Web design can be difficult if you are on a budget or run a small operation. Having access to Photoshop and Dreamweaver is essential for web developers, however these programs can be very costly.
Justifying these costs is especially hard if you only need to do minor edits or small graphic design changes. That is why we decided to try out some open-source and freeware tools available online.
Free web authoring: KompoZer
This tool from Mozilla (who also brought us Firefox browser) allows web file management and has web page editing tools that are similar to Adobe DreamWeaver and Microsoft FrontPage. KompoZer is designed for ease of use. This tool is great for non-technical users who may not have an in depth knowledge of HTML coding.
Free alternative to Photoshop: Gimp
Adobe Photoshop is a robust product and is used by many web design firms. If you need software with similar functionality you can try out GIMP, which stands for GNU Image Manipulator Program. This open-source program allows you edit and create various file types, including PSD files. The Gimp website provides extensive documentation that will turn you into a web design pro in no time.
KompoZer and Gimp run on Windows, Mac and Linux. There are many similar tools available online. If you are using a good free online or downloadable web design tools worth mentioning, let us know in the comments.