Graphic design program

[Blelisa]

HI
I am looking for opinions from my peers for the best graphic designs program for webmasters who lack in that area. I do well with all the other areas of web development however, I have difficulty with creating graphic designs. I am looking for a good program that can assist in that.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You
Lisa

[Terminator1138]

It all depends on the cost really. If you can afford it Photoshop is the best. It does take some time to learn how to use all the little tools. Go to the Adobe site at http://www.adobe.com and click on the Products page.

If cost is a factor, look into Paint Shop Pro. Its cheaper and can do some really cool F/x. I use this program a lot and does my graphics will ease. Paint shop pro info can be found at http://www.jasc.com

I hear some good things about Ulead software, but I have not used it personally so I can not recommend what I don't know. Photoshop will cost you about $600 bucks or so. The last time I checked, Paint Shop Pro was around $120 or so, but you'll have double check to see the latest prices. Hope this helps.

[tmmoose]

xara (http://www.xara.com/) very easy to use
more xara info (http://www.xaraonline.com/)
Example made with xara 3D and animation shop JASChttp://www3.sympatico.ca/terry.mckee/t/mag.gif

[Terminator1138]

Ya forgot that one, xara is another good choice.

[MikeParent]

http://developers.evrsoft.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=171

[MikeParent]

As per the thread I linked above, Photoshop Elements is a nice low cost alternative to Photoshop. However, I am not sure Photoshop is the program I would put in front of people who "have difficulty with creating graphic designs". It has a steep learning curve.

The problem is that creating a good design does not really flow from a tool, but rather your imagination. If you can't visualize something, no tool is gonna do it for you (except for simple buttons perhaps).

[bigdawg]

Originally posted by MikeParent
http://developers.evrsoft.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=171


Good info on programs. PSP is probably the best for the money. Xara is really simple as far as the GUI goes. Photoshop has a complex GUI The good thing is all of these have trials including a 60 day from PSP. Jasc also makes a web canvas program which is good and it comes free with an Editor. Arcsoft also has some easy ones it all depends on what your gonna do

[MikeParent]

Originally posted by bigdawg
...it all depends on what your gonna do

Exactly!

[GingerBread]

I purchased Xara 3D awhile ago and I love it for making transparent 3D text.

I'm in the process of trying to find a program that will allow me to edit PSD files that come with a website template through basictemplates.com. Specifically, navigation buttons.

Is it possible to open a PSD file in Xara 3D for editing? I've tried but haven't been able to figure out how to do it. Perhaps I'll need to open the image somewhere else and save it in a different format?

I'm a complete novice when it comes to graphic design so please bear with my questions if they seem dumb to any of the more experienced peeps here.

[azlatin2000]

I think it might only work in paint shoppro hense the extention psp

[GingerBread]

The extension is actually PSD - not psp, Azlatin2000. I've never heard of or worked with the file format either so thought I'd see if anyone else was familiar with it.

I DID search for a thread on the topic of PSD files by the way.

**Just thought I'd mention that, with the hope of preventing anyones blood pressure from skyrocketing due my making a possible duplicate post.

[pascal]

Originally posted by GingerBread
The extension is actually PSD - not psp, Azlatin2000. .

psd = a file created with photoshop

And, as mentioned by azlatin2000,
Originally posted by azlatin2000
I think it might only work in paint shoppro hense the extention psp

psp = paint shop pro extension.


http://filext.com/detaillist.php?extdetail=psp <--psp file
http://filext.com/detaillist.php?extdetail=psd# <--psd file, check the fourth.

[GingerBread]

Thanks, Pacal. I understood that psp is an extention created with Paint Shop Pro -- just not quite sure what program I can use to edit the PSD files, other than Photoshop.

Like I said in my previous post, I have Xara 3d -- and since it has been suggested in this thread that a person might be able to use it for graphic design, I thought I'd ask whether or not anyone knows how I might use Xara for editing PSD files.

Great links, by the way, Pascal. I'll be sure to save the site to my favs so I can refer there if I have questions about file formats in the future.

[pascal]

Originally posted by GingerBread
Thanks, Pacal. I understood that psp is an extention created with Paint Shop Pro -- just not quite sure what program I can use to edit the PSD files, other than Photoshop.

Like I said in my previous post, I have Xara 3d -- and since it has been suggested in this thread that a person might be able to use it for graphic design, I thought I'd ask whether or not anyone knows how I might use Xara for editing PSD files.

Great links, by the way, Pascal. I'll be sure to save the site to my favs so I can refer there if I have questions about file formats in the future.

:D I got it in my favs a long time ago. Brilliaint site! Sometimes it isn't the first hit, but that is oke.

In fact, i've never had an extension wich wasn't found by the machine.
Well, how would you say.

:D

:o btw: it's pascal, not pacal. :o
:D
Bye,
Pascal

[GingerBread]

:o btw: it's pascal, not pacal. :o
:D
Bye,
Pascal [/B]

Sorry about the misspell in your user name. I guess I didn't hit the "s" hard enough the first time around... but if you look back, towards the end of my post, I did hit it hard enough the second time, "Pascal". ;)

[winxperts]

You can use Paint Shop Pro to edit PSD files. I dont know about the NEW Photoshp files, you may loose some layers but it works pretty good for older ones.

[Waldo Dessa]

XaraX is a best one...I think...

[bigdawg]

Serif photoplus 9.0 OK I was a sucker for a gentleman from the UK, do not know if it was his accent or my need to toss away a few extra bucks. I bought this program but am not sure if it is good. There is not that much online about it. Does anyone have any experiance with Serif 9.0?