Adobe Illustrator Alternatives?

[Bennp2000]

Can anyone recommend any good (preferably free) alternatives to Adobe Illustrator? I have some vector work to do and PS isn't going to do the job!

Thanks,
Paul

 

[garryknight]

Inkscape is the first one that springs to mind.

 

[Bennp2000]

Can it handle animations? I'm only talking about simple banner style adverts.

Inkscape looks interesting. Thanks.

 

[garryknight]

Can it handle animations?

Sorry, no idea. I haven't used it myself.

 

[ianp5a]

I use Inkscape a lot. It's not perfect. But lets you do complex illustrations.
For animation try Synfig. But for simple animations Inkscape can output a set of similar images for other applications to animate.

 

[Bennp2000]

Its basically for simple banner advert type work, nothing complex (i'd imagine Old Skool gifconstruct would do the job), I'm just trying to set up systems that a) don't cost anything and b) don't require me to know how to do everything on the tech / graphics / web side of things.

 

[ianp5a]

In that case you can do the artwork vectors in Inkscape and save out a set of PNGs and create an animation using Gimp. For advanced animations in Gimp use the the GAP plugin.

 

[Bennp2000]

Thanks!
I've just sent an AI file over to a printing company who are failing to be able to open either the AI or EPS in CS3. I didn't realise EPS had legacy formats?