Hello all I am interested in learning how to design graphics, more as a hobby than a business. I am working on getting Photoshop 7.0 , is that a good first choice to learn with? Also, is this something anyone can learn how to do. Eventually I want to learn how to build some basic websites. Im glad hosting is not this hard Guess it is good to try learning the other side of the fence

Derrick

Photoshop is probably the industry standard.

All it takes is a little practice and a lot of patience. 99% of all designs you come up with will end up being binned. What normally happens is you come up with an idea, develop a dozen variations on that theme, combine several elements of each of them into another two or three examples, discard two of them completely, and progress with the one you like. ...Then the person you are designing the graphic for tells you they liked the first one best!

Play with Photoshop. Use as many of its features as you can, filters, lighting, textures, fonts, etc. When you are happy around them, try the more advanced options like the marque tool, anchor point tool, channels palet. Just play, play, play. You can't hurt it!

If you are thinking about going into web design also i would recommend either Fireworks MX or if you become good at using Photoshop, you could create a website in Photoshop, slice it, and use Dreamweaver MX to link and create rollovers...just a suggestion though.

-Jake-
JV Creative Design
_____________________________________________
jvcreativedesign@hotmail.com

For now I just want to do it as a hobby and who knows what it will lead too

I use a combinatation of programs on just about everything I do. I use Adobe,Corel Photo Paint, Ulead Cool 3D, Ulead Cool 3D Studio, Pixie. All depending on what I'm making. Enjoy yourself and have fun. Play with your programs and you will be supprised how fast you learn them.
Crow

Thank you for your response. Which program do you think is best for the beginner to start out on?

Derrick
Unlead products are very user friendly. So I would say for banners or logos Ulead Cool 3d 3.5

as crow said, you can start off with Ulead products and then gradually move on to other stuff.

All the best for ur new venture.