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Despite the dire circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic, some people are spending their downtime picking up new skills, and these four free programs should help anyone interested in improving their ability to be creative using their computer. Inkscape, GIMP, Audacity, and HitFilm are all creative tools that, either in combination or separately, should help people create most kinds of content.

Social distancing due to the coronavirus has put many people in a scenario where they have more time than money. This has varying levels of gravity for each person, but typically, left with more free time, people are learning they can invest those hours into themselves. Learning any kind of creative skill is usually its own reward, but the variety of professional benefits one can gain from improving their digital artistry is hard to overstate. Developing efficiency with creative software right now could impact a person's career profoundly.

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Given that these are all free programs, there's little excuse not to at least try them out. Inkscape and GIMP are used mostly for static images. Audacity is for editing and recording sound. HitFilm is for creating and editing videos. There are too many practical applications for all of these programs to list, and each of them can be useful to a curious novice or a grizzled veteran.

Given that they're both used to create images, Inkscape and GIMP seem very similar. However, they function differently and create different kinds of visuals, which means learning to use them both requires learning two sets of skills. Inkscape uses vector graphics meaning it creates images using math. The outcome is that Inkscape designs can be scaled up or down without sacrificing quality. This is great for any graphics that need to be resized, like logos or Twitch effects. They can be made small for a screen or huge for a billboard, and maintain their fidelity. Inkscape can be compared to Adobe Illustrator.

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a raster graphics editor and that means it's a more typical photo editing program. Compared to Inkscape, GIMP is the better program for editing and creating single images that aren't meant to be used for a wide array of purposes. Because GIMP can work with data on a per-pixel level, it's often used to touch up or edit existing images (although it's also good for making pixel art). The standard is usually to make logos with Inkscape and make photos with GIMP, but they can be used together as well. GIMP can be compared to Adobe Photoshop. Both programs are great for anyone looking to create visual content for the web right now, like YouTube thumbnails, memes, logos for a brand, or simply creative works of art.

Audacity is perhaps the most famous creative program in the world. It's an audio editing program with amazing tools. It can be used to record more subdued audio for podcasts and voice-overs. It has the tools to record on multiple channels for recording music. It can even be used to edit existing sound files. It doesn't do much sound creation on its own in the ways that a music-making program like FL Studio would, but for anything where the sound is created by humans and put onto a computer, Audacity is a staple. These days, it's primarily used to make podcasts or to record editable audio that is then used to create videos.

Video editing software is very common these days but HitFilm stands out mostly because of its tutorials. Anyone who knows how to edit can produce quality videos with any software, but HitFilm's prioritization of tutorials with examples makes it a great first stop for anyone interested in a YouTube career. Express is the free version but there are tons of ways to upgrade to a more feature-rich version. It's comparable to the more expensive options like Apple Final Cut and Adobe Premier, while also being more accessible.

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Inkscape, Audacity, GIMP, & HitFilm: Free Software to Be Creative While in Coronavirus Lockdown - Screen Rant