Lets have a discussion then shall we? About Graphical Art.

[Icy]

Many of us prefer to use something like GIMP, Photoshop, Illustrator, 3DSMax or Zbrush depending on our graphical preference. Though, bridge programs = heaven. Anyway... What I wanna talk about is your actual preferences based on the tools available. More of a poll, that can generate into a discussion.

What program do you use primarily for your Graphical Arts?
If you use a secondary or Joint Program what do you use?
In your program, what tools do you prefer to use or have great respect for?
Renders, Stocks, or self-made resources when working on an image concept?
Preferred Dimensions for Casual works of art.
What are some aspects of working with your tools that often trouble you or dumbfound you from time to time?

Feel free to add or respond to them in individual posts but try not to spam =/.

[Wahrheit]

Adobe Master Collection CS5.

Usually PS, with a dabble of Illustrator.

I like the pen tool a lot, you can do cool things with it. I also am grateful for layer masks because they let you do trippy blending crap you can't get away with when you use an eraser.

Good renders come from good stocks, so why not use the whole thing? Self-made is fun but usually not always the greatest when it comes to composition. Complete art takes a long time to make.

400x120 for signatures, 1920x1080 for wallpapers.

Why color does not just work nicely sometimes and why some images are just not pleasing to the eye, as part of a stock or isolated. Sucks.

[.Rai]

[quote name='Icyblue' timestamp='1316041130' post='5515086']
What program do you use primarily for your Graphical Arts? [b]Photoshop Elements 9[/b]
If you use a secondary or Joint Program what do you use? [b] GIMP, also a graphics tablet is coming soon which is kinda unrelated, but yeah. Might try getting Illustrator or Paint Tool SAI.[/b]
In your program, what tools do you prefer to use or have great respect for? [b]Type. Typography is one of my favourite aspects of graphic design. Simply because it's such a variable thing. Gradient maps, layer masks and clipping masks are great fun to use too.[/b]
Renders or Stocks when working on an image concept? [b]I don't mind. Sometimes real-life, sometimes game art, sometimes anime stuff. If it's real-life, I usually use stocks, and renders for everything else/[/b]
Preferred Dimensions for Casual works of art. [b]Variable for signatures, 250x250 for avis. Wallpaper size for most art, sometimes different depending on the piece.[/b]
What are some aspects of working with your tools that often trouble you or dumbfound you from time to time? [b]Photoshop Element's brush system is...primitive, to say the least. God, I would die to have CS5 right now. I might just have to get Illustrator or Corel Painter or something soon. [/b]
[/quote]

[Icy]

Now my turn lol...

Mainly Photoshop Cs5 as I am not yet comfortable with the full suite.
My secondary would have to be GraphicsGale for spriting work. It's like a PS for spriters and fit to exactly what we need.

For Photoshop I have many I enjoy and have respect for;
All of the Healing and Sponge brushes. Black/White Color Layer Filters. And one I learned how to use recently, the Channel Mixer brush. Lol... as you can tell, I do a lot of photography stuff.

For GraphicsGale I enjoy all 3 views of the canvas (one zoomed with a gridmap/one with it at 100% view/and the main canvas). Helps me know whats going on at all times with the piece without having to look elsewhere or feel that I'm under or overdoing anything. Extremely handy especially for side by side comparisons.

Since I do photo art mostly, stocks are invaluable. Even when the stock background is just a textured wall, it provides a natural starter depth that is absolutely helpful. I seldom like renders except when doing images that require a specific kind of transparency or features that would otherwise look sloppy when masking.

For Dimensions: 250x250-100x100 pixels for Avatars, 365x127 pixels for Signatures, and 500x500 pixels for anything relating to practice.

As for trouble. Like Warheit here, when color's dont always work right and you have to rebuild it from scratch (more often than not you also have to work with pixelized textures and reform them just so it DOES work right and look proper), always annoys me greatly. What dumbfounds me the most are Smart Layers, I can use them but they always have this air of mystery and uncertainty about them.

[.Rai]

With colour, best thing to do is just really know what you're doing with it. It's complicated, but I've spent a lot of my PS practice on colour theory. I might try making a flash tutorial on it some day for people.

Smart layers really confuse me too. I have literally no clue what they're for.

[Icy]

[quote name='Cursed Reaction' timestamp='1316042461' post='5515144']
With colour, best thing to do is just really know what you're doing with it. It's complicated, but I've spent a lot of my PS practice on colour theory. I might try making a flash tutorial on it some day for people.

Smart layers really confuse me too. I have literally no clue what they're for.
[/quote]

I've used Smart Layers to adjust the perspective of a static image. Quite fun actually. They also have many more uses but yeah...

As for knowing what to do, kinda hard to you know when the color you get is brown it's like 40% black, and some off hues caused by distortion. Even basic recoloring becomes a mess without a little added effort. I know exactly what I'm getting into. Doesnt mean it isnt annoying.

[Ярополк Пономарёв]

Adobe Photoshop CS3
Photoscape, when I don't want to wait for Photoshop and I don't need much done.
Photoshop's ability to change how photos are shrunk/enlarged. Very useful.
Renders and other stuff.
Nearly anything goes.
90% of the stuff in Photoshop.

[Icy]

[i]> Photoshop's ability to change how photos are shrunk/enlarged. Very useful.[/i]

Photobucket can do this. Granted the quality is dropped significantly, it's extremely common ._."... And how long does it take PS to open up for you?

[-Chaos Zero-]

What program do you use primarily for your Graphical Arts? Gimp2.6
If you use a secondary or Joint Program what do you use? i dont yet but i will soon experiment other programs
In your program, what tools do you prefer to use or have great respect for? Fuzzy select tool
Renders, Stocks, or self-made resources when working on an image concept? i tend to vary i try to make self made stuff but i am not usually satisfied so i usually use pre made renders
Preferred Dimensions for Casual works of art. 400, 200 for sigs 420 by 400 for custom images
What are some aspects of working with your tools that often trouble you or dumbfound you from time to time? i usually findthe gradient tool annoys me if i have it set in the wrong setting :/

Zero

[J-Max]

I'm not a really big Artist myself but I have stood by Adobe Photoshop for years now. Recently upgraded to CS5 and am very happy with it.

[Night]

What program do you use primarily for your Graphical Arts?

GIMP. 'takes skill.

If you use a secondary or Joint Program what do you use?

PS or illy mainly for logo work. (I never seem to have it installed though)

In your program, what tools do you prefer to use or have great respect for?

Every tool plays it's part. Pentool is nice to use, although gimp isn't the best for pentooling due to being LQ.

Renders, Stocks, or self-made resources when working on an image concept?

Renders. We render images for a reason, to remove them from a current image and make it look aesthetically pleasing or to show our representation or "concept" of how the render could be better portrayed.

Preferred Dimensions for Casual works of art.

440x140, I usually prefer my length to be a bit higher when creating unreleased work.

What are some aspects of working with your tools that often trouble you or dumbfound you from time to time?

GIMP and it's terribly LQ pentool.

[chairman ali]

What program do you use primarily for your Graphical Arts?
I don't have a primary program but I tend to use [b]Corel Painter[/b] a lot

If you use a secondary or Joint Program what do you use?
Often I tend to switch between photoshop and illustrator, importing and exporting. I do use C4D these days, just for learning purposes, I haven't put out anything yet. Vue is a nice tool if you're struggling with backgrounds or hard objects.

In your program, what tools do you prefer to use or have great respect for?
Brush tool. Only too that I have the MOST respect for.
The pen tool is the second most used tool I prefer using.

Renders, Stocks, or self-made resources when working on an image concept?
Self-made mostly if its conceptual.

Preferred Dimensions for Casual works of art.
I like my work big 5000 x 9000 @ 300DPI

What are some aspects of working with your tools that often trouble you or dumbfound you from time to time?
The brush tool is perfect! Only when you can't increase the size to over than 2500px

[Sotos]

[b]What program do you use primarily for your Graphical Arts? [/b][color=#00ff00][font=comic sans ms,cursive]Photoshop Cs5 [/font][/color]
[b]If you use a secondary or Joint Program what do you use? [/b][color=#00ff00][font=comic sans ms,cursive]Don't use [/font][/color]
[b]In your program, what tools do you prefer to use or have great respect for? [/b][color=#00ff00][font=comic sans ms,cursive]Smudge and Pentool, and Brush of course... [/font][/color]
[b]Renders, Stocks, or self-made resources when working on an image concept?[/b][color=#00ff00][font=comic sans ms,cursive] Depends[/font] [/color]
[b]Preferred Dimensions for Casual works of art. [/b][color=#00ff00][font=comic sans ms,cursive]Tag, 400x150 or 500x200-250 LPs, about 1200x1600 [/font][/color]
[b]What are some aspects of working with your tools that often trouble you or dumbfound you from time to time? [/b][color=#00ff00][font=comic sans ms,cursive]None, I have familiarised myself with my tools...[/font][/color]

[Night]

Looks like i'm in the minority with gimp.

[.Rai]

[quote name='NightWalker' timestamp='1316318757' post='5522155']
Looks like i'm in the minority with gimp.
[/quote]

It doesn't matter considering you still make some of the best GFX here. With GIMP

[Twenty-five Zero Oh-oh]

What program do you use primarily for your Graphical Arts? [b]GIMP FTW!!!!!!!!!!!![/b]
If you use a secondary or Joint Program what do you use? [b]Screw Photoshop users. [/b]
In your program, what tools do you prefer to use or have great respect for? [b]Brush and smudge tool. [/b]
Renders, Stocks, or self-made resources when working on an image concept? [b]I like using stocks but I also like making stuff from scratch.[/b]
Preferred Dimensions for Casual works of art. [b]None[/b]
What are some aspects of working with your tools that often trouble you or dumbfound you from time to time? [b]Adjustments and gradient maps. I can occasionally get them to work amazingly. Other times they just get worse and worse. I've never understood how to properly control colors and atmo. I just usually get lucky after doing a bunch of stuff.[/b]

[Mehmani]

What program do you use primarily for your Graphical Arts? [b]GIMP, but I haven't done any GFX for a good year or two.[/b]
If you use a secondary or Joint Program what do you use? [b]I have a very flawed cracked copy of CS4, but I only use that for opening templates.[/b]
In your program, what tools do you prefer to use or have great respect for? [b]The ability to brush is the most important thing anyone will ever learn.[/b]
Renders, Stocks, or self-made resources when working on an image concept? [b]Self-made if I want a challenge, but I prefer renders. Less noise.[/b]
Preferred Dimensions for Casual works of art. [b]120x400. Vertical tags are fun.[/b]
What are some aspects of working with your tools that often trouble you or dumbfound you from time to time? [b]Pen tooling is completely impossible for me to do, and I have a lot of respect for those that can do it. Gradient control gave me a little trouble when I first started.[/b]