  Let X be the moduli of SL(3,C) representations of a rank r free group. In
this paper we determine minimal generators of the coordinate ring of X. This at
once gives explicit global coordinates for the moduli and determines the
dimension of the moduli's minimal affine embedding. Along the way, we utilize
results concerning the moduli of r-tuples of matrices in gl(3,C). Consequently,
we also state general invariant theoretic correspondences between the
coordinate rings of the moduli of r-tuples of elements in gl(n,C), sl(n,C), and
SL(n,C).
