Learning how to make professional looking graphics.

No courses ... no money - is there a way?

[chris_f]

Hi All,

I have a colleague who is interested in graphic design. He can make basic images (usually not involving curves) in Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro and Fireworks. Is there a way for him to learn how to make professional looking graphics without it costing him any money? I think he is manly interested in making nice headers for some sites. You know, the type with two colours seperated by a curvy wave with some shadow.

I've pointed him to tutorials of Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro and Fireworks but they don't seem to cover the area he wants.

Sorry if I'm being scetchy but I'm trying to figure it out.
atob c

[korkus2000]

What areas is he interested in? Is it just plain art theory? In the world of art the only true teacher is experience. Thats what made Picasso, Picasso. If you go to art school it is really about gaining experience and knowledge from your peers. You really just have to develop it. I think the best teacher would be practice.

You can learn everything about Photoshop, but it is really working with it and emulating other works to develop your own unique style that makes you accomplished. I would tell him to recreate several sites. Just as with learning to write music, you take aspects that intrigue you to implement in your own style. To keep it professional he should also read about accessability and usability while trying to emulate sites that are successful in that aspect.

One tip on curves for him is to use a vector program to create the skeleton of the graphic. I use it to make sure I have the right diagnol flow around the image and that it is not to side heavy and grounded. Like a painter draws on the canvas for a framework before they start actually painting. Freehand or Illustrator really help you understand the flow of the composition before you actually start adding raster components.

[edited by: korkus2000 at 2:16 pm (utc) on Nov. 27, 2003]

[chris_f]

Hi Korkus,

I think he is interested in making nice professional graphical headers to websites. When I speak to him later, I will try to get him to ellaborate. It's difficult to give an example without posting links.

atob c

[ukgimp]

I bet he is referring to masks?

Check the blended image at the bottom. PSP

h*ttp://www.psphelp.com/Fv8masks_02.html

[chris_f]

Hi UKGimp,

That is 1 of the 2 things he showed me. Thanks for that. The other thing he showed me was a website header made of two colors, which we seperated by a distinctive s shapes swoosh with some shadowing.

similar to this:
h*ttp://www.templatemonster.com/screenshots/3400/3407-a.jpg

Chris