Question for any of you photoshop/3dsmax guys/gals

Technomage · #1 02-10-2007, 06:52 PM

How did you get started in designing and making all the cool images in photoshop/3ds? I am trying to become better but I am at the basics in photoshop using tools and what not for basic things with photos. My question is how to I start to design all those cool looking cololages, and radical graphics you see made by graphics art folks? How do they do it or how do you do it and how do you learn to do it?

EX:
http://www.mattepainting.org/index.p...7_sectionid=17
http://www.photoshopcafe.com/gallery...anip/index.htm

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Thunder22 · #2 02-10-2007, 08:43 PM

i'm no expert, but i use photoshop CS almost daily (photography is a hobby), and all i can tell you is read as much as you can, practice practice practice and find as many tutorials online as you can and give them a try.

I learned most of what I now know by necessity, I picked a project that I wanted to do and then taught myself PS along the way of completing the project. Just learning what the functions within PS don't really stick with me, I have to have a purpose/need and the ones that I use the most stick with me.

That being said, the main reason that i'm into it, is that my career deals with IT (computer guy) so the photography keeps the ol' gray matter somewhat balanced (but then again, after I take pictures I wind up right back in front of the computer processing all of them....

Technomage · #3 02-10-2007, 09:54 PM

Heh im and IT guy too lol. But yea I want to learn to design and make what I see in my head. Just got some tutorials right now from photoshopcafe.

LVR · #4 02-11-2007, 04:52 AM

There are a really cool set of books by a guy named Scott Kelby, including photoshop down and dirty tricks, killer tips, classic effects etc.

he takes you from the basics right up to collages, pro advertising techniques and all but does it in a way that is quick and very easy to follow with lots of tips, tells you what the short cut is, illustrates and directs so well that I have a number of his books and regard them as a reference

I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend you check them out

http://www.scottkelby.com/books.html
http://shop.scottkelbybooks.com/index.php

Cheers

John

crosvs · #5 02-11-2007, 07:30 PM

i've been using photoshop since version 3.0 -- i was a freshman or sophomore in high school then , so 1994ish i guess. i've been using 3d studio max since it's DOS days, beginning with 3d studio r3.

in either case, it's just a matter of choosing a project to work on and just doing it all the time ......... and yes there's lots of great books on the programs in question.

for 3d studio, i found the INSIDE 3DS MAX by New Riders Publishing to be really good books.

for photoshop .......... no particular books stick out in my head.

3d studio max has a very peculiar learning curve, at least in my case: at first it's really really hard, especially if you've never done 3D modeling in the past. but once you learn how to do it -- in my case, over several years of messing around with it -- you reailze that it gets easier and easier at a faster and faster rate, notwithstanding the horribly designed interface.

asawadude · #6 02-12-2007, 04:52 AM

Actually Photoshop is more for enhancing or embellishing pictures. For composing digital art, you're going to use other programs in conjunction with Photoshop, like Adobe Illustrator or Macromedia Freehand.

There are modeling programs like Bryce 3D (http://www.daz.com) that allow you to create lavish landscapes, objects, human forms, etc. with very little graphics art experience. I was actually surprised to see how cheap this program costs now - $80 for version 6.0; it used to be $200 just 3-4 years ago.

There are some great sites on the web - active discussion forums like the one we have here, plus sites that have self study and course work type programs (some for pay, some for free). These are good places to start.

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