Free Tools
To get the job done, consider using free and/or open-source software. Here are some recommendations:
DoubleCAD™ XT is an AutoCAD LT work-alike. But free.
DoubleCAD™ XT is a great companion with AutoCAD® -- and if you are a Google™ SketchUp™ user wanting to go from concept-to-construction drawings -- or have an older copy of AutoCAD LT® that can't read the latest AutoCAD® files -- DoubleCAD™ XT is an invaluable companion to SketchUp™ and AutoCAD LT®, too.
InkScapeGIMP is a versatile graphics manipulation package quite similar to Photoshop.
An Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, CorelDraw, or Xara X, using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format.
Inkscape supports many advanced SVG features (markers, clones, alpha blending, etc.) and great care is taken in designing a streamlined interface. It is very easy to edit nodes, perform complex path operations, trace bitmaps and much more. We also aim to maintain a thriving user and developer community by using open, community-oriented development.
Google SketchUp is software that you can use to create 3D models of anything you like.
Most people get rolling with SketchUp in just a few minutes. Dozens of video tutorials, an extensive Help Center and a worldwide user community mean that anyone who wants to make 3D models with SketchUp, can.
OpenOffice.org 3 is the leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. It stores all your data in an international open standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages. It can be downloaded and used completely free of charge for any purpose.