How?

[swingwithfrank]

Hey guys, i'm a newbie here. One question to ask, how did you learn how to use illustrator, indesign or any other editing software?

Taken up a course or just trial and error? :confused:
Which is better?

[Craig B]

I learned Photoshop, Pagemaker, Quark and Freehand in college while getting my degree (yes, I predate the Creative Suite ... yes ... Pagemaker.)

I then learned Illustrator on the job at my first job through practice and by asking questions of fellow designers. I didn't even use InDesign until InDesign CS2, but after knowing how to use Quark, that transition was easy.

So ... college and trial and error.

I would say college is better (not that it's vital), mainly because college was an overall design program geared towards getting a graphic design degree. Therefore it was more than just learning the software, it was understanding all of the principles. Composition, typography, negative space, color theory, etc. And those principles are very, very important. You can no the software inside and out, but if you don't know the principles of design then it's nearly worthless.

[Audentia]

I have a similar experience to Craig... learned Illustrator, Photoshop and Quark in college... transferred my Quark over to InDesign on the job a few years later.
I would highly recommend you get some good coursework in.
Especially classes on the fundamentals of design, not just the programs (you need that too but design basics are not trial and error they are learned from a good teacher)

[Yossarian]

My design classes didn't focus that much on the actual use of the software. It was more about general design theory and practices. We were taught just enough Illustrator, Photoshop, and Quark (Indesign wasn't out yet) to get us started. If we were having any particular problem accomplishing something with the software the instructors would help out. Mostly I'm self-taught and have picked up things on the job.

Personally I don't consider myself to be that advanced with the software, but somehow I've become the "go to guy" at work when it comes to software and design-related technical questions.

[eugenetyson]

Straight out of high-school/secondary school and into work.

I was a screen printer for 2.5 years (17 - 20 yrs old) - so I had a knowledge of printing and film and negative and positives and things like that, emulsion and burning screens/plates and camera work etc. All very exciting.

I did a 6 month course in DTP when I was 20 going on 21. When I was 21 I was offered an apprenticeship in Origination and thought "can't hurt to be fully qualified". So I did it.

First Year
Six months in the workplace, six months in college

Second Year
9 Months in workplace, 3 months in college

Third Year
9 Months in work place, 3 months college

Fourth Year
9 Months in work place, 3 months college

I had to pass each year or be sacked. Pressure *bites nails*.

Truth was college was boring and nobody else was really interested bar me, I think out of 9 of us I'm the only one still working in the industry.

So it wasn't a very productive environment in college.



But work was great, I got to work with old comps, platemakers, folders, printers, typesetters, scanners, graphic designers and general prepress as well as be very adept with the kettle and going to the shops. I learnt the old way of doing things and the new way as well as playing with all the cool platemaking equipment.


But generally I had a knowledge before I went into the industry through my 6 month course, it was full time and I got paid for doing it. Nice.

So I knew a bit about printing before going into the 6 month course. And I knew a bit about how to use the software before going into the workplace.

Generally I used just Illustrator, Photoshop and Quark. But I taught myself InDesign, through books and blogs and videos and heaps of practice.

I'm now fairly ok at Flash, Fireworks, Dreamweaver, HTML, CSS and other stuff that I've been teaching myself, through video, blogs, and using the software etc.

[PrintDriver]

For Illustrator (5.5 btw) it was a video tape series that taught me the initial tricks. And a really really patient mentor.
Quark (3.x) was three solid weeks of sitting with the program and the book and hoping I could learn more than the kids I was going to have to TA after winter break.
InD was a snap after Quark.
Photoshop, still learning going on 15 years now.

[Treefrog]

I was taught Corel Draw! in school/college about 13 years ago, and found a tutorial VHS that the school had very helpful. Started teaching myself Photoshop from about 9 years ago (mostly trial and error), and then when I was looking to get into a proper job I bought two very good books—One for Quark 5 and one that covered Adobe CS2, even though at the time I had no access to anything but Photoshop. The books helped alot, especially once I started a job where I was able to teach myself Illustrator and Indesign as I went along.

[drawingguy]

Honestly?

I just learned them, but it probably would've been quicker if I took some classes or something.

[CMYK girl]

Really depends on your background, what knowledge of the industry you have that you can build on. The terminology is essential or you won't even know how to look up or ask for the help you need. Some experience or training in part of the industry is a must in my opinion.

I missed out on the software in art school, but learned the old school printing and prep so when I got onto Quark it was flawlessly simple. The terminology was all there and the help menu was so easy, (4.11). The same with Photoshop from having a photography darkroom background. Moving to (:o PrintDriver for me,) InDesign was terribly confusing as the terminology was quite different from what I was used to, even the help menu was a nightmare but can cope quite nicely now. Never 'mastered' Illustrator, but use it. I think classes in it would help me greatly but just don't have the time or need now to do it. The last class I took I knew more than the instructor, which isn't saying much! Online classes are not proficient for me as well, but if you can isolate yourself for a consecutive long period of time and like that style of learning it would be great too.

[Broacher]

I cyber-stalked prepress experts on-line and spent my vacation time tracking them down to eat their brains.

A little unorthodox, I admit-- but timelines were tight.

Just a sec, there's a kind of shuffling, moaning sound outside my door...

[vibrant_echo]

I took one of those one-day continuing ed courses at the local community college for Photoshop. I think I retained approximately 1% of everything they went over. So much for that $200. :rolleyes:

But, the instructor did tell us about lynda.com which has a.w.e.s.o.m.e. video tutorials. Pretty much everything I know about Illustrator I picked up from Lynda and/or trial and error. I've had a month-by-month membership for about 4 months and I've watched multiple dozens of hours of videos. I've *definitely* gotten my money's worth there!

[garricks]

I learned graphic design as an apprentice to an amazing guy. The type was set on a Linotype 300. My first job was to type in copy. The formatting was added later by an experienced page designer. Then I learned how to add the formatting codes, print and develop the copy, and how to wax and lay the copy on the flats.

In 1988 I got PageMaker, which came with runtime Windows, for my PC-XT. That and all the other software I've learned since, I've taught myself, by experimenting, reading manuals, talking with other designers, and of course Internet forums. :)

[Ned]

School, study, work... All of the above. There's always new things to learn in this field.

[budafist]

We were taught basics in high school design class. Our highschool teacher didn't know much so we were also given the option to take a weekend class at a local tertiary art school. After that, I went to uni and got a design degree alongside design software training.

I think trial and error is a very long path to learning software. You also can pick up a lot of nasty habits too. If you are going to teach yourself, have a look at online tutorials or books to guide you.

If you go to an continuing education class, make sure you take a lot of notes. Even stuff that doesn't appear relevant at the time might be gold later on when you have to use it.

[pirate]

I took some mac labs (Quark, Illy and Photoshop) at a local community college to get my feet wet, then just used the crap out of them.
Oh, and learn the pen tool, it's your best friend.

[mojoprime]

learned first on a varityper, doing paste-up, but learned illustrator 88 -- *shiver* -- and then v3, a little, but had a great mentor that taught me on version 5.5 while we migrated from freehand 4 (also known as "the rip choker.")

dinking around with it for long hours helps as well.