I am new plz help

[MaR3K]

Hi everyone

Well where should i start?

I want to design some graphics ive read some of the threads here i and dont understand anything. I need some realy basic help like software,file types,and whats best to start off with. My online friends do some serious graphics but i would feel really stupid asking them so can i have some friendly advice??????:cool:

[TheWalt]

well, start with getting photoshop, illustrator and flash and head for some tutorials on the web.

[ecsyle]

How about start with getting free software to see if you are even interested. Get the gimp at gimp.org, its a very nice photo editing package. inkscape.org for vector, and forget about flash :)

[style]

buy some books... the resorce thread can give you some ideas.. and look at some design mags.
good luck

[cjoe]

Can you draw?

[EC]

What type of graphics do you want to make?

[cjoe]

Buy a pencil and paper, some software ^such as GIMP or photoshop and some books. Also look at our resource section, find some tutorials and do them ALL.

[WannaBrie]

what are you interested in? What type of "graphics" turn you on? The Walt made a good suggestion...photoshop is a good place to start..My son (he's 6) is learning that there are some cool tricks he can do to photos he's taken. But, cjoe made a good point when he asked if you can draw, because the best designs (generally, IMO, start out with thumbnails, and brainstorming) Give yourself a project, like I will design a poster for a rave, or an ad for something that excites you...Do some research, there's a lot out there....check out the showcase threads to see what other g/designers are doing...Start out with what you know and like...make experiments...download any trial versions of software such as quark and/or indesign, any and all adobe products...try it all and see what u like...hope this helps...good luck!

[urstwile]

I'd ask:

Why do you want to learn graphics? Is it because all your friends are doing it, or because you think it's something you really want to do? Do you have something you need to get out there? If you do, you won't wait for your friends to "school" you, you'll feel compelled to do it yourself.

You'll find a way, it's easier if your friends help, but if you feel it must be seen/heard, you WILL get it out there. Ask Bob Dylan, Keith Haring, Picasso, Eminem, Van Gogh, Beethoven, Basquiat, etc.

I'd also ask why you're afraid to ask your friends for advice? Are they art students with formal training? Or are you afraid of peer pressure? Would you be less cool for asking them how they do it? I ask for advice from my peers all the time, without embarrasment, we all have our strengths and weaknesses, find yours, then help others who have weakness where you have strengths, and learn from others who have strengths where you have weaknesses. (Sorry if that sounds New-Agey :o )

Sit next to them while they do what they do. Ask them questions...constantly. If they're your friends, they'll put up with it. Chances are, they'll learn something themselves. Teaching is the best way to learn things.

Good luck with your quest! And find your voice first, before you figure out the programs. It's the best way to go (IMHO). :)

[Logo-Mechanix]

You should start with a pencil and paper like cjoe said. All of my graphic design work starts with a pencil and paper before I ever even turn on the computer. I don't believe you just wake up one day and decide you will become a graphic artist it has to be something you are kind of born with. You can learn to become a better artist but you can't learn to become an artist. No computer program in world is going to make you a graphic designer you have to have some measure of talent. So find that out first with pencil and paper before you spend any money or time learning a program like photo shop or illustrator.

[reuber1]

I don't believe you just wake up one day and decide you will become a graphic artist it has to be something you are kind of born with.I was born with a broken right shoulder.

[Logo-Mechanix]

Yes, but were you able to depict the broken shoulder in an full color illustration.

[reuber1]

I actually recreated it using clay and a kickwheel, ten minutes after I was born. Top that, Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore.

[morea]

love the new avatar reuber. I think he's cute. :p

Reuber, are you related to Bill Brasky? :D

[reuber1]

No, but I was fed shrimp scampi.

To Bill Brasky! A ten-foot-tall, two-ton son of a bitch who could eat a hammer and take a shotgun blast standing!

[Logo-Mechanix]

I actually recreated it using clay and a kickwheel, ten minutes after I was born. Top that, Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore.

Yes, but was the same song playing and were you doing this with a hot chick?

[MaR3K]

wooow thaks for the help every1 its really helped

in awnser to some of you question

i can draw and thats the main reason i wanted to get into this sort of design all my online (polish) friends use the computer for there designs but am not really a wiz kid on the pc

and i dont want to ask my friend because 1.Most of them live in poland and dont speak very good english 2. i have asked them and they gave me lots of polish programs written in polish 3. well there is no three (sorry urstwile i should have stated that in my first post)

i would really like to do graphics for advertising as i in my young enterpriser group in school which is a small school related buisness

i was think of selling graphics with people name sor favourite football teams in them

i do have some ideas on paper just brainstorm and rough sketches

thanks for all your help and sorry for the late reply ive have some exams on :(