Why This Matters
Big tech is claiming ownership over everything, including our art. Open source isn't just a vibe. It’s a resistance.
Adobe recently updated its terms to allow scraping of user content for AI training. Yes, your art in Creative Cloud will be used to feed their machine learning models. Here's the breakdown if you haven’t read yet.
That was my tipping point. It was a lot of people’s tipping points. I was already side-eyeing the subscription model. But this was the straw that broke my rainbow-colored-camel’s back.
So—we shift focus. Now that I’m back on my personal work, it’s time to remember why I fell in love with open source in the first place:
You own what you create.
It’s all about the community.
You support tools that reflect your values.
10 RIGHTEOUS Open Source Tools:
Inkscape
Alt for: Adobe Illustrator
I’ve been making vector magic on this since I ditched Adobe. It’s a bit of a learning curve—but now I’m gliding.
Learning to draw with new tools is part of the artist’s journey. This one just comes without a leash.
Kdenlive
Alt for: Premiere Pro
Fast, no bloat, and built for serious timelines. Great for projects where DaVinci’s too heavy, but iMovie ain’t enough.
OBS Studio
Alt for: Everything from Screenflow to Twitch Pro tools
Streaming? Tutorials? Recording your creative process? OBS is the Swiss Army knife.
Be yo own TV studio and go stream LIVE some awesome stuff.
Krita
Alt for: Photoshop, Procreate
GIMP had a good run, but Krita is my go-to now for digital illustration and painting.
The software offers advanced layer management and supports most PSD files. It uses OpenGL, so you can manipulate high-def images without your laptop wheezing.
Panels and dockers? Fully customizable. You can build your own workspace and save it—plus create shortcuts for your most-used tools.
And the brushes? Chef’s kiss. Professionally made, preloaded, and gorgeous. You get effects you can actually see, brush stabilizers to clean up your linework, and a dynamic brush tool that adds real drag and mass.
If you’re doing concept art, character design, or any kind of digital painting Krita deserves a space in your loadout.
LibreOffice
Alt for: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
No nonsense. Clean and functional. Helps me get to the thinking part faster.
Also, it can export in EPUB for all you writers out there!
Calibre
Alt for: Kindle Desktop, Apple Books
Perfect for organizing PDFs, scripts, and digital zines. Plus it lets you convert and manage metadata like a boss.
Blender
Alt for: Maya, Cinema4D, etc.
I’m not full-time 3D (yet), but Blender keeps calling me back. Modeling, animation, even game dev—it’s all here.
Dream: Nerdingham cutscenes rendered in Blender with a VHS grain filter and lo-fi beats.
ALSO, the movie FLOW—done completely in Blender. And they said it couldn’t be done!
Blockbench
Alt for: Low-poly 3D modeling suites
I know most of you probably know Unity—but have you heard of Blockbench?
I recently nerded out on Minecraft (I’m a late-blooming crafter—thanks to my kid). It’s been a blast building, modding, and getting into the low-poly art mindset. That’s what led me to Blockbench.
It’s a lightweight, intuitive 3D modeling tool perfect for low-poly art and game assets. You can even build models straight from your phone via their online builder.
Whether you’re making Minecraft skins or dreaming up your own indie game, Blockbench makes 3D approachable.
DaVinci Resolve
Alt for: Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro
A cinematographer I worked with swore by this, but I was reluctant. Looked too “film school flex” for me.
But now? It’s everything.
There’s a steep learning curve, but it’s an industry-standard beast. My favorite part? The color grading. It can pull cinematic vibes out of my crappy phone videos like magic.
When I say it makes my footage rock, I mean it. You’ll feel like you’re editing a short film, not just slicing up clips.
Go Deeper: Ubuntu & Linux Life
If you really want to level up, try an OS flip. I ran Ubuntu, my favorite Linux distro—clean, stable, and beginner-friendly.
Check it. Did you know macOS is based on Unix? Just like Linux. A lot of Apple’s slickness has roots in the open-source world. But where Apple locks it down, Linux opens it up.
Phones are still the weak spot—most mobile OS choices are corporate. But for laptops and desktops? This is freedom.
Final Thought
If you’re planning to float down the open-source river, please tip your provider. Even if just for a coffee, cause they’re putting in the work y’all!
[DR1P.L0G SYSTEM >>> TERMINAL ACTIVE]
>> Creative work should never feel like surveillance.
>> Open source reminds us we don’t have to cave.
>> We can choose tools that align with how we want to work and who we want to be.
:: compiling closing statement . . .
:: rendering dr1p-layer FX . . .
:: injecting soul++
█▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ LOADING . . .
███▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ENCRYPTING ART CODE . . .
██████▒▒▒▒▒ SIGN-OFF INITIALIZED
> Stay funky.
> Stay free.
> Stay woke.
⧉ CH13FTAIN.OUT //