Graphic Design Software

[wnroscoe]

I know it's way off base from the norm here but, I'm in the market for software that will allow me to edit pictures, publish a WWW and do some deisign work like a logo and other things.

I've used Corel Draw 9 but not to it's potential, I need something along those lines but maybe not as advanced. Any reccomendations, thanks.

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: Graphic Design Software

My son does some great design work with Adobe Illustrator. Something with the lines and vectors in the software that makes them superior for some reason.

 

[Guest]

Re: Graphic Design Software

Try GIMP. It's free and quite powerful.
http://www.gimp.org/

Xara used to put out some good stuff too, but I haven't messed with it in years.
http://www.xara.com/us/

 

[dtask]

Re: Graphic Design Software

For logos, I use a combo of freehand, Illustrator, Photoshop and the Coral products depending on what I'm trying to accomplish.

For pics, I use Photoshop and Aperture.

For web, I code my own or typically sub it out because I hate doing sites.

You can get the CS5 suite and be able to take of everything you listed, but there is certainly a learning curve involved and the software isn't cheap.

** The vector stuff is superior because it is smooth and infinitely scalable. Vector turns a drawing into math and allows the designer to work without reservation or worry that the print house has access to the font you used in your design.

 

[High Binder]

Re: Graphic Design Software

I used to use the Photoshop suite but when I got a new puter and compared buying Photoshop to simply using Gimp (a very nice and powerful Photoshop clone) for free I went with Gimp and haven't looked back. So far I haven't had any problems with Gimp but it wont process a few of my wackier fonts which is no biggie.

 

[50calibercruiser]

Re: Graphic Design Software

If you are new to Adobe products and don't have time for classes I would suggest buying the "Adobe in the classroom" book for which ever program you buy. They are extremely helpful. Why Adobe Illustrator works the way it does: Vector image vs. Raster image. Vector is based solely on math. Every time you zoom in or move a line the computer does a shit ton of math (which is why you need a fast computer to run it properly). Search "Bézier curve" for way more info then you want. A raster image is just pixels and all you can do is move them around and enlarge them which leads to rapid distortion.

 

[Swampkat]

Re: Graphic Design Software

For art work we use CS3, for vector work we use Flexisign Pro (which is about $4600)

 

[Spanky84]

Re: Graphic Design Software

Photoshop
Illsutrator
In Design