Freeman Creative Hub
Your Adobe replacement workspace.
One private launchpad for PDF tools, design tools, cloud files, photo editing, video editing, audio work, and creative projects.
Replacement Strategy
- Acrobat: Stirling PDF
- Express: Penpot / Canva-style workflows
- Photoshop: GIMP, Krita, Inkscape
- Premiere: OpenShot or DaVinci Resolve
- Audition: Audacity
- Office: Microsoft 365 stays
Creative Tools
Server-based where possible. Desktop apps where the browser tools are not good enough yet.
PDF Tools
Stirling PDF
Merge, split, compress, rotate, convert, and organize PDFs from your own server.
Quick Photo Fixes
PicFixer
Brighten, sharpen, resize, rotate, and clean up images from your home network.
Whiteboard Video Clips
LessonDoodle
Create short whiteboard-style animated lesson clips with SVG doodles, titles, timing controls, backgrounds, and fast MP4 export for PowerDirector.
Comic / Story Builder
StoryDoodle
Create classroom comic strips and story scenes with backgrounds, characters, props, and speech bubbles.
Files / Storage
Nextcloud
Store project files, graphics, documents, student work areas, and creative assets.
Office Suite
Microsoft 365
Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneDrive, and other Microsoft tools you are keeping.
Design Studio
Penpot
Self-hosted design tool for posters, layouts, banners, web graphics, and interface mockups.
Whiteboard / Diagrams
Excalidraw
Simple self-hosted sketchboard for diagrams, planning, classroom visuals, and quick drawings.
Photo Editing
GIMP
Open-source image editor for cropping, resizing, retouching, layers, and exports.
Quick Photo Fixes
digiKam
Easy photo organizing, cropping, resizing, color correction, and quick enhancement tools.
Art / Graphics
Krita
Friendly creative graphics and digital painting tool. Good for art-style work and illustrations.
Vector / Logos
Inkscape
Open-source vector editor for logos, icons, SVG graphics, and clean printable designs.
Video Editing
OpenShot
Simpler video editor for basic projects, clips, titles, trimming, and export.
Advanced Video
DaVinci Resolve
Powerful free video editor if OpenShot is not enough. More capable but steeper learning curve.
Audio Editing
Audacity
Free audio editor for trimming, cleaning, recording, podcast work, and simple audio production.
Recording
OBS Studio
Screen recording, camera recording, livestreaming, and video capture.
Simple rule
Use the server tools first when they do the job. Use desktop tools only when photo, video, or audio work needs more power than a browser tool can comfortably provide.