Software for drawing simple objects and vectors (free body diagrams)?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding suitable software tools for drawing simple figures, particularly free body diagrams that include vectors and angles. Participants express their experiences with various programs and seek recommendations for user-friendly options tailored to their needs.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses frustration with existing software like Photoshop, PowerPoint, and Edraw, seeking a tool specifically designed for drawing vectors and angles.
  • Another participant shares a negative experience with Inkscape, claiming it lacks a vector drawing tool and discourages others from recommending it.
  • A participant mentions conducting a Google Images search for free body diagram drawing software but finds it challenging to locate a suitable program, noting that many images found are not related to drawing software.
  • One participant reports finding a program called Ipe but struggles with installation, noting the complexity of downloading and compiling necessary files.
  • A later reply indicates success in getting Ipe to work and expresses satisfaction with its capabilities, mentioning an interest in incorporating LaTeX.
  • Another participant recommends GeoGebra as a free and user-friendly option that meets the needs for drawing.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on a specific software recommendation, with multiple competing views on the effectiveness of different tools. Some express dissatisfaction with certain programs while others share positive experiences with alternatives.

Contextual Notes

Participants' experiences with software vary significantly, with some facing installation challenges and others struggling to find tools that meet their specific drawing needs. There is no resolution on the best software, and limitations in software capabilities are highlighted.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals seeking software for creating diagrams in physics or engineering contexts, particularly those looking for user-friendly options for drawing vectors and angles.

Hernaner28
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Hi. I'm looking for a drawing tool which may help me draw simple figures with vectors and angles. I've tried many but they're so complicated... e.g. Photoshop, Power Point, Edraw, and some others. The ideal one would be one which is designed for this... I mean a program that has a tool, for example, which makes you add a vector with a name automatically.. without having to reinsert a text box apart from the vector... Or for example, a tool which adds two lines and a curve between these two indicating the angle θ. I just cannot find one and there are a lot out there. If you know anyone like that please tell me! It would be much easier to post here with my drawings! THANKS!
 
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I've just tried Inkscape and it's horrible... it has no vector drawing tool! I just wonder why so many people recommend it so please if you were going to recommend it please don't.
 
Hernaner28 said:
Hi. I'm looking for a drawing tool which may help me draw simple figures with vectors and angles. I've tried many but they're so complicated... e.g. Photoshop, Power Point, Edraw, and some others. The ideal one would be one which is designed for this... I mean a program that has a tool, for example, which makes you add a vector with a name automatically.. without having to reinsert a text box apart from the vector... Or for example, a tool which adds two lines and a curve between these two indicating the angle θ. I just cannot find one and there are a lot out there. If you know anyone like that please tell me! It would be much easier to post here with my drawings! THANKS!

Hernaner28 said:
I've just tried Inkscape and it's horrible... it has no vector drawing tool! I just wonder why so many people recommend it so please if you were going to recommend it please don't.

I tried doing a Google Images search on Free Body Diagram Drawing Software, and got what look to be some good hits. I didn't follow the links, but maybe if you have a look, you'll see a package that you didn't know about:

http://www.google.com/search?tbm=is...57l21l21l0l8l8l1l312l2091l0j7j2j1l10l0.cfis.1.

.
 
Aw yeah! Believe me, I've been doing image and text search for half an hour and I just cannot believe I cannot find the program when there're so many of them. I expected to find one of these instantly. I'm just asking for vectors tools and that basic kind of stuff. All those images in google search are amazing but they are images which are already done, they are not related to a software drawing page. I really need one, it's extremelly hard to explain my attempt at solution without a diagram. Thanks anyway
 
I found one which seemed pretty good.. almost perfect.. it's called Ipe. But I downloaded it from sourceforge and I got about five folders and I don't know what to do with them! There's no install file... I read sth that is necessary to compile it. Why do they make things so hard?

Ipe6_screenshot.png


If anyone got it working please tell me how! THANKS!
 
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I got it working and it's amazing! In the page it says all you need. You have to download the libraries apart from it and then you copy them into the directory of Ipe. Now I'm trying to incorporate latex.!
 
I recommend GeoGebra. It does everything, is free, and easy to use.

http://mathematicalmarvels.webs.com/Geo1.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:

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