Best Graphics Software for Beginner

[Eugene Church]

Please be aware that justafan's software is all I can use... and I can only do the basics on it... nothing fancy... my work is just average at best.

Will Gimp, Canva or a something similar be better than justafan?

I am not very good with computer... I am not intuitive... often have trouble navigating websites and downloading fonts and unzipping files.

I would like to make better jerseys, logos and caps.

Which is the simplest software to use?... don't mind paying for it if it is better than the free version.

Would appreciate your advice.

[20_range]

I have been using Gimp for image editing and Inkscape for text, often transferring the finished image between them to do the text. (Because I found that I could not follow the instructions on how to make curved text in Gimp, and one of the tutorials I read https://thegimptutorials.com/how-to-curve-text/ on gimp's actual website said "we recommend not trying this in gimp".

Both programs are free. I am terrible at both of them, and I get by by literally googling each and every task I want to do. "How to make a circle in gimp" "how to cut and paste in gimp" "how to make it look like a Axolotl is holding a baseball in gimp" etc

My first goal when I started this was the most basic one, to be able to cut out an image from another image and make it transparent. And then to be able o resize to 300x300 for ootp. I feel like that is a reasonable starting goal with lots of basic uses for the game.

It took me several hours to learn how to do that, functionally. If you download Gimp the menus are overwhelming, there are a hundred options, don't look at them. You can get pretty far just by adding transparency (which is in the layers menu), playing wih the selection tools until they begin to make sense, and clearing/deleting selected areas to make them transparent. Resizing is done with the resize canvas tool which is in the image menu, and the resize layers tool. Also if you can drag a rectangle over something, you can use the crop to selection tool in the image menu. I'd start by trying to do that (and delegating a bunch of time to it, wile expecting to feel stupid). The whole process has been very rewarding so far, though, and is worth it.

[micropterus58]

I use Paint Shop Pro myself. Been using it for decades. It does everything I need it to do. PSP does 95% or more of what Photoshop can do. PSP will also open 99% of PSD files but Photoshop will not open PSP files. PSD files are the native file for Photoshop and many other programs will open them and is the most common save type used by forum members. I have found that PSP is much more user friendly than PS. PSP costs @ $80. Lower price for previous owners.
Free 30 day trial. https://www.paintshoppro.com/en/pages/free-download/
https://www.paintshoppro.com/en/prod...-pro/standard/

Photoshop has a free trial for 7 days. PS costs $21 per month to suscribe.
https://www.adobe.com/products/photo...photoshop-card
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/...VPZQK&mv=other

There are free programs. GIMP and Paint.net
https://www.gimp.org/downloads/
https://getpaint.net/download.html

All these programs support layers, which you need and will open PSD files. Learning any graphics program takes time and effort. Google searches and YouTube will help. Plus this forum. That being said, Justafan's and eriqjaffe's programs are exceptional. They will allow you to make most any design you can think of. I use them myself instead of PSP and PS. I consider myself to be good using PSP, poor at PS. I feel the simplest option is to use these programs. If you need to edit photographs or mod other games then another program will be needed. I mod for NBA 2K(courts, uniforms, logos), NR2003(cars) and GTR2(more cars) myself. Check out a trial or free program. Buy or use a free program later if you find you will use the program. Until then justafan's and eriqjaffe's programs should make uniform and logo making easiest.

[Eugene Church]

Thanks to both of you... appreciate your help very much.

[kq76]

I used to use PSP, but then I switch to GIMP. And I quite like Davies Media Design's tutorial videos.

[Khephren]

I have been using PSP forever to. I love it. It doesn't do everything photoshop does, but there's a free web based Photoshop emulator I use for those purposes.

https://www.photopea.com/

[20_range]

Originally Posted by kq76

I used to use PSP, but then I switch to GIMP. And I quite like Davies Media Design's tutorial videos.

I watched some of these videos too (they are often among the first results when you google how to do something specific)

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by kq76

I used to use PSP, but then I switch to GIMP. And I quite like Davies Media Design's tutorial videos.

Thanks... appreciate the help.

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by 20_range

I watched some of these videos too (they are often among the first results when you google how to do something specific)

Thank you... that's good to know.

[Curve Ball Dave]

Originally Posted by micropterus58

I use Paint Shop Pro myself. Been using it for decades. It does everything I need it to do.

Same.

I use Version 7, I bought it in 2001. It still works, still does nearly everything I need it to do. Sometimes I have to use a newer version of PSP (2019) to create a transparency or fill in a layer, but most of the time good ol' PSP 7 does the job.

[Eugene Church]

Thanks to Khephren and Curve Ball Dave for the help and advice.

[Eugene Church]

I think you guys are way out of my league graphically.

It will probably be best for me to stay with justafan's excellent and simple software.

What I can't do using justafan, I will try to get some of the skilled graphics designers here on the Mods Forum to do some special requests for me.

[hurricanekevin]

There are a lot of good programs. GIMP as mentioned above is a good one to start with.

Start slow and learn a few moves.
You'll be frustrated at first, but you'll slowly pick up some skills and start to be happier with the things you produce. These are powerful programs but to make logos you won't need a lot of the things it does so it can look overwhelming unless you know which ones you need.

The more you do it, the better you will get.

Doing a short course to understand the whole program can be really helpful (LinkedIn Learning is a good one that I did for GIMP).

You know I'm always willing to help if you have any questions.

[rocknfire7]

Photopea is free and is similar to photoshop.

I use an old version of Photoshop I purchased eons ago. Still works for what I need.

[Curve Ball Dave]

I made this lettering for the home jersey for the fictional minor league team Gastonia Rockets using good ol' PSP 7. I'd say I've got my money's worth from that purchase over twenty years ago.

[micropterus58]

I still use PSP X2 because I can still use 32 bit plugins/filters than do not have 64 bit versions for PSP 21. Filters to remove white or any other color are valuable. It removes backgrounds with one click. Can't seem to find any 64 bit plugins for free. Google search if needed. You will find dead links.
Mike & Yael's Kill White
Mac's Remove White
Mehdi Eraser Classic/Genuine

[Ty Cobb]

IIRC, you're on a PC, not a Mac. These guys are giving you good advice. A lot of graphic software has REALLY gotten over complex in the last couple of years. For what it's worth, my gotos are:

iPad: Procreate...best 10 or 15 bucks you can spend

Mac: Painter (got it for $30 at humble bundle), GIMP, Luminar (all of 'em), Clip Studio Pro, some of the Topaz apps, and a host of specialty programs that are free or under $30.

They all have one thing in common...steep learning curves. PSP is pretty easy by comparison (Yes, I run Windows inside an emulator on occasion).

Also, give eriqjaffe's Uniform Creator a look. GREAT app. It's here, and it's free: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=336503

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by hurricanekevin

There are a lot of good programs. GIMP as mentioned above is a good one to start with.

Start slow and learn a few moves.
You'll be frustrated at first, but you'll slowly pick up some skills and start to be happier with the things you produce. These are powerful programs but to make logos you won't need a lot of the things it does so it can look overwhelming unless you know which ones you need.

The more you do it, the better you will get.

Doing a short course to understand the whole program can be really helpful (LinkedIn Learning is a good one that I did for GIMP).

You know I'm always willing to help if you have any questions.

My goodness... you are a nice guy... much appreciate your help and advice.

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by Ty Cobb

Also, give eriqjaffe's Uniform Creator a look. GREAT app. It's here, and it's free: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=336503

Thanks, Ty Cobb.

A year or so ago, I asked eriqjaffe in his thread if I should use his software and he told me to stay with justafan... that for my purposes, it would be better than his.
He said justafan could do things his could not do.

[Eugene Church]

Thanks to rocknfire7, Curve Ball Dave and micropteros58 for their replies and help.