Graphics, designing and another stupid question

[littlegreenfairy]

I've been asked to make some wedding invitations and other bits for a friends wedding, it's something I've been thinking of getting in to as a bit of a sideline (and to satisfy my needs to colour things in)

This website is the sort of thing I'm talking about:

http://eatdrinkchic.com/archives.cfm/category/do-i...

But how does one do it? Is it a case of many times just having a shed load of fonts, does one make the fonts oneself? Is it a graphics tablet job, just how do you do it?

It's probably a case of biting off too much - but I'd love to know how to make pretty labels and bits and bobs.

I've got time on my hands.. so would love to learn. And so I can design my own flyers for the business etc. What sort of programmes would one need?

(please excuse ramblings, it's the fever and being stuck in the house and going nuts! my brain just isn't working)

Thanks

[tossbag]

I am a freelance designer, so I will help if I can, some quick links to answer your questions...

A good site with free fonts:
www.dafont.com

A good place to sell hand made craft items (and also to see what else is out there):
www.etsy.com

A good place to pick up a demo of Photoshop:
www.adobe.com

The rest is down to talent and time, if you have any more specific questions, ask away

Edited by tossbag on Friday 23 July 11:36

[littlegreenfairy]

Will it be mostly a case of photoshop then? I can draw (a bit...enough for what I want to do) but confused as to how to get it into a computery format?

For example:

- how would that be created?

Thanks for the advice - I love learning new stuff and so much happier now I'm doing a job that's more arty, but am finding I want to learn more and more. Totally regret my uni choice and spending 5 years hating it. Making up for lost time!

Btw, etsy is a dangerous dangerous place and I'm currently banned from shopping there

[anonymous-user]

^ That was almost certaily made on Adobe Illustrator, but is possible to do on Photoshop. I would use Illustrator if I were making them because it has proper drawing tools and is far superior for text editing.

ETA: I can also help with any questions, I use both daily at work

Edited by MSTRBKR on Friday 23 July 11:48

[tossbag]

MSTRBKR said:

^ That was almost certaily made on Adobe Illustrator, but is possible to do on Photoshop. I would use Illustrator if I were making them because it has proper drawing tools and is far superior for text editing.

This is true.
You certainly could do that in Photoshop, and if I didn't need a hi resolution version I probably would, just for convenience sake, but line work is usually done in Illustrator.

Edit: MSTRBKR, what's up Adobe buddy

Edited by tossbag on Friday 23 July 11:49

[littlegreenfairy]

Is it possible to learn Illustrator to a reasonable level at home? I'm really wanting to learn something like that (I can't be baking all the time!) and be able to design my own stuff too.

Time to move on from Crayola right

[Eviltad]

Etsy looks amazing! Nice find.

[tossbag]

littlegreenfairy said:

Is it possible to learn Illustrator to a reasonable level at home? I'm really wanting to learn something like that (I can't be baking all the time!) and be able to design my own stuff too.

Time to move on from Crayola right

The thing is whit Photoshop / Illustrator is that so many people like your good self want to learn it outside of an education arena, so there is a wealth of info on the web, so good, so not so good.
Some people will say it's best to get a more lightweight program to start with, but honestly you will only be learning Adobe stuff after you have grown out of them anyway, so take the plunge.

Pro tip: Draw your ideas by hand, get them right and then worry about Illustrator / Photoshop, do not boot them up, look at a blank screen and think "Hmmm, OK, now what?"

[littlegreenfairy]

Problem is, that whilst I can draw, sometimes lines aren't quite straight and things are a little wonky and would need straightening up - is that a problem? Perhaps time to invest in an evening class.

[anonymous-user]

tossbag said:

littlegreenfairy said:

Is it possible to learn Illustrator to a reasonable level at home? I'm really wanting to learn something like that (I can't be baking all the time!) and be able to design my own stuff too.

Time to move on from Crayola right

The thing is whit Photoshop / Illustrator is that so many people like your good self want to learn it outside of an education arena, so there is a wealth of info on the web, so good, so not so good.
Some people will say it's best to get a more lightweight program to start with, but honestly you will only be learning Adobe stuff after you have grown out of them anyway, so take the plunge.

Pro tip: Draw your ideas by hand, get them right and then worry about Illustrator / Photoshop, do not boot them up, look at a blank screen and think "Hmmm, OK, now what?"

Good advice. Tossbag is right, it's only a tool so it's really best to get ideas on to paper first and then redraw them accurately on the computer. It doesn't matter if you're hand drawing is wonky it's about getting the idea down on to paper first because your hand lets you do anything, whereas a computer can restrict your flair.

It's simple to learn at home with online tutorials, I taught a couple of work experience kids in an hour just last week. Get the basics worked out and then you can learn as you go

[littlegreenfairy]

Awesome. I shall have a look at it - the free demo naturally

Thanks

[Ben Hughes]

I taught myself Photoshop through my interest in photography, and I've since been asked to design things such as band logos, so I transferred my skills into Illustrator. I'm now working on Flash, as it's something I've never got my head round before; it's not as hard as you think to get the basics of each program.

[tossbag]

littlegreenfairy said:

Awesome. I shall have a look at it - the free demo naturally

Thanks

The demo I think is still 30 dyas, so it's a good one.
If you get serious, have a look at paper cutting tools like:

http://www.cricut.com/

But I think thats further down the line, stick it in your favourites though, their machines rock.

[littlegreenfairy]

tossbag said:

littlegreenfairy said:

Awesome. I shall have a look at it - the free demo naturally

Thanks

The demo I think is still 30 dyas, so it's a good one.
If you get serious, have a look at paper cutting tools like:

http://www.cricut.com/

But I think thats further down the line, stick it in your favourites though, their machines rock.

I have a sizzix thing and wont be parted from it. Something that could cut your own designs would be just amazing.

Thanks for all your help. I'm going to finish my origami ball and then have a good look at it. There is just so much to look at on the internet, and stuff to try that I've no idea how I'll get around to it all!

[tossbag]

dibbers006 said:

The step from nothing to 'Computer Art' is easiest if you draw what you envisage on paper.

Go into as much detail and colour as you like.

Then just take a Digital Photo and open it up in whatever program you want (Illustrator from the looks of your style) and draw over it.

Start with the Pen Tool and work from there.

Pro Tip...

• START any Artwork at a Size and Quality you will be Outputting at.

ie. A4 Poster... have an A4 Illustrator page and so on.

Else you find you have created something awesome the size of a stamp... or have massively overused your RAM slowing your computer down needlessly.

If you are in the South East I can teach you if you like... or start you on the right path

All this for sure.
We should start a support group, good people in this thread.

[littlegreenfairy]

dibbers006 said:

tossbag said:

We should start a support group, good people in this thread

Colouring-In Anonymous



'My name is dibbers and I am a Colouring-in-aholic' <scribbles furiously with crayons>

What sort of Crayon?

[littlegreenfairy]

dibbers006 said:

The step from nothing to 'Computer Art' is easiest if you draw what you envisage on paper.

Go into as much detail and colour as you like.

Then just take a Digital Photo and open it up in whatever program you want (Illustrator from the looks of your style) and draw over it.

Start with the Pen Tool and work from there.

Pro Tip...

• START any Artwork at a Size and Quality you will be Outputting at.

ie. A4 Poster... have an A4 Illustrator page and so on.

Else you find you have created something awesome the size of a stamp... or have massively overused your RAM slowing your computer down needlessly.

If you are in the South East I can teach you if you like... or start you on the right path

Thanks so much for the advice - I'm in Swindon (you don't know how happy that makes me to be able to say that now!) so probably a bit too far. I'm going to sit down with my best colouring pencils and have a go.

Just spent an hour on Etsy and I'm so inspired (and put the credit card away just incase!) there are some very talented people out there!

[North West Tom]

OT, but do any of you Adobe folks use After Effects?

[tossbag]

North West Tom said:

OT, but do any of you Adobe folks use After Effects?

Rarely mate tbh.

[B52er]

Lazy mans advice - do a little search for 'free vector images' whole world of free illustrator files etc. you can use or change to suit your needs.

like this..... http://vector4free.com/

enjoy!