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"Photoshop/Graphics advice"

Hi there.

I'm currently trying to brush up on my skills if I want to start getting freelance work.

The main problem I have more then anything is when it comes to graphics work. I'm rubbish at it.

I have the ideas and what not, it's just I can't quite grasp the concept of putting it into some form of computery form.

Which is why I'm asking you guys. There is some brilliant graphics designers on this forum (monkey_man, Tyla, Nimco etc) and I was just wondering if you could point me in the right direction in terms of making cool stuff like logos and, well, graphics basically!

I remember monkey_man showing us one design of his site that had an almost 'drop shadowing' effect to the page, I want to know how to do that sort of thing.

When it comes to Photoshop, all I ever seem to do is put one piece of text here, one photo here, colour the background in etc

Also (don't worry Tyla, I'm not planning to copy this) on his development site, that logo in the right with all the hexagons and stuff, thats simple and cool. [URL]http://dev.digital-prozac.co.uk/[/URL]

So, erm, got any tips/advice/program reccomendations/sites you can offer me in terms of pushing me in the right direction?

Mine really have very little to do with web design, and only limited to do with computers in general at the moment.

I have the following:

AS Levels:
- Biology
- Further Maths

A Levels:
- Chemistry
- Maths
- Physics

And my degree is a Masters in Physics with Computer Simulation.

Nimco wrote:
> Then use the spare time to teach yourself new skills and get
> commercial experience. That's basically what I'm doing, except
> Physics doesn't offer me much free time unfortunately.

Thats what I'm doing.

I've applied (and accepted a conditional offer) from Lincoln University to do Games Computing. I chose the course because I enjoy programming and I enjoy games, so it'd be something good to do when I go to university in September (providing I get the grades, although, I'm sailing through A levels right now)

Coin, for my AS levels I chose: -

Computing
Media Studies
Geography
Product Design

Then when it came to A2 I dropped Product Design because it was as gay as carrots and kept the other three on for this year.

You're other option is always to pick a course you enjoy, and preferably one that gives you lots of free time - History, Psychology, etc.

Then use the spare time to teach yourself new skills and get commercial experience. That's basically what I'm doing, except Physics doesn't offer me much free time unfortunately.

Hmmm... So it's good to have a mixture of web-based and print / graphic based courses?

Good good.

Coin wrote:
> Hmmm... Tyla, what are good subjects to take for A-Level / at Uni? For
> general graphic design / web layouts etc.
>
> Also, anyone go to SXSW? Or is anyone going to @media? I would, but
> being 15 it's pretty hard to come up with £300+ to learn about
> languages already well documented on the web.


Asking the wrong guy. I'm 30 this year so did A levels over 14 years ago!;) FWIW, I studied

A level Art/Design & Art History
BTECH Advanced Graphic Design
HND in Media/Graphic Design (though never finished it)

Looking at going back next year to do a Masters in Web Technologies which covers most things.


> Zeldman's speaking though, so it's not a waste...

Probably going to @media, just for Zeldman

gamesfreak wrote:
> Tyla, quick question, did you send that CD with loads of fonts on?
>
> I know it sounds a little rude to ask seeing as you was giving them
> away free and everything.

Havent forgotten about it, but

a) works been manic, so little time
b) Junior decided my CD-RW would make a good Bottle holder!;) Having issues with the draw mechanism atm and can't get into it

Lesson to be learnt here, small kids & computers dont mix!!

Hmmm... Tyla, what are good subjects to take for A-Level / at Uni? For general graphic design / web layouts etc.

Also, anyone go to SXSW? Or is anyone going to @media? I would, but being 15 it's pretty hard to come up with £300+ to learn about languages already well documented on the web.

Zeldman's speaking though, so it's not a waste...

Ahahaha

ditto.

Plus I'm going to add you to MSN, so beware!

Tyla, quick question, did you send that CD with loads of fonts on?

I know it sounds a little rude to ask seeing as you was giving them away free and everything.

Tyla wrote:
> I'm assuming your actually refering to Fireworks?

Can't remember, it might have been - he tried to teach us Flash too. Plain embarrassing. Eventually I stopped going to the lectures and got an A for the module, I think the time away improved the grade somewhat.