How to Get Started With Graphics Software

With the advent of the personal computer and user friendly graphics programs, anyone can jump right in and begin to create useful and pleasing graphics for all kinds of purposes. Plans, illustrations, instructional booklets, advertising, photo touch up, cartooning, web design, the list of potential creations is practically endless and getting started is no further away than a couple of mouse clicks. I've owned my own corporation, worked from my own home and earned my living for over 40 years specializing in the wide ranging field of graphics. Have an interest? Whether for fun or to earn money just dig in! Graphics R' great!

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• You already have a good start on what you'll need! Your computer, an internet connection, search engine and your mouse. Nice huh? Now we'll start clicking away to find some "freebie" graphics programs

1. 
    
   This cartoon rooster basting himself in a pot was drawn with CorelDraw.

   First of all let's gather up some of those "freebie" graphics programs. Here is a short list of some of the ones I have used and am still using. There are hundreds of freeware/shareware/free trial ware graphics programs out there and I cannot possibly list them all, but this is a good start. (see below lists and links)

2. 
    
   This is me moving around in my cube away from home - CorelDraw + xara graphics

   If you want to create gifs - those animated little icons that cover the net, here are some free and free trial programs that are available.
   * Xara (pronounced zara) is free to try but must be purchased after a trial period. This is my favorite gif creator since it is very simple and straight forward to use. Go to; http://www.xara.com/us/ for free trial down loads.
   
   * Active gif creator 3.2 is another good program. Go to: http://www.download3000.com/download-active-gif-creator-count-reg-189.html
   
   *Easy gif animator 4.81, go to: http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Multimedia_and_Graphics/Video_and_Animation_Tools/Easy_GIF_Animator.html

3. 
    
   Wood crushing rolls created using CorelDraw and Xara graphics

   These wood crushing rolls with wood flowing through was created first in CorelDraw. The rolls were drawn and colored as one drawing and then the wood was drawn separately. Several individual pictures were made (copy and paste routine) with each one showing the wood advancing through the rolls. These individual "frames" were then brought into the "gif generator" software (xara in this case), sequencing and timing each picture to create moving frames. A preview feature is integral with most of these programs so you can judge and edit your creation. Limitations here will not show the rolls in action.
   
   Here are few straight forward and simple graphics creations programs;
   
   http://www.inkscape.org/ Inkscape is a pretty good freebie drawing program which I use on occasion.
   
   http://www.gimp.org/downloads/ Gimp is another.
   
   http://www.getpaint.net/download.html Paint.net is certainly useful.
   
   http://www.kickstartnews.com/graphics.html This site has a very comprehensive list of all sorts of CAD, paint and photo editing software.

4. 
    
   Wood splitter infeed. AutoCad & Coreldraw creation

   This list includes a variety of sites offering graphics software of all sorts. I have used most of these;
   
   http://www.caddepot.com/ This is a great site offering cad programs and utilities of all kinds.
   
   http://www.freebyte.com/cad/cad.htm Free mechanical engineering software here.
   
   http://www.brothersoft.com/photograph_graphics/cad/ Engineering, architectural and graphic utilities programs.
   
   http://www.freecad.com/ CAD and cad utilities
   
   http://www.houseplanz.com/ Free architectural and houseplan software
   
   http://www.woodworkersworkshop.com/cadfiles/ Free cad software for wood workers and woodcrafters
   
   http://www.cadlogic.com/products/draftit/ CAD software
   
   http://www.emachineshop.com/machine-shop/Download-Free-CAD-Software/page17.html Machine shop CAD program
   
   http://www.cadstd.com/ CAD programs, both free and for sale
   
   http://www.cad-design-and-drafting-services.com/free-cad-software.html Download and try AutoCad for free
   
   http://www.caddprimer.com/Free_CAD_software/cad_shareware_freeware.htm A great online list of CAD sites, freeware and other graphics utilities.

5. 
    
   Hydraulic wood splitter I made, then drew in AutoCad & CorelDraw.

   Here are a few sites that give additional insight and information about careers in graphics:
   
   AutoCad tutorial homepage; http://www.ncsu.edu/project/graphicscourse/gc/acadtut/acadtut2000/acadtut-home.html
   
   Becoming a graphics designer; http://www.adigitaldreamer.com/articles/becomeagraphicdesigner.htm
   
   Getting into graphic web design; http://www.cvtips.com/career_advice_forum/How-to-get-into-Graphic-Web-Design--vt7569.html
   
   Graphic design jobs; http://www.indianchild.com/jobs/graphic_design_jobs.htm
   
   Getting in to graphic design school; http://www.youthedesigner.com/2008/12/09/10-tips-for-getting-into-graphic-design-school/
   
   Graphic design jobs; http://www.allgraphicdesign.com/jobs.html
   
   Graphic design talkboard; http://www.designtalkboard.com/design-articles/job-descriptions.php This is a good informational site.
   
   Graphic designer job profile; http://www.jobprofiles.org/artgraph.htm

6. 
    
   Water tight bearing assembly, exploded view.

   This is a special bearing I designed that is a combination sleeve bearing and stuffing box. The sleeve bearing is used also to compress packing material that keeps the contaminated water on the inside of a conveyor carrying hazardous, shredded PCB waste materials. I did the graphics using AutoCad and CorelDraw.

Tips & Warnings

• Try multiple programs and spend some quality time with them. Often programs that at first are rejected turn out to be your favorites.
• Before buying graphics software decide what its primary use will be. Cartooning? Pictorial type graphics? Engineering type graphics? Photo editing? Usually you can do with one good purchased program and several freebies. You may be able to buy older versions (releases) of expensive programs (like AutoCad) at greatly reduced prices. Be sure though that you are purchasing from the real owner to avoid any software piracy issues.
• Screenshot software can be had for free and is handy from time to time in manipulating images. Screenhunter is one; http://wisdom-soft.com/products/screenhunter_free.htm and several others are listed at this download site; http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Search/screenshot.html
• Blender 3D is a good - and free - 3D graphics program, but requires some real time input to grasp its creative power. Go to; http://www.blender.org/
• AutoCad is pretty much the universally accepted king of engineering graphics software. Tech schools offer training and associates degree programs for AutoCad technicians and enthusiasts. A technical program to learn but powerful and versatile.
• After you have been involved with graphics for awhile you realize that all of the different branches of graphic creation are linked together. Graphics are after all, just pictures. Whether it be graphic details of a complicated machine or a cartoon character doing antics, every graphic starts with basic shapes and lines. The most complicated of drawings is made a line at a time. The cave men and Native Americans did their graphics on stone walls and animal skins. We can create them in many other ways - including the computer.
• Above all keep on creating. Your ideas can be executed graphically so that others will benefit from your talent.
• Favorite saying: "If you have a problem you can't solve, draw a picture of it and solve it anyway!"
• Don't get discouraged! Keep on pecking and clicking. You will probably try many of these programs before you find one that really seems right for you.
• If you decide to enroll in a graphics design course or school be sure and investigate their credentials and to get references from actual students or graduates.

Resources

• Engineering Graphics
• This Ehow article used a variety of grapics programs