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I think it really pays to have a robust understanding of the program and its tools before trying to specifically learn its application in the profession.  You need the full toolbox so that you are not limited to just set tasks or processes.  I hear that Lynda.com is a great place to start.  I have not tried their tutorials, but colleagues have gi…[Read more]

I’ve always built my own PCs until recently…namely my last PC, which I purchased in September. I ended up getting a refurb HP Elite with a Quad Core Phenom II 64 (the fastestest clock speed …they also make a six-core). It has 8 gig of RAM and a 1 TB hard drive, Blu-Ray w/ 1080p HDMI graphics card…the thing is lightning fast, althought I plan…[Read more]

It all depends on what level of graphic work you are looking at doing.  If its CAD and basic photoshop, you’ll be fine with about anything.  If your planning on doing 3D, large and multilayer photoshop, then you need more of a workhorse.  I built my own system with an i7 940 processor (quad core 2.97 Ghz) 6 Gigs of DDR3 ram, and a GeForce 470 Gr…[Read more]

That is indeed ridiculous.  A great reminder that we should be designing for people, not for cars.

I’d save your money on the book. You’ll get everything you need from the online tutorials (of which most are free) and the book really doesn’t have anything specific to LA’s, it just uses landscape-y type pictures as examples. Buying that book would just be a duplication of what you’ve all ready covered after you’ve figured out the basics.
 
I’d…[Read more]

Thanks for all the response! I’ve subscribed to Lynda…going though the basic 8 hr photoshop tutorial now (on my day off) – trying to be productive but clearly procrastinating on this website… 
 
I think I will also order the book that Jason mentioned as source of reference after I get the basics down.

If you’re looking to have Photoshop, Illustrator, and AutoCAD all running simultaneously, RAM is probably going to be your biggest limiting factor.  Get as much as you can, and use 64-bit versions of the programs — Photoshop and AutoCAD are available as 64-bit (I’m sure the rest of the Adobe CS will transition to 64-bit in time as well).  If t…[Read more]

Good tips Dave.  My summary for photoshop basics:

• Layer Management (Naming & Grouping)
• Masks (What I think is the single most important concept to grasp, especially when it comes to edits.  You’ll be thankful to have learned this.  Rarely erase.  Mask it.)
• Filters & Layer Blending Effects & Blending Modes.  You’ll learn most of what you’ll need…

[Read more]

In my experience, Illustrator was the least used program in the Adobe suite. I could never get past it’s awful memory management, constant crashes, and annoying errors. I use Photoshop for rendering and InDesign for layouts. I’ll only use Illustrator if there is a lot of complex analysis level linework (arrows, bubbles, etc.) since it’s…[Read more]

@Craig, I see it differently..It is exactly when I am there on the same corner with the bum,that the moment has the most personal consequences and interaction..that bum, at that second, could use some water…that is it..or a  piece of fruit or a sandwich..it is when one either judges them as a whole as useless and craven, or when only advocating…[Read more]

Thanks for the links! I guess I feel overwhelmed with all the functions and applications available in these programs…are there any specific skills I should be learning within these programs first?
When I met with teh 2nd year MLA student – he said he used illustrator alot to ‘map’, and then used indesign just to make things pretty layoutwise -…[Read more]

Well, there is a 2nd year MLA student who has offered me a crash course for a rate of $40 an hour…which I think he priced based off of the course fee. I don’t intend to take his offer but he did give me an intro to how the programs are used in studios…so I have a vague idea of what I need to know.
 
Do MLA students come in knowing Autocad? I…[Read more]

Hi Henry, I got a copy of Adobe CS3 from work, will try to learn it between now and mid August to get myself familiar with the programs. The studio prof actually sent us a materials list already – CS5 is required, will definitely hit you up if I can’t score a copy from my class. The cost of the studio materials and the new laptop I’ll need is se…[Read more]

The best way to learn photoshop?  Online tutorials & trial and error.  Spend some time on Youtube as well– basically don’t pay someone to teach you something you can get for free online.  Some of the best I have seen take you step by step.  You will learn the in’s and the outs as well as develop a style of your own.
Start with font/text eff…[Read more]

I agree that the course probably isnt really worth it, but for different reasons.
 
1.  I actually think a 2 week course is overkill. The interface and operations between adobe products is fairly intuitive once you’ve learned the basics of one.
 
2. When in doubt, realize that you can do almost ANYTHING in photoshop (or at least fake it).
 
3. Ind…[Read more]

Umm, I’m running PhotoShop CS5 Extended with full GL capabilities on a 2.5 year old laptop with 2.6 Core 2 Duo.  You are talking about modern hardware, in which case anything a typical LA would throw on it will be fine.  Photoshop is not very graphic intense, it mainly takes up your memory, so make sure you get at least 4gb of that, 8 if you w…[Read more]

Claudia: I’m curious as to how you are faring with AutoCAD. I will be a second year this fall (BLA).  We got a whirlwind tour of Adobe, AutoCAD, ArcGIS and SketchUp in one 10 week quarter.  I’m spending the summer slogging through Ellen Finkelstein’s AutoCAD Bible.  A couple of my classmates and I egg each other on once a week or so to keep us go…[Read more]

Thanks for the reply and the insight.