Graphics Resources And Tools
Graphics Software
If you want to create any graphics for your website, such as a logo, navigation buttons, etc. you'll need a graphics program. They come in a few basic varieties, and there is some overlap:
- Paint / Draw
These handle 2-Dimensional images, allow drawing, graphical effects etc. Some can do animation.
- Photo Manipulation
Similar to paint programs in what they do, but more specialised.
- Web Graphics
There are specialised programs for creating image maps (an HTML feature), animations, 3D text etc.
- 3D Graphics
For building realistic 3D models, and animating them.
To create your own basic website graphics, you definitely need a Paint / Draw program. There are many to choose from, both freeware and commercial, and not all of them are listed by any means. If you don't already have one, and haven't used one much before, try Ultimate Paint's Free trial, or check out Nonags to see what freeware is available. You can always spend money once you understand things a bit more.
- The GIMP is an open source Graphical Image Manipulation Program tool, it's been around for years on Unix, and is now available for Windows. It's less easy to use than the next recommendation, but exceptionally good, one of the most powerful graphics programs available!
- Ultimate Paint. It's cheap, easy to use and has some features that put the expensive programs to shame. It has a superb image browser and an effects browser too. There's a freeware version, and a 30-uses free trial version - with no features disabled. This may be enough for you to create the graphics you need. The full commercial version costs about $30.
- Adobe Photoshop a popular, if expensive, choice ($500+).
- Paint Shop Pro is a very capable and popular program with a huge user base and lots of support. It costs about $100.
- Corel Draw is an old standard that has become a huge graphics suite. It costs about $429.
- Xara Webstyle3 A graphics program designed specifically for creating web graphics, menus, themesets etc. Integrates with Dreamweaver and Frontpage. It could take a lot of the work out of creating your own web graphics. $69.
Other products: Xara X Vector graphics (like Macromedia Flash)
Xara 3D 3D Web Graphics.
There are some great free 3D graphics programs available that may be useful to you at a later date... For example, if you want to create some virtual packaging for your products... OpenFX is an open source program which is very good. POVRay has been around seemingly forever and is very powerful and well supported.
There's quite a learning curve involved in mastering 3D modelling. If you have a go, it will take practice to produce the stunning results that are possible, but you can always find some tutorials on the 'net to ease the process.
As with most things, there's a huge community, and plenty of websites dedicated to 3D modelling. There's lots of commercial and free software, 3D-models, textures, tutorials etc... Just try this Yahoo search.
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INFO: 'Virtual Packaging' is a marketing concept that's become very popular... This is where a virtual product such as an e-book, website membership, or software is shown as coming in a physical box. You never get the box you see on the webpage - it doesn't exist, it's 'virtual'. This technique apparently helps increase sales. Visit VirtuaPack for examples. You can use a 3D Graphics program to create images like this for your website - once it's up and running! |
For more info on graphics in general, check out the page on creating a logo, or:
- Yahoo Directory
- Graphic Software at About.com. An impressive amount of reviews, tutorials etc. The site suffers a bit from containing too much advertising.
- Epinions.com compares the prices of products (including software) and includes some useful reviews.
- Amazon.com. The users reviews of graphics (and other) software are especially useful.
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