I may as find out which is the Rolls Royce of open source graphics packages. I want to learn a "future proof" and powerful application.

I want an open source application that I can use in the Linux environment. If it can be used in Windows that would be even better. I want it to create files that can be used on Windows and Linux boxes. You never know where and when you might want to use the application or its creations. I want an application with a lot of headroom to allow for advanced graphics creation to a professional standard. If there is a package that has a 3D version that would be good. I may as well start learning the most limitless tool available. It may take me years to work it all out, but I have time. Ideally I could stay with the package for life (big call I know, but for example can you see Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW going away anytime soon?)

Should I learn an image editor (pixel based) or illustration software (vector based) or perhaps even something more advanced that allows bitmaps to be applied to vector images?

The names I have found so far are;
Gimp
Scribus
Inkscape

Any suggestions?

I recommend a vector based drawing app for that kind of work. Vector programs will allow you to scale (and otherwise change) pictures without the quality of the picture taking a hit. I use Inkscape and Xara Xtreme for art.

If you decide to publish the pictures to the web somewhere, you'll probably need to convert those images to a bitmap type most web browsers can read (like .png or .jpg). You can use GIMP to do that. Inkscape also has a feature that converts vector images automatically.

Hope this helps!

-Jordan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenOffice.org_Draw
http://www.blender.org/
http://www.cinepaint.org/
http://www.xaraxtreme.org/

While maybe not what you are looking for, these are a few other options..
Some of which were used on 'The Elephants Dream' project. http://www.elephantsdream.org/

Just so you can see what all is available when making your decision, Best of luck !

Certainly the dream for you... http://appdb.winehq.org/appview.php?iAppId=20

Illustrator 10 works very well with wine (you need to copy one dll only) but but
wine emulator is tooo slow. how can you work with slow illustrator ?

Inkscape is a vector drawing program running on both Linux and Windows.

The native format is SVG, which is open format and human readable. Even if Inkscape dies one day, it is highly unlikely no successor will jump in its place.

It produces SVG and PNG graphics, which can easily be converted to GIF or JPG using ImageMagick.

If you have CorelDraw images, you can export them as CMX, convert them to SVG using Sketch.

Gimp is more for manipulating bitmap images. I would say your application is better served by a vector drawing program.

jlinkels

You're obviously aware that those two things
require different techniques and tools. For the
"cartoonising" of photos Gimp would be the logical
choice (it's awesome in all aspects of bitmap
post-processing). And for "drawing" cartoons
yourself you'll need a vector graphics program,
so inkscape may well be what you're after.

Scribus does't meet either of these, it's more
of a DTP product that will allow you to layout
your images and text once you're done, but maybe
you'll want that, too :}

So realistically - all of the above ;}


Cheers,
Tink

Thanks for the tips everyone. You have provided me with some good leads.