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Daily drivers

Tools that I use most often for creative projects. Only free options are linked.

Software

  • Clip Studio Paint EX 2.0 perpetual license. Recently upgraded to 4.0.
  • LibreOffice for formal writing and making very simple zines.
  • Also: Obsidian Sync for notetaking across all of my devices.
  • Also: Google Docs (currently moving off it).
  • Affinity software suite: Publisher 2, Photo 2

Hardware

  • Hardware: XP-PEN Innovator 16 (anniversary edition), on either a Parblo PR-100 stand or a laptop stand mounted on an ergonomic monitor arm.
  • Print shop for booklets: Mixam.

Useful programs

  • Sumatra PDF, a PDF reader.
  • Calibre, e-book manager, paired with my Kobo e-readers.
  • Mullvad VPN, don't use any other VPN but this.
  • Media players: MPC-HC x64 (video), foobar2000 (audio and radio streams).
  • VB-CABLE, virtual audio device. Win10 allows you to adjust volumes of individual programs but I still prefer the virtual cable for convenience (e.g. sending all non-voice audio to it).
  • Workrave, for reminders to take breaks (mitigate eye strain, RSI, etc. I actually fell out of the habit of using this because it's incompatible with my activities. One Sec somehow fills in this gap though).
  • VSCodium, the version of VSCode that doesn't have the Microsoft telemetry BS.
  • ShareX, a thing that does many things but I use it primarily for quickly sharing clips/pictures, all uploaded to Horizon.
  • ClipX, a tiny clipboard history manager.
  • Feeder, RSS feed aggregator for Android.
  • Tusky, Mastodon client for Android.
  • Elk, Mastodon client for web.
  • One Sec, adds friction when visiting social media to reduce overstimulation.

Web-based tools