The easy guide to Ubuntu 12.04's media creation

Ubuntu is definitely a full-fledged operating system that can successfully handle not only "common" daily tasks (reading an email, browsing the web, watching a movie, etc) but also complex "workflows", such as dealing, maneuvering and editing media-oriented actions, where creativity can be unleashed and corroborated with powerful applications, apps "situated" usually 1-click away in the warmth and "coolness" of Ubuntu Software Center.

How can we express our creativity, passion, feeling, demands, requirements, intentions via software usable in Ubuntu 12.04 LTS?

Inkscape is a versatile vector graphics editor featuring an intuitive user interface, support for numerous filetypes (on both import and export, usually generated by SVG files) and a complex "world" of ellipses, freehand curves, bitmap images, rectangles, 3D boxes, diagram connectors, gradients, etc, a massive amount of filters (Blurs, Distorts, Image effects, Morphology, Overlays, Textures, Protrusions, etc), bundle usable via an integrated into the Ubuntu desktop interface (support for Ubuntu's minimalist Ayatana Overlay Scrollbar, enriched Unity launcher quicklist).
Inkscape is available in Ubuntu Software Center along with a default pack of add-ons (installed when the user clicks the Install button) and non-default add-ons (installable by checking them and hitting the Apply button when in Inkscape's USC detail view).

Blender is a high-quality integrated 3D suite useful for post-production, interactive creation, modelling, animation, rendering, etc created as a fast application with support for import/export notorious file formats (including 3D Studio and Wavefront Obj).
With Blender, creation reaches a high peek, users can enrich their content by adding surfaces, text, curves, textures and much more in a precise, full-of-features environment.
Blender is available in Ubuntu Software Center.

Openshot allows user to create, edit, tweak and refine videos in various popular video formats, presenting itself as an open-source video editor that features video and audio effects, 3D animations, multiple tracks, key-frame animations, fancy transitions, as well as video upload support (Youtube and Vimeo) and an easy-to-use interface where a neat animated title is just few click-away.
OpenShot is available in Ubuntu Software Center.

PiTiVi is a video editor shaped around the powerful Gstreamer, useful for users looking for a quick way of rendering and editing a video, benefiting a handy previewer screen, sequencer and an overall look&feel of lightness and quickness.
PiTiVi is available in Ubuntu Software Center.

GIMP is probably the open-source "king" of picture editing with support for create, enhance, edit, tweak, adjust, transform pictures via a massive set of tools and configuration options.
When in GIMP, the image is fully exposed to the user that can easily maneuver its layers, masks, paths, size, shape, actions on-demand enhanced via the GIMP filters (Blur, Enhance, Distort, Noise, Edge-Detect, Decor, Map, Animation, etc).
GIMP is available in Ubuntu Software Center with a set of default add-ons and non-default add-ons that bring a consistent amount of extra functionalities (gimp-gmic, gimp-plugin-registry, gimp-data-extras, etc).

MyPaint is a fast open-source application oriented towards digital painters with a clear focus on performed actions rather than the actual interface, introducing the user to a clean, light canvas with the ability to summon menus on-demand.
MyPaint combines a minimalistic interface with a simple look yet backed by extensive brush creation, layer support and unlimited canvas (thus reducing the need to constantly resize it), furthermore the application is optimized (not only but also) for pressure-sensitive graphic tablets.
MyPaint is available in Ubuntu Software Center.

Pinta is designed as a simplified GIMP, meaning it offers a simplified image editing experience, yet featuring effects (Warp, Glow, Motion blur, etc), multiple layers support, unlimited undo/redo actions (enhanced history support), as well as numerous drawing tools (freehand, lines, rectangles, ellipses, etc).
Pinta is available in Ubuntu Software Center.

Darktable deals with one's digital negatives exposing them to various actions in order to gain an enhanced version of the used images via a zoomable interface, enhanced file types import support (JPG, CR2, HDR, PFM, etc), as well as a solid export process (Picasa, Flickr, , etc).
Darktable is available in Ubuntu Software Center.

Shotwell is Ubuntu's default photo manager, useful to import images from both cameras and regular folders, a high-quality photo manager with support for tags, rating, tile editing, functionality strengthened by the ability to publish items (Facebook, Flickr, Picasa Web Albums, Piwigo) and/or tweaking them (Crop, Straighten, Red-eye, Adjust, Enhance).
Shotwell is installed by default in Ubuntu.

Pyroom is a lightweight text editor designed with simplicity and "just-focus" in mind, providing an "absolute" fullscreen mode (when launched) that presents the user just a "board" where text is to be typed, thus eliminating the distractions that could reduce one's concentration level.
Pyroom has a shortcut-based user interaction, meaning, in order to access its menu and configuration options, users must click Ctrl+H , shortcut that summons a further set of useful shortcuts, that are to be used for common tasks such as adjusting its theme, file autosave interval, etc.
Pyroom is available in Ubuntu Software Center.

FocusWriter exposes the user to a distraction-free environment where stories, ideas, chapters, etc can be conceived with no interference from the "noisy" desktop, featuring an fullscreen mode when launched and allowing the users to summon its menu only by demand, meaning, in order to access the menu, one must push the mouse cursor towards the top of the screen.
FocusWriter features a decent set of configuration options, such as font changing, support for custom background image, autosave, find, replace, statistics, spell checking, toolbar modifications, etc.
FocusWriter is available in Ubuntu Software Center.