For making simple graphics, I'd suggest you start out with a program like GIMP. Others say paint, but it's capabilities are extremely limited. GIMP is freeware so you don't incur any costs and you get a pretty decent graphics program. You can download it at the link below. ^^
Or if by some miracle you've been able to snag a copy of Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, great for you! When I first started designing, I was working in Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 and later switched to Adobe Photoshop 7.0. Now I'm using Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended.
I believe that the best way to learn is a hands on approach, so just start opening images and playing around with the tools. Once you get comfortable, start searching for simple tutorials. Below are a few sites you might try for tutorials.
Once you've started to get the hang of your program, whichever it may be, you can start posting your graphics online for feedback. I would suggest deviantArt to start with and there are plenty of online graphics forums which can help you get out there and get feedback on your work! I for one would love to help out anyone just starting and I bet lots of other site owners wouldn't mind lending a hand to a fellow designer. We were all you at one point in time, granted for some it was longer ago than for others.
In conclusion, I'd like to show you some of my earlier works. I was at one time extremely proud of them, but looking back I see how ugly they were. I can still smile though, because they show just how much I've improved over the years. (:
*NOTE: These were done sometime in 2006, so about a year into my designing career, but nonetheless are a stretch from what I make now.
Click and drag them to your address bar to see the full size.
*NOTE: These were done sometime in 2006, so about a year into my designing career, but nonetheless are a stretch from what I make now.
Click and drag them to your address bar to see the full size.
Nuuuu I was going to do that originally because Captured Jewel was originally my personal site, but then I wanted to use it for me and Sensei's site, but then you came up with the new name, so I decided to just keep CJ as my personal site for something that I still can't think of...
ReplyDeleteAnd blogger layouts are just regular html, you just have to add in the blogger tags. Here's a tutorial on where to put the blogger tags. http://www.codeislove.net/2011/04/tutorial-how-to-code-classic-blogger.html It actually teaches on how to do a complete blogger layout, but you already know html, so...
OMG IT'S SO PRETTY!!!! <3 so, did you want me to code it? :)
ReplyDeleteokie dokie! i'm so excited!! :D In the meantime, I put a "coming soon" sign on the site.
ReplyDelete