Gallery: 10 Must-Have Desktop Apps for Makers
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When Steve Jobs introduced the iPad he called it the next wave of personal computing. He was quick to add that Apple's original product line, the Mac, still had a role, but [compared it to a truck](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704764404575286192766121172.html). Desktops and laptops were cast as workhorses to be used to haul heavy-duty software and apps. The utilities on this list fit that description. Use them to design a product and all of its trimmings -- the packaging, the website, and even the UPC barcode you'll need to put it on store shelves.
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[Pixelmator](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pixelmator/id407963104?mt=12) A lightweight Photoshop alternative. __When you'll need it:__ If you need to retouch images for a website, create graphics for a project, or otherwise want a simple tool to produce graphics, Pixelmator is an ideal choice. It can't do everything that Photoshop can, but if you're new to graphics software or on a tight budget, you probably won't notice the difference. __Cost:__ $29.99 (vs. $199 for Photoshop)
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[Blender](http://www.blender.org/) A fully featured 3-D surface-modeling tool. __When you'll need it:__ Good CAD software usually costs hundreds of dollars. Great software cost thousands. Blender can do great things and costs nothing. The learning curve for this fully featured surface modeling/animation/rendering tool is steep, but the people who take the time to learn its mysteries can produce amazing models, images, and movies. __Cost:__ Free.
Photo: Christina Bonnington/WIRED04diy-desktop-apps-autodesk-123-make-wired-design
[Autodesk 123D Make](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/123d-make/id515318186?mt=12) Turns 3-D models into 2-D slices. __When you'll need it:__ The world is going ga-ga over 3-D printers, but very few people actually have access to one. On the other hand, cardboard and glue are available to anyone who graduated from kindergarten. Using this app you can take a file from any CAD program and it will slice the model into 2-D sections that can be cut out of any flat material and assembled into a 3-D object. It may not be as cool as 3-D printing, but it's affordable and accessible. __Cost:__ Free.
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[Pepakura](http://www.tamasoft.co.jp/pepakura-en/) Turn 3-D models into Paper toys. __When you'll need it:__ This app looks crusty, but it gives the DIY community a tremendous tool. Like 123D Make, Pepakura turns 3-D models into flat cut-outs. But in this case the cutouts can be printed with graphics and create a fully surfaced model. You can make paper toys for the little one, or if you want to invest some time and money, use the paper model as a base for some sweet [Iron Man armor](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkCwnKAnVuY). __Cost:__ $38 Image: [PaperBotz](http://paperbotz.wordpress.com/)
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[Inkscape](http://inkscape.org/ ) Inkscape is to Adobe Illustrator what Pixelmator is to Photoshop: a low-cost, low-frills vector-drawing tool. __When you'll need it:__ If you want to use a laser cutter or need precise and scalable graphics, you'll need a vector-based drawing tool. Adobe Illustrator is the industry standard, but there are great free options like Inkscape. This tool is a great option for people who are new to DIY and want to experiment. And as the image above shows, with enough practice it's a powerful tool. __Cost:__ Free.
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[Lego Digital Designer](http://ldd.lego.com/) Build Lego masterpieces without shelling out for real plastic bricks. __When you'll need it:__ This app allows you to realize your most ambitious Lego fantasies or try out a new building technique without buying the new $199.99 box of bricks. Using almost all the parts from the vast Lego library, you can create an fanciful castle or a futuristic space ship. If you like your design, you can order the bricks and assemble it in real life. __Cost:__ The app is free, the bricks will cost you.
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[Autodesk Inventor Fusion](http://labs.autodesk.com/technologies/fusion/) The first real CAD program for the Mac. __When you'll need it:__ If you want to produce a product in 3-D using a MakerBot, CNC Mill, or other fabrication tool, you will need a solid CAD program. And if you are on the Mac, there aren't many options. Luckily, this tool is available for the designer's platform of choice and gives the parametric power and surface-based slickness of different packages in one. [See a longer review here!](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/design/2012/05/autodesk-inventor-fusion/) __Cost:__ Free, for now. The product is in beta and available for use at no charge for a limited time.
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[Prototypes](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prototypes/id430812258?mt=12) Designers can make semi-functional iPhone apps using just graphics. __When you'll need it:__ Designers work at the intersection of a lot of fields and communicating with mobile designers is becoming an ever bigger part of the job. Using an app like Prototypes, visual designers can turn their 2-D mockups into a rough, interactive facsimile of a working app. It won't work on the App Store, but it can help break down communication barriers between creative and engineering. __Cost:__ $39.99
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[Coda 2](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coda-2/id499340368?mt=12) An integrated development environment (IDE) for designers. __When you'll need it:__ If you make a product, you need a way to promote it. We've written about [great schwag](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/design/2012/05/startup-swag/) you can use for promotion in the past, but your first order of business should be your website. Tools like Coda 2 make developing sites a breeze by providing contextual tips, a handy UI, and tools that allow you to easily evaluate your designs on multiple screens and operating systems. __Cost:__ $75
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[UPC Encoder](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/upcencoder/id458594712?mt=12) Generate UPC codes for your product or workshop. __When you'll need it:__ Whether you have a product that is going to be distributed at Walmart, or you're building a hip kit business, at some point you will need to learn about the wonderful world of bar codes. UPC, ANSI, and the rest may seem like a foreign language, but are critical for makers. If you want people to check out with your product or use bar codes to keep your production line in check, apps like this will be a part of your future. __Cost:__ $1.99
