Which software do you recommend?

[Floss]

I'm looking at different software at the moment for illustrating with text and was wondering if anyone has any preferences, not really interested in illustrator don't need vectors, read lots of reviews on the following serif draw, gimp, fireworks and the old favourite photoshop, but from what I've read reviews are mixed so finding it difficult to reach a conclusion. Has anyone got any experience of using any of the above software? if so I would really appreciate your thoughts. Many thanks

 

[Jonah]

Depends on the sort of Ilustrating you mean.

Are you adding text to photos? Or do you want to create text and add colour to it? What is going to be the end use?

 

[Ecker]

If it's ease of use and a lot of good features you want, you'd be hard pressed
to do better than "The Print Shop" from:

http://www.broderbund.com

I've been using it for years and it's a doddle.

A few of the features you might find useful:

o Insert vertical and horizontal guides which do not print, good e.g. if
you want to print multiple images on one sheet of paper, just resize
an image, copy and paste it within the guide lines. Page set up allows
for edge to edge printing so, no cutting along 4 sides if you want that
functionality and have an edge to edge printer.

o Industry standard templates for things like sticky labels, choose your
label size, design within it and the software does the rest e.g.

Choose: Avery Label J8163 format and you will get 14 X 99.1mm by 38.1mm
labels printed from one design.

o Export to PDF

There's a pretty extensive list of possibilities, those were just a few. I'd be more
than happy to demo it for you if you are interested.

Please note, I have no connection with Broderbund.

Cheers!!...Ecker.

 

[Floss]

Depends on the sort of Ilustrating you mean.

Are you adding text to photos? Or do you want to create text and add colour to it? What is going to be the end use?

Hi I should have said it's for children's books, own illustrations to the text

 

[Floss]

If it's ease of use and a lot of good features you want, you'd be hard pressed
to do better than "The Print Shop" from:

http://www.broderbund.com

I've been using it for years and it's a doddle.

A few of the features you might find useful:

o Insert vertical and horizontal guides which do not print, good e.g. if
you want to print multiple images on one sheet of paper, just resize
an image, copy and paste it within the guide lines. Page set up allows
for edge to edge printing so, no cutting along 4 sides if you want that
functionality and have an edge to edge printer.

o Industry standard templates for things like sticky labels, choose your
label size, design within it and the software does the rest e.g.

Choose: Avery Label J8163 format and you will get 14 X 99.1mm by 38.1mm
labels printed from one design.

o Export to PDF

There's a pretty extensive list of possibilities, those were just a few. I'd be more
than happy to demo it for you if you are interested.

Please note, I have no connection with Broderbund.

Cheers!!...Ecker.

Thanks I'll check it out !

 

[Ecker]

Hello again Floss, If you'd like an example, have a look at the "Studio Ceramics" section in the
"For Sale" forum, that took about 5 minutes to do. The photo was supplied but there is an
"Acquire" facility for scanning images. And, if you are producing children's books, the Export to
PDF facility is for you

 

[Floss]

Hi

Hello again Floss, If you'd like an example, have a look at the "Studio Ceramics" section in the
"For Sale" forum, that took about 5 minutes to do. The photo was supplied but there is an
"Acquire" facility for scanning images. And, if you are producing children's books, the Export to
PDF facility is for you

Hi Ecker

Thanks for that I will look into it further it certainly looks less complicated than the adobe collection