What's the best proggy to use?e.g photshop/photoimpact?need help plz

For compositing and retouching images from differing sources you can't beat Photoshop, in my view, tho it is very expensive. However, it's pretty rubbish for drawing things from scratch, for that I prefer Fireworks which also gives a better degree of control over things like anti-aliased lines - particularly at low pixel sizes. Painter used to be great for drawing things in natural brushes but I've not followed what happened to it after Metacreations pulled out of the graphics market.

But you're probably better off starting with Paintshop Pro from Jasc software, which is a very decent low cost package available as shareware, and then progressing to more complex offerings that meet your needs if you get the graphics bug.

regards, Jerry

yep... if ur jsut strating off, you cant beat paint shop pro.

Oh ok ,thank you guys i'll try to produce some good wallpapers . I'm usin photoimpact atm as its free n im used to it,hopfully u can see my wallpapers with PI soon when they get past moderation,thanx

you can also try Paint Shop pro before you buy it.

oh , even better,atleast if i dnt like it,i can go back to photoimpact. thanks again.

This msg board in USA time? anyone know how to get it GMT-greenich-London?

The best one is the one you like, can afford and know how to use.

lol

I like gimp and can afford it

greenich

That would be Greenwich then.

As for putting the message board into GMT, it would require a very good hacker to alter the system clock on the main server...

I started to correct all sorts of other spelling mistakes too, but I ran out of space and patience. How I long for the days when a dictionary was used for more than just looking up the rude words.

/me has quite possibly had a bad day, and therefore might be in a slightly cranky mood

As for graphics programs, I'd suggest Photoshop or Fireworks. Remember though that it's not the tools which make the artist, but the talent he possesses. Using a decent tool alone isn't going to aid you in getting through the moderating process.
[Message Edited]

O i uploaded 3 and they are not their no more!!! wat happened??any one no

Photoshop CS with a Wacom Stylus and Tablet are top of the line.
Best bang for you $$$$ is Paint Shop Pro 8, again with a Stylus.
Illustrator and Freehand can turn out 'different' styles and cand be crosslinked to Photoshop and Fireworks.
Painter 8 and a stylus work very well for an 'arty' style.
I'm not very impressed by PhotoImpact to be honest ....
There are some decent package deals around for PSP8 and it supports both raster and vector imaging, as well as most Photoshop filters.
Try it out but find a cover disc version, it's an 80Mg download ......

O i uploaded 3 and they are not their no more!!! wat happened??any one no

Probably didn't make it past moderation .....

#1 by JerryHat - 2/19/2004 1:20:33 PM For compositing and retouching images from differing sources you can't beat Photoshop, in my view, tho it is very expensive. However, it's pretty rubbish for drawing things from scratch

Rubbish! for drawing things...
Oh! Ye of little faith, Photoshop can do just about anything really appart from True 3D Objects. Really don't matter what program you use as long as you learn it well plus depends how far your imagination can go with what you plan to acheive.

#15 - I agree, but only to an extent, just as you can use Excel to write an essay, or Word to calculate your taxes.

With enough skill, yes, Photoshop can be used to do vector based initial designs, or for creating natral media looking drawings, but it's not the best tool for those tasks...that isn't where it's strengths lie.

Unlike JerryHat though, I wouldn't describe it as "rubbish" - just "more difficult than some other programs for certain tasks"

I honestly think its basic drawing capabilities are rubbish - the way it handles 'shapes' is awful, the brush system isn't a patch on fireworks and the anti-aliasing on curves at very small point sizes is unuseable. Don't get me wrong, it's a superb tool for other things and I've used it (sometimes for long hours a day) since v3.

Naturally a talented artist (certainly not me) can use any tool to create a masterpiece, but would Renoir of used bits of twig and mud when paint brushes and oils were available?

regards, Jerry

#17 by JerryHat - 2/19/2004 7:45:50 PM I honestly think its basic drawing capabilities are rubbish - the way it handles 'shapes' is awful

One great thing about Paths, any shape can be done.

Just a small sample.

while photoshop has vector tools, I don't consider them to be especially good. now sodipodi is a great vector program.

I've been using Photoshop since V3, and though the program has grown by leaps and bounds since then (along with the price ), I would agree with Jerry that it's never been my favorite drawing program. I also recently bought PSP8, and given the improvements in this version, Adobe is going to have to go along way to convince me to lay down the big dollars for PhotoShop again.

I agree with Travis on sodipodi, definitely superior vector tools there. But if I really want to draw something new from scratch, and I'm not using CAD, then I still like CorelDraw. They've always had solid vector tools, and their antialiasing is a real treat in my opinion. I confess I usually switch to PS or PSP to finish things up, but for laying down the basic shapes and lines with precise control, I like Corel. Now if I could just learn to be half as good with Corel as mormegil, I'd be a very happy man.

Corel definately looks good, but is it not similar in price with PS? Certainly Corel must be ace as you see the Icons Paul pulls of with that. There is one thing i was so sick of PSP was couldn't open certain PSD's, get that lovely 535 error did they ever fix that with Version8?

VooDoo,

Corel is unfortunately similarly priced to Adobe PS, and the way they are packaging the product lately makes it worse, because I'm paying for a lot of little apps that I really don't care for just to get CorelDraw. But I still like CorelDraw enough that it's worth the investment to me.

As for PSP, I remember the PSD problem you refer to, with PSP6 if I remember correctly, but I don't recall any insurmountable issues in PSP7 and I know there are no PSD issues with PSP8.
[Message Edited]

How I long for the days when a dictionary was used for more than just looking up the rude words.

They have rude words?....

Thanks for the help guys, I didnt know i was going to start an argument . Yeah,i dnt think they got through modertaion either ! Well theres always next time!

#15 - I agree, but only to an extent, just as you can use Excel to write an essay, or Word to calculate your taxes.

Sput!
You can do that????
With MS Office???
Does Mr Gates know of this?
You're a hazard to shipping!!
Word is much better for an essay and you'll calculate numbers better and faster in Excel!
You Poms ..... inevitable I suppose .... would the 'Minister of Silly Walks' be resonsible for this?
Wombat thinks to self ..."Self ... this is the result of drinking too much 'Brown Ale' at blood temperature .... crack me another frosty Redback!"

Footnote ... a 'Redback' (jafo reckons it's a poofy form of 'near beer'!) .... is a Pommy Cricket Fan after a day at the 'Wacca' in the sun without his shirt and a skinful of turps!
[Message Edited]