Inkscape - Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, Freehand, CorelDraw, or Xara X using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format.

WordPress Theme Generator

The WordPress theme generator is an online generator that creates your own custom unique WordPress theme without any need for (X)HTML, JavaScript, PHP, or CSS knowledge.

You have the ability to change the colors, settings, and layout, as well as preview your theme live. Click on "save" and download your unique WordPress theme zip-file. Then simply extract the file, upload them to your server, activate it, and you're done!

It is based on WordPress 2.1 with the Yahoo! UI (Grids,Tabs & Fonts) to support all A-Grade browsers. All generated themes also support widgets.

Completely ripped from my own blog post. Note that Open Designs is listed on there. :P Revised to contain only free resources.

Coding/Designing Tips

• A List Apart | The tagline of this excellent site states that it is geared towards "people who make websites." A resource for more advanced coders, the site covers semantic markup improvements, designing tips and tricks, and much more.


• Alsacreations Tutorials | These tutorials cover the basics of CSS and XHTML coding and can double as the beginner's guide to standards-compliant coding. This is the very site from which I obtained the basic skills needed to code a basic XHTML/CSS site.


• Think Vitamin | I've always thought of Think Vitamin as more of a web developer's resource than a designer site; the objective of the site is to provide tips concerning AJAX, Ruby on Rails, and many more modern programming languages on the web. Very helpful for those who want to improve their Web 2.0 sites.


• Webmonkey | One of the first resources I encountered in my designing/coding endeavours; it's more of an old school resource for designing and coding (table-based layouts galore!). That might just be because I haven't really checked the site in years, though...

Templates (Free/Open Source)

• Open Source Web Design | Contains a multitude of free, open-source templates coded by both amateurs and seasoned professionals. The only qualm I have with this site is that the updates are a bit slow.


• Open Web Design | Similar to OSWD in that it catalogues free, quality open-source site templates.


• Open Design Community | Free, quality, open-source templates; lalala if you're reading this you are probably a member of the site.


• Open Source Templates | The designs here are what I've found to be my favourites; the templates featured are very professional-looking and also aesthetically presentable.


• PageKits | Free pre-made layouts and site kits. Good for abstract designs and presentation.

Free/Cheap Coding Tools

• Aptana Web IDE | [Multi-Platform, Free, Open-Source] Perfect for AJAX coders; the main editor used for coding this WordPress-based site.


• Cream | [Windows, Linux, Open-Source] Source code editing.


• Notepad++ | [Windows, Open-Source] Advanced text/programming editor with syntax highlighting and more.


• Nvu | [Multi-platform, Open-Source] Visual web editor; good for beginners on the cheap.


• Web Builder | [Windows, Payware] Drag and drop visual web editor; seems to be more intuitive than Nvu (and also more expensive). The last version I tried out didn't seem to import files to HTML that easily. Good for beginners.

Royalty FREE images:

http://www.sxc.hu/
http://www.morguefile.com/
http://www.freefoto.com/index.jsp
http://www.stockvault.net/
http://yotophoto.com/
http://www.openstockphotography.org/

Is it okay to use images from these resources and use them on templates that I plan to contribute to the open source community, and make them available for free ?

Here is a good link I found today:

http://intensivstation.ch/en/templates/

It appears to showcase several ideas about laying out a site using gridlines.

Check also the Golden ratio, anyone studied this in more detail than the 'grids' material?

Any chance there can be a categorised link thing to use rather than a regular topic for these?

I know I mentioned this before so apols if I missed any discussion when away.

Hey someone actually uses that corner creator site I made! How did you find it?

Browser Standalones (has standalone versions of a bunch of older browsers)

Online image editing:

www.fauxto.com
www.picnik.com
www.phixr.com

its funny and a free resource. It's not so much he gives tips as it is he tells the story of what happened to him (basically went from computer repair, to web firm, to some small jobs, to freelancer) and tells you how to avoid what he did.
Its a real good look at the life of a freelancer. And whats cool is that his wife makes an appearance and talks about what its like to be married to a freelancer. its a lot funnier than it sounds. trust me.

ooh.. this is a nice rounded corner css generator:

rounded corner

Tutorialized
Tutorials on just about EVERYTHING web/graphic design.

text to logo reminds me of an older site called flamming text... it's fun and neat but makes logos look like they're from 1997... ack!

It's ok NickyD... I still like you

Is this one useful to anyone?

CLICK

I already posted about this, but I figured more people notice it here.

A nifty tool. What the Font?!

Upload an image with an unknown font and it does its best to find the best matched font.
You get the best results cropping your image so only the font shows.
The only downside is I believe it doesn't have free fonts in its database. :(

Posted By: seanroxtext to logo reminds me of an older site called flamming text... it's fun and neat but makes logos look like they're from 1997... ack!

WOW! I totally remember that, and another I used was something like cool text. Ahhh, MEMORIES, IN THE CORNER OF MY MIND. SHATTERED PICTURES, OF THE WAY WE WHERE. :D

Support designers, browse happy!

Icon Finder

I keep looking for font browsershare, so I'm putting it here so I won't forget, and I'm sure others will find it helpful:

Code Style: Windows font survey results

Uploading images to the net that you don't want to host.

Free Backgrounds
Fonties Fonts

Everyone should check this site out:
http://mootools.net/

web designer resources

brushes o' plenty

Precision Vectorization Online: Vector Magic

It seems to me like those should be uploaded here, and THIS should be the template resource.