Art Graphic Design Programs

[Darkside Dexter]

I'm looking into using art programs however I don't know which one to invest in. What are the programs some of you guys use for your artwork here on OB? Photoshop etc...

Something that's very beginner friendly.

I apologize if this is in the wrong spot I was torn between the Help and the Art section but it's both so I came straight to the artists. Please help me out here all help is greatly appreciated.

[jigglyness]

What exactly do you mean by art? Can you be a little more specific, like graphic design kind of stuff or like drawing/coloring digitally?

[Darkside Dexter]

Aghhh I aplogize I knew from the begining my question wasn't worded ideally. Just a program where I can make stuff like this (not bleach in particular) but all the kind of details that are implemented here.

[url]http://www.animewallpapers.com/wallpapers/bleach/full_6.php[/url]

Thanks

[Boo]

[size=1]I'm going to quote a PM I replied to someone a while ago who asked as similiar question, because I'm lazy like that.
[QUOTE=Boo][size=1]I myself use mostly either Jasc's (well, it used to be Jasc, now it's part of Corel Studios) Paintshop Pro (7 or 9) or Adobe's Photoshop CS2 for my graphics. Most of the artists here on OtakuBoards use the latter, as far as I know, but there are a few that prefer Paintshop Pro. Or using them both. :P

Legally, they're both rather expensive. There should be a trial for Photoshop CS[b]3[/b] on the Adobe website. Download page is found here: [url=http://www.adobe.com/downloads/?ogn=EN_US-gntray_dl_trialdownloads][color=blue][u]Adobe - Downloads[/u][/color][/url].

I don't think there's a trial version for the regular Paintshop Pro anymore, though there is a new Photo X2 version and Corel Painter X that might be the same idea, but better. :P You could try it out, it's on Corel's trial page: [url=http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/gb/en/Content/1152796555406][u][color=blue]Corel's Free Trials[/u][/color][/url]. Heck, I'm going to try the Corel programs out myself as well.[/size][/QUOTE]
I can't be too sure about that specific wallpaper of course, but with for example Photoshop you would be able to make something at least as good as that wallpaper. Of course it all takes practice anyway.

Personally I found Jasc's Paint Shop Pro the most beginner friendly of the programs I've tried out myself. You could try PSP7, it's pretty dated now, but can still deliver quality work.

Oh and by the way: Don't worry, this is the right place for such questions. ;P[/size]

[Hybrid Ninja]

Besides Photoshop, you can also work with GIMP.
I've worked with it a few times, and it's actually pretty good.

There are a lot of people on the GFX forums that I'm on that use it.
It has a bunch of the same features as photoshop;; layers, brushes, effects, etc.
But, it's actually a fully free program. [Yes, legally]
;]

[URL="http://www.gimp.org/"]http://www.gimp.org/[/URL]

[boothten]

[quote name='Hybrid Ninja']Besides Photoshop, you can also work with GIMP.
I've worked with it a few times, and it's actually pretty good.

There are a lot of people on the GFX forums that I'm on that use it.
It has a bunch of the same features as photoshop;; layers, brushes, effects, etc.
But, it's actually a fully free program. [Yes, legally]
;]

[URL="http://www.gimp.org/"]http://www.gimp.org/[/URL][/QUOTE]

[size=1]I was actually going to suggest that haha. I've worked with it twice, and a lot of the functions are surprisingly similar to Photoshop, then again it would make sense that they follow in the programs image seeing as how Photoshop is the leader in Computer Art software.

If you have the money though, I strongly suggest you invest in buying Photoshop, unless art is just going to be some hobbie or pastime, then just download GIMP.[/size]

[sakurasuka]

[FONT="Arial"][SIZE="1"]

Paint Shop Pro for the win.

Though Adobe products are more mainstream. Since you are beginner, I strongly recommend downloading the free trial of Adobe Photoshop CS3. It is a 30 day trial, so it gives you plenty of time to try it out. Another plus with Photoshop is its general popularity. This makes it much easier for a beginner to learn, since there are tons of tutorials and step-by-step guides on just about everything you can imagine.

But please don't pay for anything without trying it first. That's a good way to waste money.

[/SIZE][/FONT]

[Stuart]

[FONT="Trebuchet MS"][quote name='sakurasuka'][FONT="Arial"][SIZE="1"]
Paint Shop Pro for the win.
[/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE]
I <3 you.

[B] PAINT SHOP PRO IS ON THE RISE![/B][/FONT]

[Boron]

[quote name='Darkside Dexter']I'm looking into using art programs however I don't know which one to invest in. What are the programs some of you guys use for your artwork here on OB? Photoshop etc...

Something that's very beginner friendly.

I apologize if this is in the wrong spot I was torn between the Help and the Art section but it's both so I came straight to the artists. Please help me out here all help is greatly appreciated.[/QUOTE]

I used Paint.NET
It's very easy to get used to. You can colour in your hand-drawn pictures SO EASILY.
It also comes with pre-made patterns such as diagonal lines that you can use to shade your drawings.. might not be the most advanced program, but it's what I use and, trust me, if I can use it, anyone can..