July's Resources
This page contains useful resources I've collected over the years as a musician/artist and I decided to share my links, maybe it would help another soul
I share both paid and free resources here.
I do not share Adobe products here. Here's a list of Adobe alternatives.
All links are safe to access (I don't like viruses either bro). Occasionally updated when I find something cool.
Legend
💻 - Open-Source
🌟 - Free
🎀 - Free, optional payment available/freemium
💳 - Paid, perpetual/one-time
💸 - Paid, subscription-based
Table of Contents
Art
Drawing Programs and Drawing Tools
💻 | Piskel - Free online sprite maker
💻 | Krita - Drawing App - works similarly to CSP
💻 | LibreSprite - Open-Source Alternative to Aseprite
💻 | Inkscape - Vector Illustration program
🌟/💳 | Aseprite - Pixel Art Drawing Program
🎀 | Medibang - Drawing App
🎀 | Firealpaca - Drawing App
💳 | Resprite - Aseprite port for iOS/Android
💳 | Paint Tool SAI - Paint tool SAI (there is a way to get it for free but it's better to support the developers)
💳 | Lazy Nezumi - Line smoother for (mainly) Photoshop
💳 | SuperDisplay - Turns your Samsung tablet that has an SPen to a pen display tablet (drivers support Windows only)
💳/💸 | Clip Studio Paint - Drawing App (has 30-day trial)
Art Resources
🌟 | Transparent Texture - Transparent Textures
🌟 | Reference Sketchdaily - Repository of human references (18+ as it contains nudes also)
🌟 | Reference Angle - Repository of face angles references.
🎀 | Vishopper - Cut out people for references
🎀 | Planner5D - Room planner (catalog severely limited in free version)
🎀 | Homestyler - Room planner with more customization settings for free than P5D. It has a learning curve though.
🎀 | roomtodo - Room planner (might need a translator in some places)
Video Editors
💻 | Blender - Multipurpose program, mostly known for 3D Modeling, can also do light video editing, animation, motion graphics etc.
🎀 | DaVinci Resolve - Video Editor
I cannot recommend Camtasia anymore, despite I used it in the past.
They are very overpriced for what they offer, and their focus is mainly businesses and education instead of the regular user in addition to having an integrated AI in their recent versions. Camtasia fell off really hard.
Character Creation
🌟 | Picrew - Custom Character doll maker
🌟 | Hikaku Sitatter - Character height comparison
🌟 | Body Visualizer - Self-Explanatory
🌟 | Traits - A list of personality traits
🎀 | HeroForge - D&D Character Maker
Character Repositories
Toyhouse is the only one I tried, but I wanted to give some alternatives in case if you can't use Toyhouse for some reason.
Using a Wiki site such as Miraheze or Fandom is generally NOT a good idea
People can vandalize your pages if you don't secure them properly, but they do have their advantages such as complete control over how your repository looks!
🌟 | RefSheet - Character Repository
🌟 | CharacterHub - Character Repository
🎀 | Toyhouse- Character Repository with custom HTML and CSS support (Invite is required, if you need one DM me, I have a few!)
FYI, CharacterHub is Pro AI.
Inspiration
Story
💻 | Planet Generator - Self-Explanatory
💻 | Armoria - Flag Generator/Maker
💻 | Fantasy Map Generator - Self-Explanatory
🌟 | Springhole - Has advice how to write characters.
🌟 | TV Tropes - Search for numerous tropes for your story.
🎀 | Inkarnate - Map Maker.
🎀 | Dungeon Scrawl - RPG-Style Map Maker
All Purpose
🌟 | Pinterest - Imageboard
🌟 | TheBlueFish - Animation Meme List - Animation meme trends
Use AI tools ONLY for inspiration and research! DO NOT USE AI TO GENERATE SOMETHING YOU ARE GONNA CLAIM AS YOUR OWN!! There's no "easy way out", please respect the art you and others make.
🎀 | ChatGPT - OpenAI's AI chatbot.
🎀 | Gemini - Google's AI chatbot.
🎀 | CharacterAI - AI models based on characters or OCs. Good for roleplaying new ideas.
Word Processors/Notepads
💻 | LibreOffice - Open source office suite
🎀 | Obsidian - Notepad with markdown support.
🎀 | Notion - Notes app.
🎀 | OneNote - Note taking app with password protection.
💳 | Scrivener - Scrivener, word processor that supports multiple chapters, folders, plot planning etc. into one file.
💳 | Nebo - Ink note-taking app.
Music
Ear Training and Music Theory
💻 | GNU Solfege - GNU Solfege, silly open-source program that helps with ear training
💻 | Open Music Theory - Music Theory Manual
🌟 | Teoria - Ear training, Music theory, Jazz
🌟 | TonedEar - Ear training online
🎀 | muted.io - Music Theory lessons/app
Distribution Services
💳 | CD Baby - Music distribution service
💸 | DistroKid - Music distribution service
💸 | TuneCore- Music distribution service
💸 | LANDR - Sample and Plugin database, also has music distribution
💸 | SoundCloud Next - SoundCloud Membership, includes distribution among other benefits
DAWs and Notation
💻 | Musescore - Notation Software
💻 | Musescore 3 Evolution - Continued unofficial development of Musescore 3, for those who absolutely hate MS4 (like me)
💻 | Audacity - Audio Editor
💻 | LMMS - Open Source DAW
🌟 | Cakewalk (Free) - Discontinued Free Version of Cakewalk
🌟 | Free DAWs (BPB) - Self-Explanatory
🎀 | BandLab - Online DAW
💳 | FL Studio - FL Studio - Digital Audio Station (DAW) (can use trial for an unlimited time)
💳 | Live (Ableton) - Digital Audio Station (DAW)
💸 | Cakewalk - New, paid Cakewalk (requires BandLab membership)
VSTs and Samples
🌟 | Free DAW Plugins (Google Sheets) - A list of free DAW plugins and samples
🌟 | Plugins4Free - Free Plugins
🌟 | Looperman - Free Samples
🌟/💳 | Plugin Boutique - Plugin store. (Also offers really good free plugins and samples. Does have banger discounts to good plugins sometimes.)
🎀/💸 | FL Cloud - Samples and Plugins, distribution powered by DistroKid. (works ONLY with FL Studio)
💸 | LANDR - Sample and Plugin database, also has music distribution
💸 | Splice - Sample and Plugin database. Also has Rent-to-Own (pay plugins in installments) to popular plugins.
Soundfonts and SFZ
🌟 | Soundfonts4U - Soundfonts
🌟 | Musical Artifacts - Soundfonts
🌟 | Musescore Default Soundfonts - Soundfonts that shipped with or used to ship with Musescore.
🌟/💳 | SFZ Instruments - Might need Sforzando for this
🌟 | Breakcore is not a good way to get laid - Breakcore sample pack
🌟 | The ultimate Amen Breaks pack - Amen breaks pack
Misc
🌟 | Index of Phonetones - Collection of mobile ringtones (for inspiration). Also has Soundfonts, obscure audio software and other interesting stuff.
🌟 | Phonemes for Synthesizer V - may be useful for other vocal synths that use systems similar to SynthV
🌟 | Music packaging templates - Beware: These are REALLY BIG.
🌟 | Freesound - Free/Royalty-free open-source sounds
Unsorted/Misc
💻 | Cobalt - YouTube/TikTok/Twitter/Bluesky etc. downloader
🌟 | Random Color - Self-Explanatory
🌟 | Pixabay - Free Royalty-free music, stock images, sounds etc.
🌟 | Coolors - Color palette generator
🌟 | ColorSpace - Color palette generator
🌟 | Color Hunt - Curated color palettes
🌟 | color-hex - HEX colors
🌟 | Color Picker (Google) - Color Picker
🌟 | Image Color Picker (PineTools) - Color Picker
🌟 | Ezgif - Online GIF editor/maker
🌟 | ComicFury - Free webcomic hosting with heavy customization and custom HTML and CSS
🎀 | Carrd - Website Builder
🎀 | Figma - Graphic Design application used by professionals (really powerful even on free version)
Changelog
02/10/2025
- Added Musescore 3 Evolution.
- Removed Routenote, as I saw many unpleasant experiences with it.
12/14/2024 v2
- Added more links I forgor about oops
- Added Character Repositories section
- Fixed a few misspells
12/14/2024
- Added Legend
- Tidied up a bit
- Added a few more popular resources and resources that I have found
- Removed Map to Globe due to the site being dead on my end
- Removed Fantasy Name Generator due to it not working properly on my end
- Removed the Archive Sample Collection as it was sadly taken down :(