Graphics/Design Software Question

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   jenblacksheepposted 13 years ago

   Does anyone know of any good (or free) software for designing stuff. I use photoshop for editing photos I already have, but to create something from scratch its not very easy. I'm designing a cover for my mum's book and I need to create like a symbol or design of some kind and I need to be able to work out dimensions and that sort of thing. Basically like a more advanced version of Paint.
   
   Any ideas?

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      fossmaniacposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      You can use inkscape for drawing svg graphics : logos,banners and other designs.
      Site:http://www.inkscape.org/
      Tutorials:http://inkscapetutorials.wordpress.com/
      Gimp is a great replacement to photoshop.It's free and opensource.Plus there are a lot of tutorials for it.
      Site:http://www.gimp.org/
      Manuals:http://www.gimp.org/docs/

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   relacheposted 13 years ago

   You might want to give GIMP a try.  It's freeware.

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      jenblacksheepposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      My friend uses GIMP, he said it was basically like Photoshop, but ye, might give it a try. Thanx

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         climberjamesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         GIMP is good

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            waynetposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            No gimp mask is involved....!

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               jenblacksheepposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Thanx, coz I was worried!

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      isyanposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      yah.. GIMP is a good software and most of all.. its free

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   Richieb799posted 13 years ago

   You could design the logo in Adobe Illustrator and the compose the layout of the Cover in Quark Xpress?

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      jenblacksheepposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I've never heard of either of those but I'll have a look into it, thanx!!

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   sunforgedposted 13 years ago

   If you already have photoshop, using GIMP will do nothing for you, its more likely to be even less intuitive for you.
   
   My suggestion is learn how to use photoshop - its can be as basic as paint - there is little need for learning yet another software program.

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      kirstenblogposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      This is my thinking too.
      I have both gimp and photo shop and find gimp confusing in comparison to photo shop, tho I do use it for fractal mapping, that can turn out some weird and wonderful images
      
      I do build images from scratch in photo shop often, I find it loads of fun actually

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         kirstenblogposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Just in case you are curious what I mean
         

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         sunforgedposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         There is  a plug in set that will make GIMP seem more like Photoshop for users used to that workspace.
         
         I use it on my netbook as PS would crawl!! on it.
         
         Its called GIMPshop - http://www.gimpshop.com/

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            kirstenblogposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I might have to look into that
            I do have PS on my laptop but we have had to jump through many a flaming hoop to get it working and I am still having problems with the memory getting full up on like one image I am working on so that saving is a total nightmare. I think the problem was down to PS not being compatible with the OS for the laptop and if we couldn't have found a way it would have had to go back. It is for my MIL and I will get hers when we trade and she needs it for simple image manipulation, if it persists in being a problem I may well refer back to your post to see if that plug in works well enough to give her gimp to do the work she needs so we don't have a problem swapping laptops Ok that was long winded!
            
            Totally off topic, hows the newborn?

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   sunforgedposted 13 years ago

   I learned Photoshop by building designs from scratch and playing with filters during a very relaxed photo class in 1998 or so.
   
   I imagine there can be a bit of an overload with all the options and tools now available ..but the same basic tools still exist.
   
   Canvas, palette, pencil / brush tool - You really dont need anything else to start a design.

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   sunforgedposted 13 years ago

   Just handed her off to momma - shes growing good, her looks change daily which is fun to watch and guess about and she is finally developing a set of lungs!
   
   So my workday starts at 4am today yeah!

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      kirstenblogposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      How cute! Just wait till she learns fun words like, 'no' and 'don't wanna'

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   jenblacksheepposted 13 years ago

   Hey guys, thanx for all the advice. Just a quick thought ... I have Photoshop Elements rather than Photoshop regular (I'm fairly sure they are different things :s) are they basically the same though?

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      sunforgedposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      no not really all that similar - elements is like a premium version of Picassa or any of the photo editing software that comes with most printers.
      
      Its been a while since I fired it up - it may be missing some of the tools that would make it best for true freestyle design.
      
      But as long as you have  a pen/brush tool and palette options it should do the job

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   Nick Bposted 13 years ago

   I think it all depends upon whether you want vector graphics or want to 'paint' the picture.
   
   I would say either Corel Draw & PhotoPaint or Photoshop and Illustrator are the best packages out there.

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   waynetposted 13 years ago

   I do use Gimp a lot, I'm a fan of the blending/smudge tool on my drawings as I can colour them and then just smudge them for a quick Zazzle design.
   
   I do have Photoshop on my Mac too and that's great, I'm going through a training course to use the basics of this which I'm enjoying.

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    shivangi1posted 13 years ago

    If you are looking for graphic design tools to help you quickly and easily create, customize and trademark your own logo, symbols,creative graphics and brand identity.take a look at: http://www.summitsoftcorp.com/logo-design-software.html

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    GarunaLiuposted 13 years ago

    Photoscape

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    Cheeky Girlposted 13 years ago

    Ever heard of GimpSHOP? it's a photoshopped version of GIMP for Photoshop lovers and afficionadoes out there. I use it and Gimp and it rocks.

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