Specialized digital creativity software available in Level Up is an invaluable part of your workflow, but, when the library is closed, what do you do when you don’t have access to it? Here is a list of some of our favorite alternatives to popular Level Up software that you can download and use at home, for free!

Photoshop Alternatives

Photopea is an online photo editor with many of the features you use for most of your Photoshop projects. Everything from making quick selections, to adjustment layers, text tools, and filters, Photopea will have the tools you need.

Online Tutorials

Krita is a great alternative for the brush tools that you would use for digital painting and drawing in Photoshop. Features include a full suite of brush effects and adjustments to give you precise control and total creativity freedom.

Online Tutorials

Illustrator Alternatives

Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor. This software can be used to create or edit vector graphics such as illustrations, diagrams, line arts, charts, logos, icons and complex paintings.

Online Tutorials

Premiere/iMovie Alternatives

Lightworks is a non-linear editing system for editing and mastering digital video with an interface similar to iMovie. It offers the widest native format support available, quick export to video hosting such as Youtube and Vimeo, and tons of powerful, realtime effects with inbuilt presets.

Quickstart Guide

Shotcut is a free and open-source cross-platform video editing application that supports hundreds of audio and video formats and codecs. Edit audio, video, and apply effects just like in Premiere.

Tutorials

AfterEffects Alternatives

Natron is a node-based compositing software application. This software allows for a wide array of effects applications to your video projects. It can track objects, rotoscope, remove your greenscreen background, and more.

Tutorials

Davinci Resolve is a video editing, color correction, visual effects and audio post production tool. Whether you are looking to edit, color, or work with VFX this is a terrific tool to complete your project.

Tutorials

Logic/Pro Tools Alternatives

Audacity is an easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder. This app allows you to erase your mistakes, apply effects, and has plugin integration for virtual instruments.

Tutorials

LMMS can arrange samples, synthesize audio effects, read MIDI instruments, and can even track and sequence your music. A full-fledged digital audio work workstation free of cost.

Tutorials

3D Modeling Tools

Blender is an endlessly robust solution for both 2d and 3d creations. If you are looking to model, animate, create or apply visual effects, sculpt, or simulate virtual environments this is the tool for you.

Tutorials

TinkerCAD is an incredibly easy-to-use web-based 3d modeling tool. Use this to build, place, cut, and mold your vision for a 3d object into reality.

Tutorials

Game Design Software

Unity is a cross-platform game design engine used by professionals to produce interactive experiences and videogames alike. Use this tool to produce the next Untitled Goose Game, Beatsaber, or Cuphead.

Tutorials

Twine is an interactive storytelling application used to create self-contained adventures. Use it to tell a story with endless paths and uncounted endings. Excellent tool to create a choose your own adventure or visual novel.

Tutorials

Podcasts

NPR has this excellent beginners guide to getting started with creating your own podcast. This includes storytelling tips as well as useful hardware and software. For a deeper look at gear, or other info not covered here Transistor has an excellent guide as well.

Music Production

• Berklee Music Playlist [YouTube] Lots of great instructional videos on music production, songwriting, and performance
• Music Production Guide A helpful informational guide written by an industry professional
• Tuts+ Music and Audio Free articles and tutorials on mixing and mastering, basic audio production, and much more

Songwriting/Music Theory/Sound

• Create Digital Music Music blog from the amazing Peter Kirn
• BBC's Sold on Song Archive with articles on performing, songwriting, working with record companies, and more
• Pat Pattison's Lyric Tips Lyric tips from this professor at Berklee College of Music, where he teaches lyric writing and poetry
• American Songwriter A wealth of articles on songwriting, performing, and the music business
• Interview with Will Sheff Interview with this Okkervil River bandleader (and former Bloomington resident) on his writing process
• Partners in Rhyme Royalty-free music and sound effects downloads

For manuals and tutorials on all of Level Up's audio tools, see our Audio Production Studios page

Video & Photo Production, Green Screen

• B&H Explora Nice blog from the iconic NYC equipment supplier, with articles, tips, and reviews
• Video Copilot Tools and training for people who love motion design and visual effects
• Working with a Green Screen in Premiere Pro CC [YouTube] Key out the green screen in your videos the Adobe way
• Creative Cow A comprehensive digital video community with helpful information, tutorials, forums, and podcasts
• iMovie Tutorials Help from Apple on everything from starting a new project to publishing on video sharing sites
• Footage Crate A great site focusing on video special effects with tutorials and free effects bundles for After Effects
• Tuts+ Video and Photo Great articles and tutorials on all things video and photography
• Tuts+ 3D and Motion Graphics Helpful tutorials on 3D modeling and special effects

Free Stock Footage

About Copyright and Attribution

Most of these sites provide free high-quality images for use in personal and commercial projects—no strings attached. However, some of them require attribution to (i.e., crediting) the content's creator. In those cases, you must attach text giving credit to the image's creator (e.g., "Photo by Talia Jones") in your project. To avoid any legal issues, be sure to check for any restrictions before downloading or using any images.

• Public Domain Review Vintage and modern high-quality images with no restrictions
• Unsplash Beautiful, high-quality images
• Superfamous Images* Artistic and beautiful images for download
• Picjumbo More free stock images!
• Pixabay Nice, searchable archive of high-quality, commercial grade images
• IM Free* Great collection of images, icons, and templates for any use
• Gratisography Artistic and whimsical high-quality pictures by artist Ryan McGuire; free of copyright restrictions
• MorgueFile* Somewhat strange collection of images that may be just the thing you're looking for
• Free Images* Another nice collection of free stock images
• New Old Stock Really interesting collection of vintage photos from public archives and free of copyright restrictions
• Picography Scroll-through gallery of evocative shots by professional photographers; perfect for designers
• Pexels Many free-of-charge and royalty-free photos to choose from
• archive.org Collection of stock video clips submitted by users
• pngimg.com Free png images and clipart with transparent backgrounds for use in web design or video

*Attribution required for images from this resource.

For manuals and tutorials on all of Level Up's video tools, see our Video Production Studio page

• Stack Overflow Online community of coders: ask questions, get help
• Free Code Camp Great free site for learning to code—your work helps real non-profit organizations
• Introduction to Computer Science Harvard OpenCourseware course (CS50), designed for those with or without programming experience
• Code Academy Learn how to build a website or app through simple interactive coding tutorials
• CODE Library of coding tutorials
• Code Combat Learn to code by playing a game
• CSS Cheat Sheet Handy CSS reference sheet
• HTML Tags A listing of all of them
• Downloadable and printable HTML cheat sheet for beginners
• HTML5 Cheat Sheet
• WordPress Cheat Sheet
• Learn the Basic HTML Tags
• w3schools A free and very helpful web development learning site with a bunch of tutorials
• A Re-introduction to JavaScript
• Safari Developer Library Apple developer documentation for programming for WebKit browsers and iOS mobile devices
• QuirksMode Details differences between various implementations of JavaScript, CSS, and more across browsers
• HTML goodies Great resource for all things HTML
• python.org Official site for downloading the language package and all kinds of resources on this dynamic programming language
• Learn Code [YouTube] Awesome tutorials on coding and web design
• Tuts+ Code Many great free articles, tutorials and courses on coding
• Tuts+ Web Design More interesting articles and tutorials on artistic and productivity aspects of web design

For manuals and tutorials on Level Up's developer tools, see our Digital Creativity Workstations page

• Web development and design 101 Extensive guide to web creation
• Beautiful Web Type Combinations Find inspirational color, font, and typeface combinations for your web work
• Beautiful Web Type Another source for web type inspiration
• Google Fonts
• Font Pair Find web type inspiration, download fonts
• WhatFont Tool for finding out the fonts used on specific web page
• Moodboard For keeping track of your inspiration
• Adobe Color Color wheel for finding good combinations of colors for the web
• How to start a blog Very informative article on how to start a WordPress blog

• Ionic Creator Simple drag-and-drop tool for creating an app
• Sketch App Sources Large collection of free design resources like icons and UI kits for web and mobile design

• Programming guide for video game developers Lots of helpful resources on topics like development with and without coding, careers in development, and debugging
• Tuts+ Game Development Free tutorials and articles on different game design platforms and strategies for beginners and advanced game makers alike
• The Best Free Tutorials for Learning Game Development Article with, well, nineteen lessons on different aspects of game design, like mobile development and art and design
• Game Design Fundamentals [YouTube] A very interesting talk on game design by a development company CEO

For manuals and tutorials on Level Up's developer tools, see our Digital Creativity Workstations page

• webmonkey web design blog from Wired with a lot of interesting posts, tutorials, and more
• Improve Photography Dedicated to all things photography: tips, gear, podcasts, and numerous other resources to help make your images look professional
• Digital Arts Amazing tutorials from Digital Arts magazine
• Creative Bloq Cool site with lots of information on graphic design, web design, digital art, video, links to interviews, tutorials, and well, yes, much more!
• Tuts+ Design and Illustration Great resources on different graphics programs, creating useful logos and illustrations, and many others
• Photoshop Cheat Sheet Keyboard shortcuts for Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Illustrator Cheat Sheet Keyboard shortcuts for Adobe Illustrator
• Other Adobe Cheat Sheets Keyboard shortcuts for Adobe CC
• Image Formats Cheat Sheet Helpful infographic on various digital image formats
• InDesign Secrets Includes publishing and business card templates, webinars and tutorials, and help forums

For manuals and tutorials on Level Up's developer tools, see our Digital Creativity Workstations page

• Media Rights Creating original content or looking for content to use—you need to know your rights when it comes to copyright, fair use, and intellectual property
• How to Copyright Your Music Very informative article on the ins and outs of protecting your original work
• How to copyright a song—in six steps!
• Copyright.gov
• YouTube Copyright Information

You may have created your project in Level Up for your artistic career, your job, as a school project, or just to learn. Here's how to get your work seen, heard—and maybe even recognized as amazing!

• Upload it to a music or video site:
  • Bandcamp
  • Vimeo
  • Soundcloud
  • Last.fm
  • YouTube.com

• Air it on CATS Channel 3

• Create a video reel or resume
  • Video Resumes – A Refreshing Alternative to Demo Reels
  • Tips for a Better Demo Reel

• Create a website to display your work.
  • websitesetup.org - a step-by-step guide from a web developer