Advice needed - What is the best graphics program to get?

[Reincarnate]

I'd really like to start participating in the monthly challenges, but all I have is MS paint and ACDsee free version (which is only a pic viewing and editing program anyway).

In other words, I don't have anything lol.

Money's not an issue but I also don't want to buy anything that requires a steep learning curve either in terms of complexity. I'm a total neophyte after all, but I really want to participate and learn this stuff, albeit at my probable slow "blondish" pace :p :D

So, I shall defer to the immense expertise on this board to guide me as to what I should buy to get going.

Thanks :)

[TownBear]

what I should buy to get going.That depends what you want to do. Create graphics from scratch (Bryce, Fireworks, Photoshop) or manipulate photos (probably get Photoshop for that).

Bryce is not easy & probably not a good first program to buy.

Fireworks & Photoshop do similar things but Photoshop may be your best choice.

Uhm... not sure what else to tell you... next!
lol

[Bromy]

Tough question.

Being a board which has a focus on Bryce I should really say Bryce, to help further the cause. Not an overly hard program to learn, but has a weird interface for people used to programs like Paint Shop or Photoshop. Personally I love Bryce. I always fall back on that when bored of other programs.

Though if cost really wasn't a issue you can go with 3d Studio Max, (several thousand dollars--yes thats right several thousand) but you can do anything with it. Has a very steep learning curve. Though not as bad as one might think for a professional app. I would not recomend this to you though. It would end in the program being placed on a shelf never to be used due to it being your 1'st graphics app, the learing curve would drive you nuts. Though I do dabble in it a bit, I have found it's not really as hard as everyone says. I made my cabin and snooker table in Max.

Or you could go the route of Paint Shop Pro, or Photoshop, I like them both, (photoshop more).

It's hard to answer the question really, I can babble on about the pro's and cons of each program till the cows come home. What would be best is for you to ask yourself "what kind of images do I want to make?" All 2d images? Go with Paint Shop Pro. It's cheap, and easy, lots and lots of tutorials on the web so it would be a good start.

Do you want to do more of a 3d type work? Well Bryce or Vue d' Esprit would do great, both are primarily "landscape generators" (meaning it's contains "sky and ground" but Bryce has been pushed beyond that, people use it to make much more complex images than just your basic sunset with water or mountains.

A suggestion I would have is peruse the galleries here, and think about the type of images that you like and would like to create, then come back and ask questions....even go to some well known wallpaper sites and look around.

[sybil]

Cath - one suggestion is to download a trial, play with it a bit, and see what suits you best.
Photoshop, and other Adobe trials:
http://www.adobe.com/products/tryadobe/main.jsp#product=39
Paintshop Pro trials:
http://www.jasc.com/download_4.asp

If there are any other graphics programs you might be interested in, check their homepage, as a lot of them have trials. It's a good way to get a look at the program and to get a feel for how intuitive it will be. Also look for tutorials - they can be a big help - both Photoshop and psp have +++ tutorials floating around. HP learning centre has some nice free online courses in Photoshop. One great thing about the internet today is the ability to try out software before buying to better fit the program to your needs.

Now if only Bryce still had a trial available.....................

[Bromy]

hey i was going to post links but I went to Corel page (where you get bryce) and it's down for maintenance...though they don't even offer a free trial anymore...

but yes Sybil, that is a great idea, try all of them out before you buy....

You cant download a trial of studio max, though you can order a free cd....

But if you want to get a feel for the learning curve in Max you can download Maya Personal Learning edition....from HERE (http://www.alias.com/eng/products-services/maya/maya_ple/index.shtml)


Both Studio Max and Maya have a similiar interface and learning curve....not that I think you should go with one of these, but rather just to get a feel for the easy ones and the hard ones. To give you an idea of what you would be most comfortable with.

[sybil]

I've looked and looked for Bryce :( . Corel doesn't offer a trial anymore and I had one that I downloaded a long while ago and hadn't tried yet. Unfortunately it's one that's dated, as in expired by a certain date - so near, yet so far........ I may have to bite the bullet and buy it sight unseen, so to speak. I've been playing with Dream 3D, but there are very few file compatablilities for object downloads, so I have to try doing it all myself, and at my very novice level, that is slow sledding at best.

[Boobunny]

I have to disagree with Bear about Bryce. (sowwy Bear) I thought Bryce was very easy to learn. I think it is a good beginner program. I don't know much about the others.

[TownBear]

:eek: Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo :cry


lmaoooooo

[Boobunny]

http://members.rogers.com/navigator2003/images/liebe72.gif Don't cry...

[TownBear]

Oh-Tay! :D

[Joseph]

I never thought Bryce was hard, I found it rather easy compared to others.

[Boobunny]

I never thought Bryce was hard, I found it rather easy compared to others.

Shhhhhhhhhh....you will upset the Bear and make her cry again.... :CRP

[TownBear]

Shhhhhhhhhh....you will upset the Bear and make her cry again.... :CRPYeah but he uses CAD & other programs too.. the interface is similar enough he can figure it out:nuts::CRP

:D


I think for a person who's new to graphics, Bryce is still too overwhelming

[Joseph]

The Bear cries constanly ............lol :nuts:

The Bear never really tried to learn it I bet she spent an hour on it and that was it :p :p :D

[TownBear]

The Bear cries constanly ............lol :nuts: LMAO :CRP

The Bear never really tried to learn it I bet she spent an hour on it and that was it :p :p :DOh listen to Mr. Eng. Designer:rolleyes:

lmaoooooooooo


I spent way more than an hr on it... I was totally lost:nuts:

[Joseph]

LMAO :CRPOh listen to Mr. Eng. Designer:rolleyes:

lmaoooooooooo


I spent way more than an hr on it... I was totally lost:nuts:


LOL How long did you spend??


You really need to spend a good 8 hours or more just to get to know what the icons do, its not a program that you can pick up in 2 or 3 hours lol

Your a smart Bear you can do it. ;)

[TownBear]

LOL How long did you spend??


You really need to spend a good 8 hours or more Dunno exactly how long... but over a mthhttp://home.cogeco.ca/%7Estorage_facility/smilies/awkward.gif.. plus a few toots from bromy http://home.cogeco.ca/%7Estorage_facility/smilies/awkward.gif.. possibly nav too, I fergithttp://home.cogeco.ca/%7Estorage_facility/smilies/awkward.gif

Everything I made looked like CHIT so I dun wanna play with Bryce anymore:sad:

[Joseph]

lol lol lol

[Navigator]

I have to disagree with Bear about Bryce. (sowwy Bear) I thought Bryce was very easy to learn. I think it is a good beginner program. I don't know much about the others.
I have to disagree, too. Bryce was the first graphics program I learned. I didn't find it too hard overall. I've had my trials with it, as well as other programs, but always managed to crank something out...:)

I'm thinking PaintShopPro or PhotoShop for Cath, though. Of course, that depends Cath....are you wanting to do more 'art' (Bryce, etc) or have the ability to alter photos, make greetings, etc? You can do both with the 'paint' programs.

[mdw906]

some people learn software quicker than others, and some people just don't get it

[TownBear]

Actually, for me it was because all I have to learn from are tutorials off the web. I really do not like learning that way & don't do well with it as I find it frustrating to toggle between a tutorial & a program.

[Navigator]

Actually, for me it was because all I have to learn from are tutorials off the web. I really do not like learning that way & don't do well with it as I find it frustrating to toggle between a tutorial & a program.
Yes, I agree. I like learning from the manual, major drawback to a demo/trial of a program.

[Jstkillntime]

I think this is one of the better photoshop programs and is very easy to learn, and also is very inexpensive.... http://www.ulead.com/pi/runme.htm

[sybil]

Actually, for me it was because all I have to learn from are tutorials off the web. I really do not like learning that way & don't do well with it as I find it frustrating to toggle between a tutorial & a program.

Now there's where dual monitors comes in really handy - tutorial on one screen, graphics program on the other - both right in front of you and side by side! :D

[Navigator]

Now there's where dual monitors comes in really handy - tutorial on one screen, graphics program on the other - both right in front of you and side by side! :D
perfect!!:cool:

[TownBear]

Now there's where dual monitors comes in really handy - tutorial on one screen, graphics program on the other - both right in front of you and side by side! :DYeah, that would be nice:D

[Reincarnate]

Wow....thanks a lot for all the input folks :)

Lots of great info. Printing this thread for future reference :D

[Bromy]

I've looked and looked for Bryce :( . Corel doesn't offer a trial anymore and I had one that I downloaded a long while ago and hadn't tried yet. Unfortunately it's one that's dated, as in expired by a certain date - so near, yet so far........ I may have to bite the bullet and buy it sight unseen, so to speak. I've been playing with Dream 3D, but there are very few file compatablilities for object downloads, so I have to try doing it all myself, and at my very novice level, that is slow sledding at best.
I found a demo of Bryce 5

http://web.coehs.siu.edu/Utilities/Graphics/Bryce/Bryce5TrialVersion.exe

[sybil]

Thanks Bromy! :) Just dl now - looking forward to trying it - and I am very impressed with your detective abilities!!!

[Bromy]

I will stop at nothing to get someone into bryce lol

[Boobunny]

Thanks Bromy! :) Just dl now - looking forward to trying it - and I am very impressed with your detective abilities!!!
Bromy is great, isn't he!!!! :bow