Archive for the ‘graphics design’ Category

Im new to web and graphics design and need a laptop. Im new to laptops too. Price is not an issue and already have adobe cs4 master collection for software. Anyone have specs for nice graphic designers rig? thnx for the help, Psycoty

Personally, I would go with the 15 inch macbook pro. Since money isn’t a problem, you can get a great looking machine with hardcore specs for 2100. It has 2.8 GHz intel processor, 4 gig of the new DDR3 ram, 500 gig hard drive, and TWO! graphics cards. One is a low powered Nvidia GeForce 9400 for your every day use without using a lot of power. The other would be perfect for graphics design. Its a GeForce 9600M GT with 512 MB of shared memory, very fast. The 15 inch LED screen has a high resolution and is the perfect blend between usability and mobility. It comes with the revolutionary new battery created by apple that lasts for 7 hours on regular use, and can be recharged 1000 times before needing replaced.( No other laptop batter can be recharged 1000 times, they usually last 300 recharge cycles.) You also get a machine thats super sexy, weighs 5.5 lbs, and is less than an inch thick due to its aluminum unibody(not crappy plastic). Also, it comes with the world’s most stable operating system, so you dont have to worry about crashes, viruses, and you can have this machine for years without a problem.

In the interest of not being bias and providing a good answer, I will tell you the specs you should look for in a PC laptop if thats what you want. You definitely need a fast processor, because graphics design is all about the speed of the processor. 2.66 GHz is the bare minimum, with 2.8 to 3.0 being the optimal level of performance versus money. Any more than 3 GHz and the companies will start charging and arm and a leg. You want at least 4 GB of ram, perferably the new DDR3 ram and not last generation DDR2. 500 GB harddrive would be the minimum, and if you can get the hard drive with 7200 RPM, that would be great. Screen size should be at least 15 inches for usability and mobility, but since you will do a lot of graphics, a 17 inch would also be nice(but more expensive and a lot less mobile). Graphics cards are trickier because theres so many brands that I don’t know whats what. I do know that intel graphics suck, so don’t get them. The only company I know a lot about is Nvidia. If you find a laptop with Nvidia graphics options, get at least the 9600 GT. Usually, for a PC in the 2000$ price range, they will come with graphics like the 9800 GT. Also, get a card with at least 512MB of shared memory. Most lower end models have graphics cards with 256MB of shared memory, but you want the 512 as it will provide a much faster system. As for battery, don’t expect anything great if you plan on doing a lot of graphics work. No laptop will last more than 2-3 hours with processor intensive graphics work, so plan on carrying your power adapter with you. But in any case, get at least a nine cell battery. A 12 cell battery is preferable.

Well, goodluck with your decision.

Laura Vatalaro Go Green Graphic Design @lvgraphics
Creating awareness of eco-friendly practices and sustainability in print, design and marketing. Print design is not dying, it has evolved. Finding new and creative ways to best utilize resources is essential to staying vital in todays market, and more importantly, standing out from the competitive.

www.ignitedallas.org

Duration : 0:4:51

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: , , , , ,

I already have a good full time job but I would like to get into web design for fun. Where would someone start? What are some basic programs you need to start making graphics and web pages? Whats best PC or Mac? Is this very expensive to do? I can draw pretty good – are the same skills needed for graphic arts?

The BEST way is to know your chops. Know the tools of the trade and how to use them.

Photoshop, for instance. It is not enough to know how to run a graphic through a series of filters, or to be able to switch heads from one person to another’s, or to put someone in a different scene of to change someone’s eye color. Photoshop is an extremely powerful tool with tremendous capabilities in graphics. To use Photoshop only for those purposes I described is kind of like spending several hundred thousand dollars on a high performanc sports car just to burn doughnuts in a parking lot. Lots of smoke and noise, but not particularly difficult and only impressive to someone who doesn’t know any better.

You need to learn how to use the tool to it’s full potential if you expect to impress clients or a potential employer.

And that’s just Photoshop. The same thing applies to the other tools of the trade like Illustrator, InDesign, QuarkXPress, Flash, Dreamweaver (or other web design app) Acrobat Professional, Word, and many, many others, depending on the directions you want to go and the specific uses.

Many of these tools have some common functions. But the REASON that there are so many of them and why it is worth the money that graphics artists spend on them is that EACH of these have very specific uses. You CAN drive a nail with the fat end of a combination wrench, but why would you when you have a hammer available? And why would you use a twenty pound maul to drive a cabinet finishing nail? You use the RIGHT tool for the job.

Take some design classes. Most community colleges will offer these at VERY low cost. If you don’t want to invest the time, yet, on even junior college, you can often find classes in some of these apps at local adult education classes.

Or, go the slow, painful route of teaching yourself out of a good tutorial book. (I recommend the Classroom in a Book series published by Adobe. But you have to apply yourself dilligently if you expect to compete with the thousands of college grads with degreess in the arts, all of whom would LOVE to beat you to a job or a client.

Draw pretty good? That’s nice, but there were some cave men in France, about thirty or forty thousand years ago that could draw pretty good. But the tools of today require the tools of today.

Start with the relatively inexpensive Photoshop Elements. It retails for less than $100 and does most of the things I expect you want to do. I believe it may also help layout web pages, but I’m not sure if it is only possible with the "slice" tool of the full version Photoshop. Check it out.

I also gave "factdesign" a thumbs up for some very good info on how to start with some basic web design.

Semiotics: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiotics

Channels I mentioned:
http://www.youtube.com/livelavalive
http://www.youtube.com/whatthebuckshow

If you want to see my graphic design:
http;//www.karenkavett.com

Thanks for watching!

Duration : 0:2:45

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Okay im enrolling into a local JC nearby, and I am planning on majoring in Graphics Design for video games. I have no experience in drawing whatsoever and wondering if I need to know how to draw before getting in?

Also I just like Graphics Design because I want to learn how to do Digital Illustrations.

I don’t think so but it wouldn’t hurt to take Drawing I just for your own benefit. I know some graphic design majors who are not great at drawing…it probably would be a good idea to go to the college and talk to someone..Usually at the Jr College level the people are very helpful and you probably could leave a message or email for the professor that is head of the department with your question if the regular staff couldn’t tell you. Usually in the catalog it states underneath the course description if there is a drawing prerequisite if it doesn’t state that it does then your are all set. Good Luck to you …

A lo-fi vox pop made in 2002, that asks people on the streets of Melbourne the basic questions about graphic design. By Studio Pip and Co. and Dogma Productions with Andrew Pegler.

This short film was made to gather the general publics view of graphic design for the not-for-profit organisation Australian Graphic Design Association. All permissions were asked and granted from the various respondents. All respondents were thanked after their response.

This film is an invaluable learning tool to students of design and was posted on youtube for education and non-profit purposes. The idea, production and responses were supplied gratis.

Our thanks again to all involved, especially to all the members of the public who willingly contributed their ideas and opinions on graphic design in the public space.

For more visit Nowality www.peoplethings.com/andblog often

Duration : 0:8:26

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Whats a good program to use for graphics design?

Depending on the kind of graphics that you are interested in designing. If you want to make your own illustrations and graphics without much editing of current pictures, then you can use Adobe Illustrator CS3 (it’s awesome i bet). If you want to modify pictures to the killing, then you should use Adobe Photoshop (it’s just made for this). If you are interested in making animations like the flash intros you see on websites, then go for Adobe Flash CS3.
If you want to modify movies and make some kinda film tricks, then you can go for Adobe After Effects (you wouldn’t believe what you can do with this).

Hope I helped

This video shows the creative process from illustrating the human form to which will be used in a mixed media design that encourages high school students to consider taking art even though they might not have artistic ability. The message on the completed design poster says, “Inspiration doesn’t just come to you; you have to create inspiration.” So even though some very talented artists might make drawing and painting look easy, the Graphic Design industry is very different and really doesn’t have much to do with art at all. The brainstorming and thought process involved with making successful Graphic Design solutions as well as other fundamentals of design like Color Theory, Gestalt and Typography are all significant factors that go far beyond the mere ability to draw.

Further education about the Graphic Design industry is important for new students who have yet to discover what Graphic Design is and perhaps they might enjoy such a career if they are made aware of what is involved.

By the way, I like listening to Sarah Slean when I’m doing my work so I included her music in here. Also Amorphis ’cause they rock.

Duration : 0:6:25

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: , , ,

Ive started a college course in Graphics design which is worth 3 A-levels. Im not too sure a "graphics designer" is the most stable career and was wondering if there are any other job posistions which require a graphics design qualification?

Thankyou :)

Graphic design is used to create magazine and television advertisements as well as the pictures found on book covers and compact discs, even the posters and trailers used to advertise films require the skills of the graphic artist.

Hello, I have been working for the "geek squad" at best buy for the last year or so. I am thinking that I would like to start my own company. I have skills in computer repair, web design, flash, html, graphics design. How could I go about starting my own business?

Could you list all the things for me to do

you need an initial capital, a good location of business, manpower, highly technical facilities etc…