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University of Iowa

University Libraries

Digital Humanities (DH): Tools

A quick guide to everything you need to get started with Digital Humanities.

Programming Tutorials

  • Coding Fundamentals with CodeCombat
    • learn the basics of coding by playing a game
    • Free, option to purchase extended edition of the game
  • Code Academy
    • Learn a selection of programing languages
    • Requires user sign-in
    • Free and open to anyone
  • W3C Schools
    • Learn Web Development languages and frameworks (ex: HTML, JQuery, PHP)
    • Free and open to anyone
    • Does not require sign-in or user ID
  • LinkedIn Learning
    • Learn about programing and pretty much anything else technical you can imagine (ex: Photoshop, Ruby, Design)
    • Those with a Hawkid can access Linda for free through https://its.uiowa.edu/linkedin-learning!
    • Other institutions may also have agreement with Lynda, otherwise there is a monthly fee
  • Microsoft Virtual Academy
    • Able to obtain certificate in programming
    • Requires Microsoft user sign-in
    • Free

Visualization

Network Analysis

Text Mining

  • Natural Language Toolkit
  • Python
  • R
  • Voyant
  • TEI?

Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

  • ESRI
    • ArcGIS
  • Harvard World Map
  • Google Maps
  • Open Street Map
  • Quantium GIS

Web Publishing and Content Management Systems (CMSs)

  • Wordpress (.com/ .org)
  • OMEKA (.net / .org)
  • Drupal
  • Square Space

Visual & Audio

  • Adobe Creative Suite: Industry standard. Integrated workflow between Adobe products. Available to UI students/educators at a discount, otherwise able to purchase piece-meal or as a package. Prices vary.
    • Photoshop
      • image editor
    • InDesign
      • page design and layout toolset
    • Bridge
      • centralized access to all the media
      • batch editing
    • After Effects
      • motion graphics and visual effects toolset
    • Audition
      • Record, edit, and create audio content
  • GIMP
    • image editor
    • free
  • Paint.net
    • image editor
    • free
  • Audacity
    • video editor
    • free

3D Modeling

  • Blender : Free and Open Source
    • Built by committee therefore LOTS to learn
    • Interface is not intuitive
    • Large user base and many tutorials (although most of the tutorials are outdated because Blender changes so much)
    • Can be buggy (product will not work the way you expect it to)
  • Creator
    • Stable industry product (regularly developed and maintained unlike Open Source)
    • Made for military flight stimulations
    • underlying 3D object database to support your models
    • difficult to learn without instruction
    • expensive
  • Maya : Autodesk software.  Free for a 3 year educational license
    • Stable industry product (regularly developed and maintained unlike Open Source)
    • Used mainly for animation and special effects
    • Also used for 3D application development
  • Mudbox : Autodesk software. Free for a 3 year educational license
    • Stable industry product (regularly developed and maintained unlike Open Source)
    • you model as if you are sculpting clay (more intuitive for those used to modeling with physical material)
    • quicker to model organic shapes
    • up to date tutorials
  • SketchUp
    • Easy to use
    • Minimal interface for basic modeling
    • Is not meant to be used for advanced modeling
    • Tiered pricing model Personal/Pro/Corporate from free to recurring fees (Able to take advantage of the SketchUp platform with just the free Personal tier simply called SketchUp)
  • Unity
    • Gaming engine (not built for modeling but you can still do modeling in Unity)
    • Interactive/real time exploration of 3D space
    • web delivery (requires that user has Unity plugin)
    • Tiered pricing model Personal/Professional/Expertise from free to monthly fees (Able to take advantage of the Unity platform with just the free Personal tier)
  • ZBrush : $795 individual license or inquire for academic/educational license
    • Stable industry product (regularly developed and maintained unlike Open Source)
    • you model as if you are sculpting clay (more intuitive for those used to modeling with physical material)
    • quicker to model organic shapes
    • up to date tutorials
  • 3D Studio Max : Autodesk software. UI students/educators receive discounts on software; free for a 3 year license
    • Stable industry product (regularly developed and maintained unlike Open Source)
    • Expensive if using commercially
    • Not allowed to use outside of Educational context, not for commercial use (if you've bought the cheaper educational license)
    • powerful modeling and rendering software

Code Editors

  • Notepad
  • Notepad ++
  • Adobe Dreamweaver
  • Sublime
  • Microsoft Visual Studio
  • Net Beans