[eDad]

So you’re looking to start making some pretty pictures for yourself but don’t know where to start? Lucky you, there’s tons of resources right here to get started! Don’t believe me? Read on!

To get started, you’ll need some form of software to manipulate or create pictures. Unfortunately for most people buying photoshop is way out of reach, and the trial is over before you know it.
Luckily, there are a number of free alternatives!
-Paint.net
Personally, I’d recommend paint.net, since it’s easy to learn and easy to use, from simple tasks to more complex work. Don’t believe me? Check out this testimonial!

QUOTE (Eddie280)

Paint.net is a great program. Its so good I left my girlfriend for the colour wheel, I lost my house for the cutting tool and I gave my job as a lion tamer up just so I could spend more time drooling over the user friendly interface.

-GIMP
-Artrage 2.5 Starters Edition
-Artweaver
- Ultimate Paint Standard LE
-Painter 25

Now that you’ve got the program, how do you get started?
Well, for many (already indexed) tutorials, check out the GFX Resource Index: Here.
For a great tutorial on how to get to know Paint.net, check this one out.
GIMP has a number of good tutorials here, ranging from beginner to expert
For Artrage there are a number of tutorials posted on the site itself, here
Ultimate Paint has a tutorial page here, however these are, at best, poorly written

Unfortunately for the other pieces of free software there are very little, or no tutorials around. That’s why, when starting out, it’s recommended to go with a popular free program like paint.net or GIMP; there’s a huge number of excellent tutorials available for these. And since a lot of people have used them, if you ever get stuck you can find help much easier!

If that still leaves anything to be desired, don’t be afraid to post a piece and ask for comments and criticism.

[Wightboy]

Instead of paying $700 for Photoshop

Fireworks, - what I use, is much cheaper, and only $300

Still pricy, but in my opinion just as good. The only limitation Ive encountered as I cant save as .Tiff

(im sure theres more too) but its still a great package!

[eDad]

QUOTE (Wightboy @ Dec 20 2008, 13:00)

Instead of paying $700 for Photoshop Fireworks, - what I use, is much cheaper, and only $300 Still pricy, but in my opinion just as good. The only limitation Ive encountered as I cant save as .Tiff (im sure theres more too) but its still a great package!

Yeah, Fireworks does rule! The only problem is that some people who start out don't know if they can really work with anything. After all; working with a mouse or digital drawing pad is wholly different from actually drawing or painting something.
That's what it's mostly for; people wanting to know where to start

[Wightboy]

Yeah i hear ya.

Although up untill now Ive only been using GFX packages for altering images, rather than creating them.

Would sure like to invest in a graphics tablet one day, but I hear there expensive

[eDad]

QUOTE (Wightboy @ Dec 22 2008, 01:22)

Would sure like to invest in a graphics tablet one day, but I hear there expensive

You'd be surprised, Wacom made a line of affordable tablets called 'Bamboo'. If you look for the Bamboo One, it's cheap, easy to use, and comes with a full copy of Artrage2 (at least mine did). It may not be top of the line, but for me it was reliable, easy to use and fun to learn on.

[!!GameCH33TA!!]

Thanks for the info on ArtRage. It's my favourite and always has been.
I'll have lots of fun with those tutorials.

[Stefan.]

Thanks, I've always been looking for a suitable alternative for Photoshop, and I've finally found it. Thank you.

[Backtrap]

I'll give it a try

[okstyle]

Friends, i need the TLAD & BOGT fonts... Any can help me?

Sorry if i posted in wrong section...

[Chunk]

QUOTE (okstyle @ Aug 9 2009, 08:24)

Friends, i need the TLAD & BOGT fonts... Any can help me? Sorry if i posted in wrong section...

There's a Font Topic here, mate.

[rockyandirou]

Use Paint.NET. It's a free software program and you pay nothin.

[Narcis_speed6]

paint.net still doesn't support transparency...
better use gimp, almost same features as photoshop, is free and easy to use

[rockyandirou]

What the heck? Paint.NET supports transparency yes, I use PDN to make transparency effects and transparent images, Narcis.

[Narcis_speed6]

ah sorry then, this is what i heard
anyway, gimp is better

[Jimex]

Recently used Software4Students to buy myself a copy of Office 2010 and found they have massive savings on a wide range of popular software. They have most of adobe's collection discounted by 80% with Photoshop CS5 costing only £159.95. The best part is you don't have to prove your a student, they have the ability to order the disk or download from a server and they are perfectly legitimate and Microsoft certified. The only downside is I'm not sure if it will work outside of the UK, but seeing as they have the option to download the software over the internet I don't see why not.

[Aka mk fan]

[COLOR=blue]i'm use a [SIZE=7][FONT=Geneva][FONT=Impact] photoshop CS5 V12 i got a free version whith serial number and it's best for my

[Narcis_speed6]

QUOTE (Aka mk fan @ Mar 13 2011, 19:32)

[COLOR=blue]i'm use a [SIZE=7][FONT=Geneva][FONT=Impact] photoshop CS5 V12 i got a free version whith serial number and it's best for my

Learn to use the codes properly, I didn't knew there is a 'free' version give-away.

[Zotccc]

@Aka mk fan: Torrent ?


This post has been edited by Zotccc on Monday, Mar 14 2011, 14:10

[txdeditor]

QUOTE (Aka mk fan @ Mar 13 2011, 19:32)

[COLOR=blue]i'm use a [SIZE=7][FONT=Geneva][FONT=Impact] photoshop CS5 V12 i got a free version whith serial number and it's best for my

Yet another idiot from my country?
I really feel a shame for my country, when pretty much lithuanians here doesn't know proper English and fails at forum codes.

[Tommy-Vercetti19]

QUOTE (Zotccc @ Mar 14 2011, 15:06)

@Aka mk fan: Torrent ?

Your not allowed talk about piracy here.