Art Graphic Design Center

[cancer]

[COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]Calling all graphic designers and all aspiring graphic designers, and even those who are just somewhat interested in graphic design. I want to have a thread where I can go to discuss both how to create amazing graphics and how to do graphic design as a career. So if you have any questions or tutorials about graphic design, post them here. Also, I'll get this started by posting a simple query: I'd love to become a graphic designer, but I've never really learned much about Photoshop or anything, so where do I start? What's the best way to learn Photoshop effectively? Thanks.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Retribution]

[size=1]I wouldn't recommend worrying too much about the career part of graphic design. Go to college, take some classes your freshman year, and if you enjoy it alot, consider majoring in it. Then go from there.

In general, graphic design can be observed in the real world (Magazines are great) if you just open your eyes and look around you. Everything from that Pepsi can you just threw away to your school textbooks is graphic design. If you observe the elements of design from the professionals, you'll learn from the best.

As for how to get good with Photoshop, I'd recommend [b][i]obtaining[/i][/b] ;) it and then just playing around in it. Try to emulate effects you like alot, and read alot of tutorials ([url=http://www.pixel2life.com][b]Pixel2Life[/b][/url] is great), no matter what they're about. The best way to learn is through trial and error. With that method, not only do you learn the effects you wanted, but you also learn all sorts of interesting tricks along the way.

My final tip is to stick with it through thick and thin. It will be frustrating. At times you will just want to stop forever. Just know ahead of time that it's going to be a long, bumpy ride and it won't always be fun. It'll be months, possibly years before you're where you want to be. But don't give up, just strive to get better than you were yesterday.[/size]

[sikaurai]

Yes, I have many questions about graphics and media, as far as art is concerned. I have been hailed as a prodigy, so to speak, by my circle back home. And art is really all my feeble mind is capable of comprehending. The software aspect, however, is confusing to me, and I've never been educated in the concept of art-technology. I'm finding posts like these very helpful, because I'm kind of embarrassed to ask other Otakuites how they achieve such professional results in their art. For instance, what exactly is GIMP, and how do you obtain it? And as for Photoshop, I heard that it is a very hard program to master. . . is there such a thing as an online tutorial? Trial and error, on such an expensive software package, would be kind of frustrating, wouldn't it?

[Retribution]

[quote name='sikaurai']I'm finding posts like these very helpful, because I'm kind of embarrassed to ask other Otakuites how they achieve such professional results in their art.[/quote]
[size=1]Don't be. Digital art is an extremelly challenging media to become proficient in, and everyone acknowledges that. No one is going to laugh at you, because everyone else at one point or another was a beginner too.

[QUOTE]For instance, what exactly is GIMP, and how do you obtain it?[/QUOTE]
[url=http://www.gimp.org/]GIMP[/url] is a program sophisticated enough where you can create decent digital art. However, it is minimal and simplistic when compared to Photoshop in terms of function. Additionally, GIMP is free software, whereas Photoshop is very expensive. If you're interested in just seeing what digital art is like, I'd recommend GIMP to you. However, once you reach a certain point, the program's simplicity will become more of a hinderance than anything else.

[QUOTE]And as for Photoshop, I heard that it is a very hard program to master. . . is there such a thing as an online tutorial? Trial and error, on such an expensive software package, would be kind of frustrating, wouldn't it?[/QUOTE]
Indeed, it is a very hard program to master. I've been at it for almost two years, and you can see my skill level in my art thread.

To my knowledge, there is no online tutorial because there is no feasible way to write a tutorial on such an expansive and sophisticated program. Trial and error, coupled with use of tutorials teaching them specific effects, is the way most people learned the ins and outs of the program. Here's a personal example.

I got Photoshop about two years ago, and immediately wanted to create amazing art. It didn't happen, because that's like trying to draw a cityscape when you haven't mastered two point perspective. So I decided "If I want to make that effect, I'd better look up a tutorial on it." I did, and after repeating that last step and following the tutorials, I slowly accumulated knowledge on how Photoshop works. As I got better, I realized I could combine steps from other tutorials to create unique effects, and by playing around even further, I got even better results.

This was a long and painful process, amounting to about 3 months of pain. And let me tell you, the life of a Photoshop noob in an unsupportive environment is a hard one, but I think that's what ultimately pushed me to get better. But don't worry, we'll be here to help if you have any questions or concerns.[/size]

[Ezekiel]

[SIZE=1][quote name='sikaurai']And as for Photoshop, I heard that it is a very hard program to master. . . is there such a thing as an online tutorial? Trial and error, on such an expensive software package, would be kind of frustrating, wouldn't it?[/quote]

I'm always saddened by the fact that people assume Photoshop is the only software you can use for creating 'amazing digital art'. It really, really isn't. I've had Photoshop and found it to be unnecessarily complicated for the things I want to do. I use Paint Shop Pro 9 (X is available now, I believe), and that's all I ever want to stick with.

It's a helluva lot cheaper than Photoshop and, as far as I can tell from my Photoshopping days, only misses a few things that Photoshop has. (Extra filters, gradients, and more text options). However, if you're patient, you can replicate most desirable effects using Paint Shop.

Honestly, I only suggest going for Photoshop if you want to do graphic design on a professional level, like Retribution. If you just want it for a fun hobby, like myself, then buy Paint Shop Pro.

If you do go for it and want any help, feel free to ask me. =)[/SIZE]

[sakurasuka]

[QUOTE=Ezekiel][SIZE=1]
If you do go for it and want any help, feel free to ask me. =)[/SIZE][/QUOTE]

[size=1]Ditto.

I love me some PSP. Though, in a matter of a month or two, I will likely be buying Photoshop for my new Mac.

Eh, I'd honestly suggest Paint Shop Pro 8. Nine is alright, but eight seems to be a bit simpler and easier to master.

Ebay is your friend. I got my PSP8 for twenty bucks, and never needed any other program 'till now.

And for the record, GIMP sucks. Do not use it unless you absolutely have to. It's not even much better than MS Paint, which I preffer to the former anyways.

[/size]

[Delta]

[COLOR=#35425E][quote name='cancer][COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]I'd love to become a graphic designer, but I've never really learned much about Photoshop or anything, so where do I start? What's the best way to learn Photoshop effectively?[/SIZE'][/COLOR][/quote]Posting to reiterate what has been said before. [b]Practice, practice, practice.[/b] Oh, and you gotta be as tough as nails, I think, 'cause there's really no easy way to get better at it than to [b]practice, practice, practice[/b] (and it's absolutely annoying when you ask a decent question and get that for an answer, isn't it?). It's easy to learn them really neat techniques but putting them together into a satisfactory piece is wonderful mind****. (PROTIP: Try even those tutorials that are rated "Difficult". Tutorial makers often make the mistake of underestimating the population)

It's not a crime to copy styles but to get ahead, you gotta offer something new. It sucks to be someone who's style is exactly like Trib's or Ezekiel's 'cause I'm gonna be all like "Ah, nothing new here. Might as well wait for the next update of 's art thread."

Also, dedication. Keep at it until your eyes bleed or at least 'til your program crashes. I took a sabbatical from fiddling with PS and am now in a major rut. *headscratch* Not to worry; inspiration's just around the corner, they say.

I never really understood PSP so if you're gonna ask me questions, they better be about Photoshop. Or how to sneak yaoi into banners. Whichever. ;P

Best of luck, chief![/COLOR]

[cancer]

[COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]Ok, I've gotten a comission from a clinic in Florida to do their logo design and the like. I've so far designed two images for them, which are attached below. Please tell me which one you like better and how you think I could make them much better. Because I'd really like my designs to be chosen, so I'd appreciate any and all input. Thanks. By the way, it's a clinic for foster parenting and families and such. So I'm trying to make it family/child oriented, but at the same time I want it to have a business look of course.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[emily-chan]

i'm really a fan of the first one (the black and white with the person holding the child.) black and white is very profesional looking, but it still caught my eye even more than the handprints. It seems like everyone uses hands for logos and things, and i liked the difference in the child one.

[Epsilon]

[COLOR=SlateGray][SIZE=1]Get an apprenticeship for a graphic or design studio / company. You'd be able to get experience and help along with help on how to market your skills as a freelance artist.

If that doesn't suit your fancy, as everyone else has said. Practice and study the feild. Go to college or general classes and continue to study graphic design. Also it doesn't matter what program you use, it depends on what you're trying to create and if you know how to do it.

---

There are two things that bothered me about these.

[b]1.)[/b] There are border. Logo's with borders, with the use you are referring to, shouldn't have borders. It makes them a bit limited.

IE: [i]They won't work very well on pamphlets, envelopes, stationary, etc.[/i]

I'd make another version for them. One with and without the borders. So incase the clinic does not later need the borders, they'll have the option.

[b]2.)[/b] This goes back to my original suggestion. Because of the border, it's limited. The size of the grey image I suggest making smaller and whole. Being able to see the top of of the parent's head, the image extending down to mid point before the cut off.

As for the text, I think it should be moved off to the side. Both the purple and black text. In the center going horizontally. The purple text upper and the black text slightly smaller.

On the other image, my only recommendation is to give another option with out the background. To you're work so far, I like the concepts of which you've come up with.
[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[cancer]

[COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]Okay, so now I have a quick question about text in photoshop, and altering image placement too I guess. I'm wondering how you make an image or a block of text diagonal, as opposed to the regular horizontal/vertical. I've never known how to do this, but I've seen it in a few designs and would love to know how to do this. Thanks.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[sikaurai]

[QUOTE=Ezekiel][SIZE=1]

I use Paint Shop Pro 9 (X is available now, I believe), and that's all I ever want to stick with.

It's a helluva lot cheaper than Photoshop and, as far as I can tell from my Photoshopping days, only misses a few things that Photoshop has. (Extra filters, gradients, and more text options). However, if you're patient, you can replicate most desirable effects using Paint Shop.

If you do go for it and want any help, feel free to ask me. =)[/SIZE][/QUOTE]

I have a free accessory program Paint Shop, and I hope it's not the same thing. I would like a program that would allow me to superimpose my pencil sketches, and then slap some color and digital shading into it. The reason is, I have a very shaky hand, and if anyone ever noticed the pencil strokes in my line-art, they are short and fine. My paintshop doesn't let me color in scanned pics; it only allows to create lines with a mouse, and I'm not talented enough for that. I'm inspired by your input, however; I'm gonna have to research this. . .

[cancer]

Okay, so I've started doing basic photoshop tutorials. and I now understand most of the basics. Do you think I should do a lot more basic tutorials, or just start gaining experience through special effects tutorials and things like that?

[Guest anartist4u2006]

I know a great website where you can find awesome tutorials. It's called photoshoproadmap.com. I love to use it. Whenever I need to know how to do a technique, i'll go to that site and try to find it. I find a lot there.

I've been a graphic designer for about 3 years. It's been a rough road I tell ya. I haven't had it easy. I have actually started to shift back into illustration and drawing. I'm finding that I love it. It was my first love anyways. Haha. But I also LIKE graphic design. I'm really confused as to if I should remain in it or go with something else. Acutally, I've been thinking about combinding the two. I think that's awesome. Graphic Design and Illustration go great together. ;)

Look on the net. Put photoshop tutorials in the yahoo search engine. I've found a lot that way. If you want to do graphic design, I say go for it. Graphic Design is awesome. Like the first poster said, get in college and just major in art first (yall be taking those basis art classes), and be thinking about what your emphasis will be. If it's graphic design, then go for it. God bless ya. :)

Monika