Click to See Complete Forum and Search --> : Web Graphics... HOW???
MstrBob
05-18-2004, 08:00 PM
Okay, I'll readily admit that I'm a programmer who can get away designing webpages (rather than a designer who can program). But I really feel that my biggest limitation is web graphics. Or lack their of. Where, oh where, can one find or create all those really awesome images/backgrounds/borders that people use? Actually, how does one go about creating such things? I know null about making web graphics, and have MS Paint, Paint Shop Pro, and Picture It Publishing... can I actually make anything cool with these? Anyone? This is really bothering me!!
Images:
Perhaps some Deviant Art (http://www.deviantart.com/) could help here
Backgrounds:
Squidfingers (http://squidfingers.com/patterns/)
could be of service
Borders:
most people do these manually, paint shop pro should be able to handle this
Most of the effects you see are done using programs such as Bryce, 3DSMAX, Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, CorelDraw (who also makes Bryce), Illustrator, ImageReady, Fireworks, or Cinema4D (I'm sure I've missed a few, but those are the main ones).
What you need is some Paint Shop Pro tutorials. Since I don't have Paint Shop Pro (I have Photoshop), I don't know where any of them are, but you should try searching Google for some Paint Shop Pro tutorials. It takes a while, but eventually you learn to make some pretty sexy graphics.
Originally posted by Jona
Most of the effects you see are done using programs such as Bryce, 3DSMAX, Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, CorelDraw (who also makes Bryce), Illustrator, ImageReady, Fireworks, or Cinema4D (I'm sure I've missed a few, but those are the main ones).
Bryce was made by metacreations (a subset of creativeLabs I think) up until version 5, when it was bought by Corel, and the changes from 4 to 5 are so minute that its safe to say that Corel didn't make it. You also missed poser, lightwave, and maya, and flash. lightwave and maya run about $7000, so they very specialized. flash is really common these days (too bad)
MstrBob
05-18-2004, 09:33 PM
Yes part of the problem here is that all these programs are so very expensive. I have, erm, no budget... so unless I can find something that's free, I'm guessing I'll have to stick with Paint Shop Pro. Now, all I seem to get are manuals and "buy paint shop pro" Could anyone point me to some free, online Paint Shop Pro tutorials? I'd be much obliged. Thank you all kindly for the help thus far.
Originally posted by MstrBob
so unless I can find something that's free
Enter the gimp (http://www.gimp.org/)
Daniel T
05-18-2004, 11:16 PM
I have Fireworks (savin' up for Photoshop. Yay! Only about $200 to go!). Does anyone know of a site with good Fireworks tutorials? Cuz everything I make with Fireworks looks like complete crap.
-Dan
You could probably get Photoshop at a cheaper price if you got it from eBay.
I think www.depiction.net has some Fireworks tutorials, but I could be getting it confused... I'll go lookin' for some Fireworks and PSP tutorials for you guys...
Daniel T
05-18-2004, 11:23 PM
Originally posted by Jona
You could probably get Photoshop at a cheaper price if you got it from eBay.
I think www.depiction.net has some Fireworks tutorials, but I could be getting it confused... I'll go lookin' for some Fireworks and PSP tutorials for you guys...
I don't do eBay ;) And thanks for the link, but it only has Photoshop tutorials, aswell as web scripting ones. I'll look for some FW tutorials and post links here if I find some good ones, too :)
-Dan
Fireworks tutorial sites
http://www.macromedia.com/support/fireworks/tutorial_index.html
http://www.ezwebdesign.com/fireworks.html
http://www.joycejevans.com/tutorials/Fireworks/fwtutorials.htm
http://www.spoono.com/fireworks/tutorials/
http://www.guistuff.com/tutorials.shtml
http://www.solardreamstudios.com/tutorials/fw/
http://www.vecpix.com/tutorials/fireworks/
http://www.pixel2life.com/tutorials/fireworks.php?tut=24
http://www.virtualclues.com/fireworks_tutorials.php
http://fireworks.disdatdesigns.com/
Paint Shop Pro tutorial sites
http://www.grafx-design.com/psp_tut.html
http://mardiweb.com/web/psp7/
http://www.pinoy7.com/psptutorials/default.htm
http://www.baycongroup.com/paint_shop_pro/tutorials.htm
http://www.psplinks.com/
http://www.aestheticweb.com/tutorials.html
Daniel T
05-19-2004, 12:00 AM
The pixel2life site looks pretty good as far as Fireworks goes, and on that site, I found a link to another great FW site, UltraWeaver (http://www.ultraweaver.com/tutorials/index.asp). Thanks Jona!
Daniel T
05-19-2004, 12:19 AM
Finished my first tutorial! I thought this kinda stuff could only be done in a non-vector graphics program, but I guess I was wrong!
Looks great, Daniel! Photoshop isn't the only program capable of good graphics, but it's (in my opinion) the best program that can. ;) (At least, for 2 or 2.5 dimensional ones.)
Daniel T
05-19-2004, 02:05 AM
And now... The moment we've all been waiting for... (I have, at least). My new-found knowledge of Fireworks -- Combined with previous knowledge of Flash, I give you.... bars.swf, bars at whole new level :p
-Dan
lol! Good job, though! I need to get Flash, and learn to use it... But the only reason I haven't purchased it as of yet, is because I need a new computer, because my current version of Windows doesn't support the latest version of Flash -- or any of Macromedia's products!
Daniel T
05-19-2004, 02:28 AM
Well, I'm not surprised. I threatened my dad till he got ours upgraded from teh rotten sludge that is Windows ME :D
Originally posted by Daniel T
Well, I'm not surprised. I threatened my dad till he got ours upgraded from teh rotten sludge that is Windows ME :D
It is! Teh suk! That's what I've got! :eek: It must die!
Neczy
05-19-2004, 03:40 PM
~blows up Windows ME~ :D
MstrBob
05-19-2004, 03:51 PM
Eeh, that's your first tutorial! Well, here's what my first PSP tutorial resulted in. To everyone, it make look (and be) crappy, but this is the first time I've ever even come close to doing something such as this.
Looks good for a first try, but you should probably try to use a rounded rectangle tool, instead of trying to draw it (or whatever you did), and save it at a higher quality. Just 2¢. ;)
MstrBob
05-19-2004, 04:17 PM
I'm not sure if that tool exists and where it would be... But this is my first try, I've never really done much with PSP 4. The low quality lookingness had to do with this softening filter(I think). Still trying to get the hand of all of this.
Ah, PSP4? You should try to see if you could get an upgrade to at least version 7 for a cheap price... Version four is pretty old...
MstrBob
05-19-2004, 04:31 PM
Maybe, but version 4 is also FREE! As it is, I am very, very, very Cheap and Poor. Besides, I'm saving. When I replace my computer, my new one will have EVERYTHING that I need/want. But until then, I have version 4.
That makes more sense, then. Don't worry, you're not the only one who's not rich. ;)