suggestions for a beginner

[treessa]

Hi all,

I am wondering if I could get some recommendations on software. I would like to learn more about making graphics, both editing photos and creating graphics, posters, that sort of thing. Unfortunately, the only experience I have is in Microsoft Word, there seems to be so many to choose from, and being that I am not that knowledged on it:p , I thought some of you may have a suggestion on where to get started.

Thanks so much.

[PrintDriver]

Welcome to the forum Treessa.

Where are you in your career? Are you thinking of doing this because it looks fun or are you serious about it. The pro softs cost $$$.

You have to understand too that it is not the programs that let you create posters graphics and do photo editing. You have to have the skill to use them and the knowledge to put behind the skill on when and what to do with your tools.
Just because you can draw it on a comp, doesn't mean it can be printed. Or printed easily (cheaply). There are bad things you can do with programs that will make your prepress guy charge you for file prep. There are even things you can do that will make your file unprintable.

The Adobe Creative Suite is the best bang for your buck. You get it all. It will take quite some time to master if you've never used raster/vector applications before.

[Albert_chu]

Adobe Software for sure. also, most of their software also has some pretty cool tutorials that help u learn to design cool things. you can also find tutorials all over the internet aswell. but its true that u have to be knowledgable in what your doing in order to produce a good piece of art.

[carter the artist]

When it comes to photo manipulation and graphics, you cannot go wrong with Photoshop. Tutorials and such are everywhere and that should help you learn how to use the program. Illustrator is the key to text, logos and clean graphics. Same thing with the tutorials.. Practice both.

Read and study design. Understand how to use the elements of design and whatnot, Because all the cool effects and all the software will do nothing but make crap without basic understanding of design.

I spent 40,000 on schooling to learn most of the things a designer shouldn't do, because it's already been shown to not work.