Graphic design programs

[2jamesl]

Hi, does anyone here know of any graphic design programs which are free and on the internet ready to download. Im thinking of taking a different approach to my photos and was wandering if anybody had knowledge of this?

Thanks

[hawkaye]

If it's just for tinkering with photos, then Gimp is the best free one out there

[2jamesl]

No not just for tinkering with photos, i use photoshop for that but i was thinking of doing my own artistic designs. Its hard to describe but just some random graphic design, lots of colours, flowing lines etc

[Jack Blag]

You probably need to combine Illustrator and Photoshop to get the effects you're looking for. I assume you are referring to the sort of stuff seen in the Audi A5 advert?

Unfortunately, good software isn't cheap but if you already have Photoshop, then you can create just about anything with a bit of imagination. I don't know how good you are with Photoshop, but if you describe what you are tring to do I may be able to help.

[Tuna]

The Gimp is a fully featured (if slightly odd in it's user interface) graphic design program - it's absolutely not 'just for photos', and supports a huge range of effects, plugins, drawing facilities and controls. It's completely free.

Edited to add - here's a link to the official site. It's a very mature product and is worth trying out, though it might take a week or so to get used to, as with any moderately complex software these days.

http://www.gimp.org/

If you can afford a little money, consider Paint Shop Pro, which isn't entirely without merit, and doesn't cost the earth.

Edited by Tuna on Tuesday 18th September 11:52

[2jamesl]

thanks ever so much

I have now downloaded The GIMP and i am trying to get to grips with it.

[gumballer]

Try a free 30 day trial of illustrator...

[_dobbo_]

Illustrator (like anything from Creative Suite) doesn't come cheap. Gimp is good, I'm told Paint.net is very good, and a bit easier to get the hang of than the gimp.

Paint.net is free - http://www.getpaint.net/

[RameshUK]

A newer version of the Gimp called Gimpshop was released.

Basically to look similar to Photoshop.

Check the youtube installation video by a fan:

http://gimpshop.blogspot.com/
(scroll down the page )

Does not do CMYK (yet) and not quite as usable as Photoshop but great for students/those on a budget !

R