Graphic Design Education

[the_jamester]

Greetings,

I am interested in learning more about designing graphics to be used both on the web and as part of other applications. Unfortunately, I have very little knowledge pertaining to designing graphics in general.

What are some popular programs for creating graphics? Are certain programs more geared toward web graphics? I have used Adobe Photoshop, but I can't claim that I know how to use it well. Sure, I've made text look cool by adding layer styles. I've spent alot of time browsing through tutorials on the web, and I've created photo albums, etc. I still don't know how to create graphics. I think what I may be looking for is a drawing program. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Are there any open source alternatives to expensive programs?

Thanks,
James

[graphicsdude]

Jamester,
Photoshop is a great program but like many of the top programs it is complicated and expensive. When it comes to graphics software you usually get what you pay for. If you want to continue with PS invest in a book or two. It is good to have something you can hold on to (and write notes in) when you are learning.

There is one program I have used that combines features of the three major graphics titles. Canvas (www.deneba.com) is a program where you can edit photos like Adobe Photoshop, handle vector drawing like Adobe Illustrator and do page layout like Quark Xpress. The best part is that it costs less than any one of the big three just mentioned.

Still when it all is said and done, whether you have the most expensive or the least expensive software, the skill and creativity of the person with the mouse (you!) is the most important thing. Hope this helps. If you have any other ?'s let me know.

[the_jamester]

Thanks for the reply, graphicsdude.

I'll take a look at Canvas and see what it's about.

If I were to buy a book about drawing or creating graphics, do you have any suggestions?

Thanks again,
James

[dawn]

Designing graphics is not just about the tools you need, there are other things to take into account.

ie - great design is not something that can be taught specifically, you have to have a bit of artistic talent to start with. There are so many people out there who think that if they have Photoshop (or similar) then they can design. Yes maybe they can, but its not always great design - in fact sometimes it can be abysmal.

Have a search through Amazon for Graphic Design books and see if there's anything that you think may help you out.

If you think its what you really want to do look about for a graphic design course in your area.

The programs I use are:
For web design - Adobe Photoshop, Adobe ImageReady, Adobe GoLive

For print design - Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Quark Xpress

These are the industry standard programs but yes there are cheaper alternatives that you can get to start with.

Please don't take this advice the wrong way - I simply want to help you get on the right track.

[grump]

Note: Over simplified for brevity...
Note2: I'm not a graphic designer, I'm a developer with enough under my belt to get by... so this isn't expert advise... just a suggestion... I may be wrong... at worst it may help you get to my average level to skill...

A few options for you...
- Raster Graphics Programs
-- Industry Standard: Adobe Photoshop
-- Cheaper Alternatives: Macromedia Fireworks, JASC Paint Shop Pro
-- Free Alternatives: GIMP & IrfanView <-- these 2 are highly recommended because Photoshop itself only adds a little extra in features... but it depends what you want to do in the end... all the above tools should be adequate... and the skill sets for any should be interchangable with very little learning... aim for photoshop if you can afford it... if not start with
GIMP (though you'd need a grounding to adapt tutorials for it)...
- Vector Graphics Programs
-- Industry Standard: Adobe Illustrator
-- Cheaper Alternatives: Macromedia Freehand
-- Free Alternatives: I'm sure they're out there, but I have no experience with them.
-- Hybrid Alternatives: Adobe InDesign, Quark Express, Macromedia Flash, etc.
- Research material
-- One solid grounding book in theory, doesn't need to be new... must cover all the tools properly and thoroughly in regard to theory... for example when discussing layers it should explain what colours pass through rather then how to apply a layer... Photoshop in a Nutshell (original for ver 3.0) was what I used, but you probably want something that covers a newer version... buy it used though as it doesn't have to be CS... good place for books, especially older ones? www.halfpricecomputerbooks.ca (i've been using them for years)...
-- Every tutorial you can get your hands on. This may seem like a stupid thing to say, but i've found most books with graphic design to be useless, I can learn the tricks discussed quicker with an online tutorial. If there is a specific technique you'd like to learn... chances are its online for free... don't limit yourself to your program... once comfortable... take the tutorial for a competing program... and adapt it to your program... you'll learn quicker this way... what i'm saying is after you have the basics with book 1... you're looking for tricks more then anything... if you run dry with online tutorials that interest you i'd recommend turning you attention away from graphic tricks books and instead...
-- Focus on genuine graphic design theory... typography, color, limitations of your tools, stuff like that... someone else mentioned earlier you need inate talent to be a graphic designer, I'm not sure about that myself... to be a graphic artist absolutely... to be a great graphic design again absolutely... the majority of graphic designers (yet still successful ones) are in between, they have some artistic talent, and some skill with the tools, or they're strong artistically and weak in the tools, or they're strong with the tools and weak artistically... grounding in the theory behind the tools will make you at minimum acchieve average skill as a designer, if you have artistic talent as well it will be all you need to become excellent...

Hope that helps... if someone disagrees with me please overrule me... this is just my experience... and as I said... its not actually my profession... :P

Cheers,
Owen

[Graft-Creative]

Basically, what everyone else said - particularly Owen's last comment.
If you are going the way of Photoshop, the main things are selections, layers, and colours - forget about *cool* layer styles, filters, plugins, whatever: Start with the basics - all these other things, if implemented in the wrong way, just come accross as cheap tricks.

it all starts with the idea, not the tool, if you let the tool lead the process,well then - the tail will be wagging the dog, and your designs will end up in the comfortable zone of the 'generic'.

Ok, practical advice: this is what I do - I have a scrapbook, well, half a dozen now, anything and everything that catches my eye goes in - magazine ads, nightclub flyers, tickets, scans of cd covers/book covers etc, whatever.

Just immerse yourself in it in this way - the idea is to educate your eye, and your aesthetic sensibilities - once you have this, you can start figuring out how to use the tools to translate your ideas into reality.

Hope that helps a bit?

Kind Regards,

Gary

[the-sex]

I use Macromedia Fireworks.
Bleh @ Photoshop.

[Graft-Creative]

I use Macromedia Fireworks.
Bleh @ Photoshop.

hrm, food for thought there..............