What program for Backgrounds?!?

[Legolas813]

those of you who make your own games, what program do you use to create background art?.........i've only tried paint shop pro 7 and adobe photoshop 7, though i'm more experienced at paint shop.......what program do you suggest?.......i want one with a not too complicated interface and preferably a program that is free online

[Kingzjester]

Paint.

[remixor]

The Gimp is a powerful free graphics tool.

[Kode]

Yes, The Gimp for Windows (http://www2.arnes.si/~sopjsimo/gimp/) is what I'd suggest if you are a Windows user.

Despite that, since you say you've tried Photoshop, is it safe to assume that you own it? Either way, I'm of the opinion that Photoshop is much better than either Gimp or Paint Shop Pro. And sadly, it is the only one I do not own. Not to worry, thought...I'll get it soon...

[Legolas813]

well technically i don't own it......but its on my computer........i won't go into that on these forums though........anyways, thnx for the suggestions everyone

[DustCropper]

Well, though I didn't use it to make background art, I found Adobe Illustrator to be very good for drawing things (I used it for some flash animations, posters, and a webpage).

[Squinky]

I've used Flash 5 (I have MX on a CD somewhere, though) for everything, but that's because I like working with vectors, as they're easy to move around and such. Then again, my backgrounds definitely aren't the most professional-looking.

[Erwin_Br]

Either way, I'm of the opinion that Photoshop is much better than either Gimp or Paint Shop Pro. And sadly, it is the only one I do not own. Not to worry, thought...I'll get it soon...

The power of good graphics lies with the artist, not the software.

--Erwin

[Trumgottist]

Has the Gimp improved its user interface? I tried it once and thought it horrible, but since it's free (and some people apparently both use and like it) you can always try it out for yourself.

Me, I happily use Paint Shop Pro, though I consider my flatbed scanner my most important tool when it comes to graphics quality. I suppose I could do without one if I had a drawing tablet and pen, but never with just a mouse.

And while I can't really agrue with Erwin's point, I wouldn't want to be stuck with a too simple program, like Paint that Kingzjester suggested. As an example, I find layers a very useful feature I wouldn't want to do without (unless it were vector graphics, of course, but that's another kettle of fish).

[Erkki]

Has the Gimp improved its user interface? I tried it once and thought it horrible, but since it's free (and some people apparently both use and like it) you can always try it out for yourself.
Nope, it's still pretty horrible. At least I think so.

[Kode]

The power of good graphics lies with the artist, not the software.

--Erwin

Yep Yep :D

[Wormsie]

Nope, it's still pretty horrible. At least I think so.

I use it. In fact, I use Paint Shop Pro 5, Gimp and Photoshop, because I don't like any of those programs. (Though I don't do backgrounds.)

[Jayel]

I strongly agree with Erwin. It's not like better pencils let you draw better or anything.

the program I most commonly use, btw, is Photoshop. It has a nice set of keyboard shortcuts that doesn't get on your nerve. It's very affordable too, since it comes with a wacom tablet (albeit without color separation tools).

But um yeah. tools shouldn't matter. really. Just stick with the one that you're most comfortable with

[Kingzjester]

But um yeah. tools shouldn't matter. really. Just stick with the one that you're most comfortable withSpoken like a true artist. To adapt that NRA slogan: Tools don't kill people; talent and hard work kill people!

A funny anecdote: When my uncle, let's call him uncle S, bought his first computer some fifteen years ago (with a monochromatic monitor, mind you), it came with Windows Paintbrush or whatever that program was called way back when. He called another uncle of mine, let's call him uncle B, who happens to be an artist, and told him, that since he had a computer and a program, he will never need his services again. Uncle B was happy.

Uncle S called him back some half an hour later, though, to apologize.

The moral of this story: Don't matter if you draw with your left foot in the sand on the beach, or with a 1000-buck computer.

[dave_minall]

i prefer MGI photosuite 4. it has masses of tools and transpanrency, which is odd for a pixel based image editor.