I like to take pictures and I like painting, drawing, modelling –lately I got a new camera and scanner and have started uploading pics to my computer and have had lots of fun enhancing them (in the most very basic ways) etc.
I can’t afford ‘Photoshop’ or any of those uber-expensive software packages (that everyone else seems to have) right at the moment -but I really, really want to start messing around with some of the pics and pieces I’ve done –adding FX and fun stuff like that.
Simple things like: putting anime style ‘speed lines’ behind a picture of my friend sprinting and perhaps adding some Cyclops-like optic blasts to a photo of my cat as she stares intently at a bird would be wonderful.
I got that free picasa thing and it’s a little rubbish.
Has anyone got any advice on purchasing some software that may fill my needs?
Thinking of doing a comic also.
Well, you could check amazon.com or ebay to find an older version of Photoshop. I have 5.5, which is pretty old at this point, but it does its job pretty well. Beyond that, there really aren't that many decent image software packages out there.
ArtRage - very good for sketching and the like - I like to use it for quick jots of ideas. Free, with the option to pay for version 2 of the software.
Project Dogwaffle - fairly recent, a "down n' dirty" program. I like it, but I generally end up using Painter. Free.
OpenCanvas - also good, but only a trial version is available.
GIMP - Free, open source photo editor with Photoshop-like tools. Learning curve is a bit much, and the UI isn't very friendly. Free.
Also, if you opt to buy a Graphire tablet or similar product (they're about $100 for the low-end version), you'll get full versions of Photoshop Elements (think Photoshop Lite) and usually Painter Essentials (again, Painter Lite). A worthwhile investment, especially if you plan to do any sort of digital artwork. Buy the largest size you can afford - your hands will thank you.