Graphic Designers: Photoshop Questions

 okay #1 TOTALLY DO IT!! hehe, about the etsy store.  basically if you wanna make something & its fun for you, do it.

for the rest I'd suggest getting the program, then using it - explore it yourself, then there are usually lots of video tutorials on youtube for just about anything. I found alot for my video editing program which helped out alot. Then I would take a local class - if you feel you're not accomplishing what you want creativly. I've always just messed around with programs until I figured them out. I'd also check out forums too, I'm sure there are alot of people out there that have tips & tricks. I've only worked with Adobe photoshop, a long time ago & I think I did everything the hard way lol. but I had fun doing it.

 also check your states laws about businesss licenses & sellers permits. Etsy doesn't require you to have any of that stuff, but your state might.

oh i totally wanted that 'yudu' screen printing kit. I thought it was really cool. but then my BF said i should just get the 'real' stuff - apparently he used to screen print. turns out it'd be cheaper than the YUDU. lol. I wanna screen print soo bad! you're gonna have to post some stuff you make!!!

I will definitely post stuff up! I am so excited to get started!!

 I found some tutorials for you :)

 intro to layers.....here

 Creating drop shadows

 this is probably important!! keyboard shortcuts

 I did the invitations for my son on Adobe PhotoElements and did the printing myself. Mind you there wasn't a lot of printing on the actual invitations, they were mostly ribbons and enhancements. I like the idea of a monogram that is used throughout the correspondence. Here is a sample of the applications we used. I know it's a little small, but you get the idea.

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 I've got CS3 and I love it.  LOVE IT.  I'd get CS4 now, but whatever, you never really catch up in the world of technology do you?  Its not a program you just toss aside when the new version comes out.  Its like an $800 program! 

If I had access to some classes, I might take them.  Depending on the cost I guess.  But there's not much around here.  I've watched tons on Youtube and learned alot on there.  I was totally clueless when I started, but I'm getting better I think.  I can literally spend hours on it when I lose myself.  I'll likely never print a regular photo again...

(Sidenote - Willa is napping and might wake up any minute. I'll try to answer as much as I can!)

I definitely think there is a market for your idea. Many of the online invitation sites offer basic flat/ink printing, or cheap-looking (MY opinion) raised lettering/thermography. I think screen printing adds a really neat, detailed touch.

On to Photoshop. If you take a class, most likely they'll have the newest version. I would definitely recommend a class. You can learn on your own just by playing around, but there are a lot lot lot of helpful features that would be much easier to learn if someone showed you. I've never taken an online course, so I don't know if it would be the same or not. I guess as long as you can ask questions, it would be better than nothing.

One little concern I have is that Photoshop is a photo/graphic editing program, not a page layout program (like InDesign). It is raster-based (pixels) rather than vector (like Illustrator, which is used for logos). It's kind of hard to explain, but once pixels get sized up, it can get blurry or bit-mapped looking. Vector images can be sized to fit a business card or billboard and without losing resolution. I understand you won't be doing anything that extreme, but for type and icons, vector is sharper than raster, no matter the size. But, if you do stick to Photoshop, make sure that your designs are at least 300 dpi.

istockphoto is royalty-free, so yes, once you buy it you can use it in your designs and sell the printed materials. That's what it's there for. The legal licensing jargon is confusing, but basically what you can't do is re-sell the artwork electronically.

 I'm not really up to date with photoshops using CS but it still works great.  One thing I can suggest however if you are planning on doing any actual drawing yourself, then you really should consider investing in a tablet (a wacom would be my suggested brand).  So much more control and less strain on the wrist than trying to use a mouse.

Krissim Klaw

 I'm not really up to date with photoshops using CS but it still works great.  One thing I can suggest however if you are planning on doing any actual drawing yourself, then you really should consider investing in a tablet (a wacom would be my suggested brand).  So much more control and less strain on the wrist than trying to use a mouse.

yes!! the Wacom tablets are fun!!

i have the bamboo one. I saw the monitor one @ Fry's and was mad that it didn't have a paint program on it, how the heck are ya supposed to try it out!?!  but way fun & way better than a mouse.

akyramoto82

yes!! the Wacom tablets are fun!!

i have the bamboo one. I saw the monitor one @ Fry's and was mad that it didn't have a paint program on it, how the heck are ya supposed to try it out!?!  but way fun & way better than a mouse.

 I would love to try out one if their Cintiq models.  Really having the screen on the tablet would be the most natural form of drawing since all the other models require a practiced hand eye corrdination of looking up at the screen while your drawing on the tablet.  The next tablet I plan to buy will probably one of them now that the prices are finally becoming a bit more doable for the average person as the technology advances.  Never managed to catch one set up in a store yet.  Real bummer they didn't have a paint program on the one you saw... kind of kills the ability of testing it.  Like checking out a new computer with nothing loaded on it so it just gives you a blank screen...

How are their bamboo tablets?  I know a lot of my friends love the graphiers.  Currently I'm using an 9X12 Intuos myself and absolutly love it.  I really consider it just as important element as photoshop itself because it really compliments the program.  I do mostly original artwork though, I think in all my time I have only once done a touch up to a photo on photoshop. <__<

 i dont know about the education version of photoshop, but i know that the education version of autocad puts a border on all the drawings that say education version. just an FYI.

Krissim Klaw

 

akyramoto82

yes!! the Wacom tablets are fun!!

i have the bamboo one. I saw the monitor one @ Fry's and was mad that it didn't have a paint program on it, how the heck are ya supposed to try it out!?!  but way fun & way better than a mouse.

 I would love to try out one if their Cintiq models.  Really having the screen on the tablet would be the most natural form of drawing since all the other models require a practiced hand eye corrdination of looking up at the screen while your drawing on the tablet.  The next tablet I plan to buy will probably one of them now that the prices are finally becoming a bit more doable for the average person as the technology advances.  Never managed to catch one set up in a store yet.  Real bummer they didn't have a paint program on the one you saw... kind of kills the ability of testing it.  Like checking out a new computer with nothing loaded on it so it just gives you a blank screen...

How are their bamboo tablets?  I know a lot of my friends love the graphiers.  Currently I'm using an 9X12 Intuos myself and absolutly love it.  I really consider it just as important element as photoshop itself because it really compliments the program.  I do mostly original artwork though, I think in all my time I have only once done a touch up to a photo on photoshop. <__<

ya i would love to have the monitor version, def the 'next' gadget I'm getting LOL. the Bamboo tablet is alot of fun

this is the one I got, I have the 'medium' in black, 

BAMBOO FUN

Its the only tablet I've used, i love it. I have yet to use the buttons that are actually on the pad. It does take time to get used to looking at the screen when you typically look towards your hand when you draw.  I really love how sensitive it is. i think the whole thing is amazing. I like to use mine on the website sketchfu, but I haven't been on there in forever. I still haven't gotten very proficient at using it, but i love having it available. I've mostly used it just to doodle, haven't really used it on photos.

I think the monitor version was about $1200, maybe by the time i can afford one they'll be cheaper! LOL

I just looked, you have  a nice tablet. Mine is pretty much the entry level deal.

but heres the RAD one!!

Janice.

Is there any way to work with istockphoto images without having a program that I have to buy? Ie. Gimp (I know thats a photoshop program, and that I need more of an illustrator, but is it possible to download something and fool around with it using Istockphoto images as opposed to investing and find out that I stink at it??

And Im glad you think there is a market for it. I think that, especially with wedding invitations, the profit is pretty large, because people are buying many of them versus a single greeting card (for more or less the same price-- but invitations come with RSVP cards, etc.)

Thanks everyone for the input!

I would totally get photoshop. Especially since you can get the education version(which is the same as the full version, just at a more reasonable rate). So definitely do it.

As for istock photos, I would look into thier "terms of use" on the website and if you're still uncertain, send them an email.

And Candace, just thought I'd let you know that if you wanted cs4 you can buy the upgrade which is much more reasonably priced(ie. $200ish). But you might want to wait until cs5 comes out since you can upgrade from cs3-cs5, but if you wait for the next version then you won't be able to buy the upgrade if you want the newer version. You'd have to buy the full version.  My plan is to wait for cs5 to come out to upgrade...

Just saw your last response. Just so you know, when you save a file in illustrator it is not in a format that you could share online.  It sounds like mostly you will be doing the designing and the printing. So this probably isn't a problem. But if you were thinking of doing the designing and having the customer having them printed you will likely run into problem. Last I checked illustrator only saves in a format that illustrator can open. You might look into getting the bundled adobe software that gives you all the programs(photoshop, indesign, illustrator, etc).

btw, I have done almost all my invites/announcements in photoshop without any issues. But then again I'm not printing up enormous things, so maybe that is why it works for me.