Gesticulate

A freehand drawing tool

by Christopher Tipper @ct1003

Download

GESTICULATE IS a free-hand sketching tool that aims for simplicity over the complexity of tools used by graphics designers. Key features are vector graphics and text areas that may be used to sketch and add explanatory text to convey a concept or an idea.

A snapshot tool can send a stream of images to the desktop that could be used as the basis for a presentation. A bonus feature is an online map component where a map can be rendered and resized and then overlaying text and graphics can be used to illuminate it.

I should note that the original intention when the project started some years back was to leverage touch technology that did not at that time exist. It remains an unfulfilled aspiration, it is unlikely that the program can be modified for touch, but work continues apace on a reworking of the concept [1] [image] for touch-based devices using the JavaFX framework. My project Fondu is also a touch-enabled mockup of this concept.

The app is free to download and use. Because I cannot afford a cross-platform signing certificate the user will have to accept a number of vexatious security warnings. All necessary steps have been taken to ensure the integrity of developer machines and I supply SHA verification for those with the knowledge of this. Downloads are served over a secure connection.

[1] I am making GesticulateFX available open-source on GitHub

Features

Sketch

The app provides vector shapes and a curve-fitted sketching tool which allow grouping of shapes, arrow lines and other strokes including dotted, double and railway-tracks.

Type

Text blocks with multi-line editing that provide rich formatting with character palette and date insertion. Text blocks may be oriented at any angle for easy labels.

Images

Import images in the most common formats from the Tools menu to the drawing, scale them and rotate them and use the drawing tool to highlight them, adding arrows and text comments.

Snapshot

There is a screenshot button at the top-right which captures a snapshot of the current drawing to the Desktop. Capture a series of screenshots as the starting point for a presentation.

Maps

Mapping viewports based on an image that update from a variety of Open Streetmap and Bing Maps sources, maps are easily resized and highlighted with the drawing tools.

Export

Easily export a clean scalable vector (SVG) rendering of the current drawing for resolution independent output and export a bitmap version (PNG) for use in other applications.

Download

A summary of changes — Changelog.txt

Mac

Gesticulate_2.1-aarch64.dmg

44.9MB

— download and launch the bundle and then drag Gesticulate.app to the Applications folder. The application will be associated with documents created with the .gst file extension.

Note No separate java installation is required.

Windows

Gesticulate_Setup_2.1.exe

39.6MB

— download the setup application and double-click to launch, following the setup wizard. Start Menu items will be created and the application will be associated with documents created with the .gst file extension.

Note No separate java installation is required.

Ubuntu

gesticulate_2.1_amd64.deb

43.7MB

— download the bundle and then execute sudo apt install ./gesticulate_2.1_amd64.deb — the application will then be available from the Graphics submenu and will be associated with documents created with the .gst file extension.

Note No separate java installation is required.

Archive

gesticulate-2.1-min.zip

13MB

— unpack the archive to a convenient folder and double-click to launch gesticulate.jar. If that does nothing this help site describes how to create a custom launcher for GNOME or Xfce4. Alternatively java -jar gesticulate.jar from the shell, assuming Java is on your path.

Note This will require a Java 21+ runtime to be installed.

Legal Notice: This software is free to download and use, but is provided at the user’s own risk and without warranty, express or otherwise. This software is not for redistribution.