Preferred design (imaging) tools

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Heavy
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Preferred design (imaging) tools

Post by Heavy »

My question is:
What software, hardware do you use for design (image) works?
I don't mean dreamweaver, mozilla composer and such.

Please specify whether the software is free / open source.
Provide a hyperlink as well.

I post this to get to know about available (free) tools and utilities, as alternatives to the ones I already use.
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Heavy
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Post by Heavy »

I am trying to get a grip of GIMP, which is free and open source.
When I'm on a PC I also use an old version of Photoimpact, which costs money.
I have no special peripheral devices. Just a mouse.
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JayBird
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Post by JayBird »

It's not free, but it is the best Adobe Photoshop

http://www.adobe.com

Mark
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twigletmac
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Post by twigletmac »

I tend to use Adobe Photoshop 7 in conjunction with a Wacom tablet. I also occasionally use Jasc Paint Shop Pro and Macromedia Flash. All of these cost money (Paint Shop Pro is pretty reasonably priced though).

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Nay
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Post by Nay »

Bech100 wrote:It's not free, but it is the best Adobe Photoshop

http://www.adobe.com

Mark
Yeah, I totally agree to that. I've been using Photoshop 7 for about a year now and getting the hang of it.

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Unipus
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Post by Unipus »

Photoshop, Illustrator, occasionally Flash (drawing tools are sometimes more useful than Illustrator's), very occasionally Painter (and Photoshop is beginning to take over more and more of Painter's role).

And SOMETIMES, when I'm doing something very specific, I find it's easier to do it in After Effects and export a .PSD than to do it in Photoshop itself. This really only applies to very specific effects.
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Heavy
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Post by Heavy »

so, did you draw this one
Image
using a tablet?
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Post by trollll »

I've used Photoshop since version...3? 4? A while, anyway. I use that for working with photos, ImageReady for gifs/animations, Flash for more complex animations and line drawings. Generally find that the good ol' track ball works just fine for everything. Unforunately, haven't really gotten a chance to use many open source and/or free graphics programs, but I've heard some good things about GIMP.
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m3mn0n
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Post by m3mn0n »

Believe it or not but I love the simplicity of MS Paint, and use it still pretty often. Also besides Paint I use Photoshop 7, and ImageReady/Flash for animations.
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Post by Unipus »

Funny, I've heard nothing but bad things about GIMP (the latest release). I've also never actually encountered anyone who seriously used ImageReady. What are you crazy kids up to?

The only free graphics software I've ever run across that was worth its salt was Auto-Illustrator, and they even started charging for that. Many years ago when I used Paint Shop Pro it was a solid piece of software and a steal at the price, I don't know what it's like today. Generally in this field you seem to get what you pay for.
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twigletmac
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Post by twigletmac »

Heavy wrote:so, did you draw this one
Image
using a tablet?
Nope, I can't take credit for that, my avatar is a Divide by Zero tombat that I've been using for a few years. I used Photoshop to colour it in and add the outline though.

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