OT - for Oceanna (graphics software)

16 years ago

Hey.. I haven't had the time to talk to our graphic designers (my current client/previous employer has an art team) but they tend to use the adobe/photoshop family of products. I am not sure their recommendations will be appropriate for those of us working on a home budget. I will follow through with them though.

BUT.. I did pull something out that is worth checking out. It took me awhile to find it in my stored links/emails but Artrage 2 is getting a lot of great reviews.. it is said to be the best tool to mimic pencil, crayon, paintbrush etc and the general public and media are raving about how intuitive and user friendly the interface is. Best part? It costs only $25 (check out the Why $25 link).

I know there are some limitations to it-- and you already know PSP so you may just want to add a tablet to your PSP setup but Artrage 2 looks fun and I applaud their mission.

I have NO experience with tablets but my ex has been pushing me to get one for years. He said the wacom bamboo is a really good entry tablet-- but I suspect it is too small for your intended use. From the little research I've done, Wacom seems like the way to go though.

FWIW, I think PSP is a great tool-- and you already know how to work with it. I wouldn't jump to change from it-- but a stylus/tablet would help you out a lot, I'd imagine. Maybe you can do a trade for one???

Here is a link that might be useful: Artrage 2

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

nonchalant
16 years ago
Okay, I know I'm not Oceanna, but I saw this and thought I'd throw in my 2 cents, for what it's worth.

I only do web/graphic design as a hobby, but I recently started doing digital scrapbooking as well, so I'm familiar with several graphics programs, though I do have to admit, I don't know about Artrage.

The first program I started with was Paint Shop Pro, and learned to do a lot with it. Then I was finally able to get a copy of Photoshop 7, which I still have. I have upgraded my Paint Shop Pro to 9 (because, apparently, Jasc, the maker, sold to Corel, and it's changed a lot). I love bothing both. I find some things better in one program than in another, and vice versa. My first version of Paint Shop Pro was purchased for about 80 bucks. My newest version was like 40 (on eBay).

You might be able to find it on eBay. Another option is PhotoShop Elements (PSE). It doesn't contain all the fancy stuff on the fullblown Photoshop, but still useful features. I know a lot of scanners and printers come with it nowadays (so you may not need to purchase it). Also, I don't know if PSE works with a Wacom.

Anyway, thought I'd share. (Although, for the record, I would love a copy of CS, but I can dream..... ^_^)
funkyart
Original Author
16 years ago
ah well I should have started my post with a bit more context. Oceanna has PSP and is obviously quite proficient. My suggestion on another post was that the time and steps she goes through to create her beautiful and detailed designs for gallery glass could possibly be simplified by using a tablet ... I was awestruck that she designed in PSP "freehand" with a mouse.

As I said, I wouldn't recommend going to another software program if she already knows how to use PSP-- but I artrage tooks very cool for lots of applications well beyond her design templates. I'd expect any graphics program would provide similar limitations when creating from the mind with a mouse.

However, I work all day and all night (and until recently all weekend) on a computer using my left brain.. so when I use my right brain, I prefer to use my hands on paper, wood, etc rather than on a keyboard or mouse. It might be my perpective.. clearly Oceanna wasn't limited by her tools! Her work is awe inspiring.
Related Discussions
OT: Aren't these ads annoying?
Q
Comments (18)
That is a good analogy Cameron! I totally agree. I've been doing we design since 1997 and one of the foundations of good design is that you don't irritate the user. Not to say that is isn't done all over the place, but when I was first learning, I had it hammered into my head that pages need to load fast, be presented in an appealing way and not offend, harass, annoy, badger, berate or generally irritate the visitors. One thing about these ads that jump out like that - if they weren't effective, they wouldn't be so widely used. Now, I'm not sure if their effectiveness is measured in clicks or in sales, but if it's clicks - a lot of those are false. Also, since so many people are annoyed by them and the fact that they are tricked into visiting the sponsor, I can't imagine that it has a positive effect on sales. I'm glad that you guys told me about AdBlock Plus. If more people knew about it and used it, then probably they'd see a decline in the clicks (false and otherwise) and have no choice but to deduce that the ads are ineffective because people hate that kind of thing. /rant
...See More
OT: Am I the only one who thinks this forum needs upgrading?
Q
Comments (29)
I like the Software running the forum, I find it Fantastic. I do. -- Someone in their estimation decided Not to give to forum users many of the options that are given to them in other forum Software. E.g. to quote each other in subsequent posts by clicking on "quote", to post twice with no barriers to doing so, to use spaces to express meaning (all extra spaces get deleted, and extra carriage returns too, so you cannot easily add extra interline spacing), to post without reading & reviewing one's own post first, to know how many "times read", how many people have clicked on a thread. Between now and the 22nd Century, human society might begin to choose what is ultimately useless information, like how many people have clicked on the thread since it was first created. Let's understand that we don't need to know that level of detail. What we really want to know is whether the thread is worth reading and that depends on concepts and quality of contributors' input: these two things can be tracked on the side -- and eventually included as a tool in a far future version of this forum. I'm assuming you are prepared to look into the future. There are some irritants but they are of little importance. E.g. CAPS in subject line get bounced to lower-case. It is easy to program into the software a few text management constraints that then surprise You and some others, but that ultimately are a Good Thing to work around and to accept as a good thing instead of thinking that you ought to have more and more options like text formatting. I personally vote in favor of programming that brings us all back to basic text, so all use of Upper Case IN ENTIRE WORDS be converted into lower case so that upper case only be available for word-initial use. Don't love the search function here... the way it's date-oblivious and doesn't allow you to select a date-RANGE. Hits for a particular keyword brings up a thread from 5 YEARS ago, followed by one from 5 DAYS ago, followed by one from 5 MONTHS ago, etc... But workarounds are easy, and in the future an access tool would get around it easily. Let's discuss bigger things: what would be useful to help you track the things you want to track and to find the information you want and to call upon the right community (people) when you need them and to be relatively sure that your requests are well received -- this would be a tool for which I would pay to have special access.
...See More
How do you design your quilts?
Q
Comments (20)
I always have a bunch of design ideas rattling around in my ADD brain waiting to try. As I play with my fabrics, I usually get inspired to try a bunch of them with one of those patterns. Sometimes I will buy a neutral to accompany some of the fabrics from my stash, but I try to get along without buying if at all possible. Sometimes I get obsessed with a pattern and will make it several times in different color combinations. These tend to be easy patterns without lots of half square triangles. I had EQ 5 on my old computer and enjoyed testing varied color combinations but I got bored with it and am not sorry I don't have it for my new MAC. I have used purchased patterns but usually make up my own designs. I aalso get a ot of inspiration from quilt shows, magazines and samples hanging in my local quilt shop. I often photograph them and figure out how they are made.
...See More
OT (sorta) Photo Shop softwear ?
Q
Comments (5)
Yes, that is an upgrade/newer version of Elements 5. I have Elements 5 and there's a TON of stuff you can do with it. However, it's not the least bit intuitive when you get beyond basic photo enhancing, IMO and how successful you will be with it depends on the type of learner you are. I don't do well trying to figure things out on my own, hunting and pecking and just playing around to see what happens, but some people do. I need a class, a teacher and specific tasks to learn specific skills. If you have access to Photoshop classes, I'd check them out first and see if #1 you want to spend that money to learn over and above the cost of the program and #2 if they will be teaching to specific skills that you want to learn. I have taken classes and learned a lot but find that unless I'm using it all the time I quickly forget things - how did I do that again??? But that's also a function of age, I think ;-) Squirrel uses a different program for a lot of the cool stuff she does - can't remember for sure which but I think it's a Microsoft program that's no longer available
...See More
oceanna
16 years ago
Funky, thank you! I'll check out that Artrage link you posted. I used to work on an incredible illustration program at work, but it was Boeing-made s/w to address the particular technical illustrating job. It's not available to the public. Further, we used it on SGI and with a button box and a dial box in addition to the mouse and keyboard. I don't have a huge budget or a frequent need for it, so the Artrage may fill the bill.

Nonchalant, thank you too... I do PS9 but what I'm sometimes needing is a way to line draw circles, ovals, lines, etc... like to design a stained glass window, for instance.... so more of a drawing program?

Anyone else have a favorite inexpensive drawing program?
funkyart
Original Author
16 years ago
The only ones I know of are in the adobe and corel suites-- and pricey. I'd send you my dvds if I had them-- I don't use them anymore and someone should get some benefit of the licenses. I do have Photoshop though.

Small world. Our career paths crossed ever so slightly. I worked for an airline for many years in the reliability dept-- and I started out in IT/custom software development as a tech writer. My education is in science but I always wanted to be a scientific illustrator-- I just never stood still long enough to develop my skills. I finally started painting again two years ago (at 42) after more than 25 years away from it.

Anyhow-- let me know about Artrage if you give it a try. I have way too many projects going right now on top of some pretty serious work and family/pet obligations so I won't be playing with it soon... maybe in a few months.

OT - for Oceanna (graphics software)

Comments (4)

nonchalant

funkyart
Original Author

Related Discussions

oceanna

funkyart
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

OT - for Oceanna (graphics software)

Comments (4)

nonchalant

funkyartOriginal Author

Related Discussions

oceanna

funkyartOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

funkyart
Original Author

funkyart
Original Author