Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.2 or later
Got business cards? If not, you’re in luck—Business Card Composer is exactly what the name implies. You can start from scratch and use the included backgrounds and clipart, or start from one of the included sample cards and customize it to fit your personal style and individuality.
Requirements: G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.2 or later
Create pro-looking illustrations even if you can’t draw a stick figure. This entry-level, vector-based, illustration app puts easy-to-use Bezier curves, grouping tools, colors, gradients, and hundreds of prefab shapes into the hands of Mac OS X users. It can also import Mac Draw II files.
Maya PLE 5—Free Version
Alias|Wavefront, http://www.aliaswavefront.com
Requirements: G4 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.2.4 or later, 512MB RAM, hardware-accelerated graphics card, 3-button mouse
IMPORTANT: Be sure to get your own personal, free software key to unlock this app before installing—find the link in the HTML document. If you’ve dreamed of working in the 3D animation industry, here’s your chance to learn the trade without the 2,000 buck-aroo expense. Maya PLE (Personal Learning Edition) is a free, full version of Maya—the elite 3D modeling and animation package used in such films as Lord of the Rings, Spider-Man, and The Matrix. In PLE, nothing’s disabled, but your projects will bear an Alias|Wavefront watermark to prohibit commercial distribution of your work. Learn now, buy later. Create 3D models of anything that your brain can dream up and animate objects in full realistic and organic motion. Just to get you started, we’ve included a tutorial for Maya PLE in the magazine (“Model 3D Objects in Maya PLE”) that will have you creating your own designs in no time.
Requirements: 400MHz G3 or faster Mac, Mac OS X 10.0 or later, 256MB RAM
Filmmakers know how important a good storyboard is, and Storyboard Lite makes really, really good storyboards. What’s so good about them? 3D, baby! And because most filmmakers aren’t 3D artists on the side, Storyboard Lite comes with gallery upon gallery of stock characters, environments, and props for your storyboarding enjoyment. Drag-and-drop your way to a 3D storyboard, which you can export to HTML, QuickTime, or even your good old printer.
