Recommendations for a graphics program?

[Bekariso]

I am looking for recommendations for a graphics program.

I would especially like something that lets you work in "layers" but isn't too complicated, that has easy effects to make buttons that look 3d, and text that you can texture and tilt and make different shapes.
Something to help make seemless background tiles from textured images would be cool, too. Support for making animated gifs would also be cool.

I do have a photo editor program already, though it isn't great, so what I'm looking for is more of a web-graphics program, for making fancy buttons and banners and such.

I'd also like it to be under $150 US at the most.

Does such a thing exist? What do you recommend?

Thanks,
Bekariso



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Bekariso
susogi.net/Bekariso (http://susogi.net/Bekariso)
*** We prefer to remain anomalous ***

[Deb]

Outside of the REALLY expensive software packages it sounds like you need Paint Shop Pro http://www.jasc.com/psp.html

It's shareware.. so you can check it out before you pay for it... I believe it's $99 USD.

It's considered the best on the net when you do not include software priced over $400.

MANY MANY MANY people use it for ALL of their graphic design needs. A MAJOR portion of web developers swear by this lil program.. check it out.

You'll also want to do a search for it in your favorite search engine as there are MANY help sites for Paint Shop Pro.. like http://www.psptips.com

Hope this helps
Deb

[Bekariso]

Unfortunately, I used up my alloted shareware trial period of PSP 5 before I knew my way around any graphics program enough to do much of anything in it, so it didn't seem to have many features to me -- mostly because I had no clue how to find them, I guess. I think I tried to make "3d" effects on buttons and text, and to manipulate text shape, but couldn't make head nor tails of it at the time. Does anyone know if you can indeed do this in PSP? I'll search for some tutorials, they should say if it can be done or not

Thanks for replying so quickly!

Bekariso

[pqwabbit]

ooo we jjst bought micrograp[hix picture publisher and loving it so far it has much more effects and text stuff and gbutton web thingies etc etc than PSP it's about $90 came with 3 cd's - wth all sort of misc backrounds and such onthem I have to check out hte freebie images - thats laways a plus I think you can download a tiral version - If your gonna purchase I'd definatel get the cd roms cuz then ya get all the kewl freebie graphics too http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif
I also relly like PSP as ewell I had 5 for teh 60 day alotted period - but when I realy compared I thought picture publisher had a lot more in it it also shows you how long a grpahic would take for you to download at 14,4 and 28,8 and the dual compression windows which I've been using a speare program four (the uleads smart saver)

I also really like the Ulead graphics packages as well 0- I think its about hte same price -

Arent you using an old veriosn of psp or were anyhow at some point? so maybe you want to stick tqith PSP since its familiar but efinatly these otehr programs are worth checking out
Picture Publisher
http://www.micrografx.com/picturepublisher/

Ulead PhotoImpact
http://www.ulead.com/pi/runme.htm

also I noticed that PSP was cheeper thru like other software sights than off the PSP site hehe - so like if yo know what you want go to the differnt software onine sites and check out local sotres see who has the best price - its not always the manufactureer


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Lea
Massachusetts Rabbit Rescue
www.RabbitRescue.org (http://www.RabbitRescue.org)
LJ Massey & Co.
http://www.massey.i-p-d.com/index.shtml

[Sandy]

Lea

which one is easier to use?
I d/loaded psp last night but havent tried it yet..I have a demo CD around here somewhere of Micrographx that came with my scanner but I havent tried that either..probably cause I can't remember where I put it http://www.aota.net/ubb/frown.gif

[Del]

We run CorelDraw 8 (and PhotoPaint 8, and whatever else came along with the box) and I'm fairly happy with it. Neither one of us is a major grahics dabbler is probably why we like it well enough tho http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif Seems like we spent about $300 on it a year or so ago.

Since the subject is at hand, Julie is taking Image Processing this year, which uses Adobe PhotoShop 5. If anyone has experience with that and CorelDraw, please tell me if they're similar enough that if what she learns should apply to our software. Also, we can get PhotoShop 5 from the school for $300, should we take em up on it? The going price around here (Best Buy, CompUSA, etc...) is $700, so the school seems to be a bargain indeed. (BTW, those prices are for the full version, not the upgrade which we prolly can't use anyway).



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Del
www.downinit.com (http://www.downinit.com)

I use ta couldnt even spell student, n now I are one!

[Armand]

Del- normal going price on Photoshop is like $500-550 usually. Have used Photoshop 4 and 5 but never CorelDraw. Actually think PSP (paint shop pro) is pretty close to Photoshop personally...there are of course a few features shy of Adobe though. But good.

At $300 that's a good deal... seen student discounts here for like $259-279 for Photoshop so it's fairly comparable. If you are going to do a lot of graphic work then I'd say Adobe otherwise look around and talk to the teacher about cheaper alternatives.

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Armand (aka Joe)
JLavi67555@aol.com
www.arcanumcafe.com (http://www.arcanumcafe.com)

[Jacob Stetser]

If you can get Photoshop for a good price like that, and you intend to be doing a lot of graphic work, I'd go for Photoshop. It's the de facto standard as far as graphics go. http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

There's another program that supposedly makes good buttons and things.. it's by ulead... http://www.ulead.com/ ? I can't remember the name but it looked pretty cool to me. The catch? I work on a Mac and it doesn't run on a Mac.

So I fire up Virtual PC on my Mac and run it on Windows98 http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

But to tell the truth I haven't used that other one a lot. I've just been using Photoshop for straight graphics. For animations it's a tossup between Extensis PhotoAnimator, a few shareware programs and Flash.

http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Jacob Stetser (edited 01-14-99).]

[Bekariso]

Thanks everyone!!

I really appreciate all the input. The photo editor that came with the scanner Shaytar got for Christmas is actually Ulead, but I'm not very impressed by it. For one thing, it doesn't allow .gif format (uh, hellooo???), and it also has a full-window-for-every-image environment going on, so making matching buttons is a pain because I can't compare them side-by-side. Or at least I haven't figured out how to yet. And I haven't been able to find any "eyedropper" tool in it, which makes color selection a real pain.

As for Adobe, I am considering their "ImageStyler" which is priced at $129 on their site, I think. I have the demo downloaded right now, but it's taking me a while to get used to the set up, and I can only save the images in an obscure format that won't work with any other program, so I'd have to go back and check out what formats it actually supports. It's supposed to be specially for web graphics, so I expect it must do GIF's and JPEG's in the full version.

Again, thanks for all your input, it helps a lot. I'll definately check out the sites mentioned, and thanks for the pricing tips, too.


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Bekariso
susogi.net/Bekariso (http://susogi.net/Bekariso)
*** We prefer to remain anomalous ***

[pqwabbit]

which one is easier to use? I d/loaded psp last night but havent tried it yet..I have a demo CD around here somewhere of Micrographx that came with my scanner but I havent tried that either..

hmmm I'd say they are about the same in ease of use - hard to say cuz I am just starong to learn Micrographix but I am picking it up very quickly - hehehe howveer htere are a lot of features and effects on it that arent on PSP - so hmmmm I'd saythat ther is more to learn on Micrographix cuz there aremore features and stuff - but overall ease of use is similar - actualy I think some of the effects like lights are easier to use in micrographix they have this kewl interface where you chose the light type and the light tyoe is represented by a picture (like a sun or a spotlight) and you just move the light icon around the picuture to postiion your light source - so thats a kewl interface that makes it really easy to use. also things like the red eye removal is really easy and after yuo scanyou havethe option of havong the scaning wizard come up automtically to help you make typical corections modification to eh scanned image - I disabled this feautre though cuz I susally scann 3 or 4 photos at a time and it was comgn up afte each one - bah!

do you have the picture publisher demo? I have a program called oh dangit was Photo Magic - that is also by micrographix but doens have all the whistle s adn Bells as PP - Idnt even know that they make Photo Magic anymore anyhow. It wishI could make a better comparisio I did use PSP 5 demo eons ago well I had the beta version too before PSP5 was officially released but it was a while ago. thatifcorse expired to - Poop!
Also micrografx has some kewl text wizards that will automatically create special effects text automatically - those are kewl
too -
ok imramnblinghehe
you can d/l a trial version of micrografx also if you want to compare the 2 and you cant find yourr cd.

I guess. I think I tried to make "3d" effects on buttons and text, and to nipulate text shape, but couldn't make head nor tails of it at the time.
depeds on what sort of effect yu gooing for?
youcan do liek drop shadows and I think kaybe some beveled edges?? - I cant remeber -
Ulead make a way kewl easy to use 3d text program - Cool3D howver you should have 3d acceleration or a pretty fast processer - it's liek high class stuff youcan even animate em but the down side is it uses a lot of CPU andhte demo leave a watermark when you save so if you want usableul 3d text you really need to buy it - ok off on a tnagent -

what kinda 3d text are ya going for?


There's another program that posedly makes good buttons and things.. it's by ulead... http://www.ulead.com/ ? I can't rememberthe name but it looked pretty cool to me.

over all I really like Ulead products. The ones I've had occasion to try areeally easy to use and make great images. They have a java button maker - come with the PhotoImpact package - is that what you're thinking of?
a yeasi fond it Button.Applet - makes java buttons and you dont have to know java

here the url:
http://www.webutilities.com/ba/ba_main.htm


The photo editor that came with the scanner Shaytar got for Christmas is actually Ulead, but I'm not very impressed by it. For one thing, it doesn't allow .gif format (uh,helooo???),

that the problem with trying to use a stictly photo editor to make other stuff - thats why we had to get a full fledged graphic package ratherthan worling off of photo editors - I thinkI've seen that one on somoene else's puter - maybe if only comes preinstalkledand with scnners and stuff cuz I never seen it ontheir web site - sounds really watered down form what they normal sell - bah!
you need a full flegded grpahic package man that does jgs and gifs http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

matching buttons is a pain because I can't compare them side-by-side

hehe well what yoiu do is lik make a blank button first ad save that a your liketemplate - so like then yujust had text and save it under another name - thenyou have that blank button to go add more text to http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif that should help with uniformity lots.



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Lea
Massachusetts Rabbit Rescue
www.RabbitRescue.org (http://www.RabbitRescue.org)
LJ Massey & Co.
http://www.massey.i-p-d.com/index.shtml

[Sandy]

Thanks Lea!
I still can't find the demo CD but it's around here somewhere. I'd rather use that than pay $99 for psp if they're similar but I don't even know if the demo works on Win 98.
Not sure if it's worth it to empty out my whole desk to find it LOL

[flowersource]

I have corel 6.0, psp 5.0, ulead, adobe photoshop, micrografix publishers paintbrush and several others. The only one that I use for web graphics work (I'm not very good at it) is macromedia fireworks. Lotsa features, and short learning curve. Demo available at macromedia site.

[JimRhino]

Yeah Paint shop pro 5 is your answer!
I use it all the time very nice get the shareware version and test it.

Just added 6 new buttons to my button collection.

Enjoy

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JimRhino
http://www.susogi.net/Jimrhino

[JimRhino]

You can use the browser to see a whole directory of pictures and click the one you wanna see and 99% of the filters and plug-ins that work for adobe photo shop will work in paint shop pro.

6 new animated gifs added to the motion gallery.


HI DEB! Long time no speak hope everything is going well.

[JimRhino]

You can use the browser to see a whole directory of pictures and click the one you wanna see and 99% of the filters and plug-ins that work for adobe photo shop will work in paint shop pro.

6 new animated gifs added to the motion gallery.


HI DEB! Long time no speak hope everything is going well.

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JimRhino
http://www.susogi.net/Jimrhino

[Julie]

Well, I must say, Adobe Photoshop 5 is probably the best one out there. I love it.

Been using corel for a while now, and am in an image processing class that is teaching me the beauties of Adobe.

Around here, it will cost you about $600 (cept at the school where it is a measly $300)

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Julie

http://www.splitangels.org

[Justin]

Paint Shop Pro 5.01 is great for those of us who can't afford PhotoShop - but make sure to get 5.01, as 5.0 crashes a lot. But it does anmated GIF's in it's Animation Shop, buton effects, drop shadows on text, etc. It's pretty decent for the price, and once you've mastered it you can pretty much do anything with it (I haven't - not an artist!)

I still get a crash now and then with 5.01, so save often. Worst part is it will not reopen the temp files after a crash, and they are of unknown format - I spent an hour once trying to recover the megs of temp files, renaming them, etc, to no avial.

But overall it's a great program, and I couldn't live without it (untill I break down and get PhotoShop).

http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

Justin

[zeegraf]

If you're limited fund-wise, check out ULead's various applications. PhotoImpact is the best graphics editor I've seen in that price range, and their associated utilities like Smartsaver can't be beat for ease of use and functionality.


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Don Z.
www.zeegraf.com (http://www.zeegraf.com)

"To poldly mow air moebius
gumby four" --Kirk on Novacaine

[pqwabbit]

hey - I know you was asking about making titels and stuff - here's our new site title -
we made it using the bevel factory in Picture Publisher was way easy http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

http://www.massey.i-p-d.com/images/ljm2.jpeg

We also made a kewl frame around the snot green house withthe bevel factory and changed to a cleaner bground with just some simple green lines down the edge -




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Lea
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I can only please one person per day.
Today is not your day.
Tomorrow doesn't look good either.
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www.massey.i-p-d.com/index.shtml (http://www.massey.i-p-d.com/index.shtml)




[This message has been edited by pqwabbit (edited 01-31-99).]

[Mandi]

Paint Shop Pro has an excellent usenet newsgroup - makes the learning curve MUCH less steep, in my view:

comp.graphics.apps.paint-shop-pro

Many users of the group are actively involved in creating tutorials and leading groups through exercises, and specific questions posed to the group will always elicit an answer. Jasc monitors the group (last I checked, it's been awhile since I was a *regular* there) and uses the input to develop the product.

If you are new to newsgroups or usenet, give your ISP a call for help getting setup (it comes off their newsserver, not FQ's http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif!)

[gwlubin]

I am another PSP 5 fan. I really enjoy using it. Also for around $20, I bought an excellent little plug-in called Blade Pro which allows even someone like me, with little or no artistic talent, to achieve excellent text fx. Possibly the best $20 I ever spent. I think their url is www.flamingpear.com

Graham

[Reger]

I just bought PSP. Thanks for all the help on this topic and so many others.

My problem was that for marital peace I needed to come as close to $0.00 as possible.
Well, there was this Staples ad for PSP in the paper on 2/21. The price was $59.99. I rushed to the store to check it out. There were two boxes in stock. One package had a $20 rebate coupon for upgrading from another graphics software (including Adobe PhotoDeluxe - which came with my printer). That same package also included a bundled book SAMS Teach Yourself PSP 5 in 24 Hours 24 one-hour lessons by T. Michael Clark.

The were also two manuals in the box for PSP and Animation Shop.

The CD-ROM includes PSP version 5.01 and tutorials.

I am http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif with the manuals, the extra book and especially the software. This would have been a great value at $99.

With the rebate, my wife still believes I overspent by $39.99.

I truly appreciate the guidance from this topic! This is everything I need for graphics and photos.


Reger
==========================================
Almost as happy with this purchase as I am with FutureQuest... and that's a pretty major happy

[Paul]

Reger:

I feel your pain... now how are you going to break it to her that you will need the Blade Pro plug-in, Eye Candy plugin and Xenofex plugin by Alien Skin Software, not to mention Smart Saver Pro... and.. and.. http://www.mistervintage.com/devil.gif


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Paul