Suitable design software

[JimBob]

Hi,

I've been dabbling in web design for just a couple of months and I have what is probably a very simple question. I have a 12 year old whom I tutor on a regular basis, and I would like to introduce him to the creative side of the computer.

He loves video games and comic book graphics, but pulls F's in math, and generally struggles in school. He plays the clarinet very well and likes to draw.

Can anyone recommend a uncomplicated (simple?) program in graphic design? I don't know what's out there, or if even something like that exists. He is a regular video junkie and I would like to push him in the other direction.

[BoR|S]

Paint Shop Pro
Pixel32
Photoshop
Paint Brush after all =)

[Waves]

For someone who is younger, I reccommend starting out with MS Paint. I has all the essentials for a person who likes to draw. All the tools are laid out for you on the screen and can be activated with the click of a button. Once they get the hang of MS Paint (it comes with windows if you didn't know) you can move on to Paint Shop Pro. It adds in the special effects that can't normally be done by hand while also keeping the basic paintbrush utilites. The final upgrade would be to Photoshop. It is the most difficult to use, but can also create some amazing images.

[BigTony]

I remember a few years ago (like when Win95 came out) there was a program called Windows Draw. It's pretty simple (i thought) and yet it had some more advanced drawing tools.

If you can find it anywhere I'd recommend it.

[Jhereg]

I recommend Paint Shop Pro... There are plenty of free tutorials on the web, from basic PSP functionality to advanced graphics design. There is a website called Paintshop Pro Users Group at http://pspug.org that has live chat online classes. He can take the classes without becoming a member, but as a member the homework is emailed to him and he will have to setup a website to post his finished work. That way he can learn HTML while he is learning graphic design.

:cool:

[Ghandi Eximius]

If he's interestend in design (and I mean more than just..oh, thats neat) I suggest that you try to get him to get PhotoSHop Delux.

Its a VERY simple program, and has some really advanced, easy to use, features.

It will also get him used to dealing with file types and filters which will help later on in his design career...

[drak]

Actually I'd say play with the mentioned above app's and teach yourself with them the more and more you practice the better your going to get. I'd give yourself about 2 solid months before your truely efficient with the high end graphic programs. They are simple. Once you discover the limitations of the lower end products. Which is always the problem the limitations of a program is as the best you feel comfortable.

Something along the lines of martial art teaching ideas.
"You must learn the simple techiques. Then you will know what more you can deliver." I guess that goes with all other ideas in the web design and engineering world. As well as real life too.

Color inbetween the lines first then work your way up.

[JimBob]

Thanks for the excellent advice. I'm getting PSP from a friend of a friend, but I have my work cut out for me! I was tutoring the aforementioned 12 year old on Sunday when he threw a tantrum that was still going on two hours later when I left.

[Orange]

I would suggest starting in Photoshop. There are many reasons for this, ill start a little list of why I think PS is a better choice.

1. There are tons upon tons of great places to learn how to draw
in PS on the web for free.

2. It takes about 2 weeks to to have a decent handle on the
tools.

3. there are tons of plug-ins for photoshop that make using the program easier and faster.

4. If your son is into drawing, photoshop is a great place to start learning because of the progression into other art programs
offered by adobe. After about a 6 months in PS your son could move onto learning Adobe illustrator. While they are different in their approaches to drawing, they share a common interface and tools. Which if you know PS will help you out.

illustrator is a great program and used for creating many genres of art, from comics to cartoons.(Ever watch the power puff girls?)

5. i deal with teaching kids everything from webdesign to graphic design on a regular basis. Ill tell you flat out ive seen 10 year olds write program on their own and create decent art on their own.
Like in music the younger they start the better they will grasp the ideas behind anything you put in front of them. As far as math goes, techinal minded people are more inclined to do better in the sciences while creative minded people are more inclined to excel in the arts.


here are some links to some great Photoshop sites:

_http://www.almani.org Almani
http://www.axxessdenied.com Axxessdenied http://www.carbonfour.com/ Carbonfour
http://www.deaddreamer.com/v10/index2.htmlDeaddreamer
http://www.digitexturia.com/" Digitexturia
http://www.eyeball-design.com/fxzone/index01.htm Eyeball-Design
http://www.eyesondesign.net/pshop/tuts.htm EyesOnDesign
http://user.fundy.net/morris/main.html GFX

[soonerdm]

Photoshop?

Why would you spend $650 on a program if all you are using it for is for the web. No doubt PS is the best image editor out there but $650 to teach a kid web graphics is a little high. I would suggest Photoimpact. You can export your designs in HTML they can include image maps rollovers and pop-up menus. Much like Adobe Image Ready. Photoimpact is easier to use than Photoshop, there is nothing in Photoshop if you are designing for the web that cannot be done in Photoimpact, and it is far more robust than PSP. At a price of $79 you wont be let down by its power.

[JimBob]

Thanks for all the excellent suggestions. I installed PSP7 last week and Dreamweaver last night. Now all I have to do is find time to teach him how to use the programs.

[DCElliott]

I'm surprised no-one suggested a vector drawing program like Powerpoint or Presentations (from office suites) or something like Corel Essentials which has 90% versions of Corel Draw and Photopaint. The advantage of a vector package is that you create editable objects. Paint programs are much harder to "back out" of for mistakes, although the higher end packages allow you to create separate layers. However they are complicated and often unintuitive. If you have tantrum problems, introducing a program that can destroy your work in a misplaced click of the fill tool might not be a good idea.

In addition - a presentation package has application to school projects allowing creation of poster and overheads . . .

[MikeParent]

Photoshop Elements is also good for one-eighth the price of Photoshop

[TGecho]

A drawing tool I use a lot is Image Composer. It (GULP!) comes packaged with Frontpage. The main thing I like about it is the fact that instead of treating your workspace like one big canvas (maybe with layers), it keeps everything seperated in sprites. This makes juggling and editing complicated images much more intuitive.

There are definitely drawbacks: it doesn't have a lot of the advanced features like photoshop, and it gobbles up memory, among other things. Still, I think it's worth a look.

[backhus]

He can use GIMP it's an GNU GPL application like Photoshop and it run under Windows.

But for building picture the most good application is Adobe Ilustrator or Publisher from Microsoft Office.

[animgirl]

Photoshop is so not the way to start.

As the name implies PHOTOshop.

A very involved program. It takes some know how to do anything. It's a more serious professional-scale program.

I know if I had looked into it when I didn't have the chance to experiment in others I would have been discouraged because it just has so much crap and the terminology is just "wham" if you don't have experience in a easier, not-so-deep program first.

If he/she's into "painting", that's a bit different story.

I don't know many paint programs out there at all, but I used Fractal Design's Painter 4 to make some cool desktop wallpaper a bit ago.

They probably have version 7 or something out there now...

[MikeParent]

Bottom line - I think - is if your needs are simple (i.e. simple buttons,etc), so too should be your image editor... if your needs are more complex (i.e. advanced photo manipulation and composition)... well, you get the idea.

Seriously folks you chould check out Photoshop Elements. For $149 CAD ($99 USD) you get most of the features a web designer would use from photoshop (I do miss channels and masks though...), with the familiar photoshop interface (yet easier to learn, and it come with a great manual). If and when you are ready for more power, you can "graduate" to photoshop. If any of you do, or plan to do this for a living, becoming at least loosely familiar with the photoshop interface is a must!

For those painfully familiar with Photoshop LE or PhotoDeluxe - this is not like those, it really is like watered down photosop, with some neato photo features like panorma (stitching multiple panoramic images together as one) and creating web photo albums...

Sorry for sounding like an infomercial, and no I dont work for or endorse Adobe products :-)

[1stPageNewbie]

Photoshop, Gimp,... Yes, they are the best...but....you are talking about a 12 year-old kid. Let him to enjoy first! Try with more simple software.

If he likes to draw, comic books and videogames, perhaps you shoulld try directly wiht flash. You cand donwload a 30 day trial version from www.macromedia.com. Flash becomes with basic draw features that are easy, powerful and fun, specially if you buy a cheap graphic tablet (a Wacom Graphire for example). It allows him to draw fast and enjoy with some animation. Let him to start with it as a game. Drawing, sketching, and moving... and learn a little each day, without hurry. For a 12 year boy, learn software must be fun!

This is only my opinion, but remember that the most appropiate for a adult probably dont be for a kid! Let him start enjoying and help him to learn more profesional software when he is prepared.

Best regards

[1stPageNewbie]

To enjoy drawing and painting with the computer, you could buy a cheapr graphic tablet. I recomend Wacom Graphire. In addition, it normally becomes with painting and drawing software, easy to use and designed to benefit form the tablet. For example, when I bought the mine, it becomes with Corel Painter Classic. A simple, but easy software to paint with the computer, the most similar to painting on paper.

Remember...for a kid, to learn must be fun!

[MikeParent]

I bought a graphire within the past year and it came with a full copy of Photoshop Elements - after I already bought a copy of course :-/

I wont flog a dead horse, so please refer to my earlier comments about PS Elements :-)

[thawebman]

how much does it cost in euro

[thawebman]

i don't have dollars

[Joe the Large]

Again thawebman,

Don't use two posts to post one message.

Joe

[MikeParent]

http://www.xe.com