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To P or not to P, that's the question
18 years ago
General
I sometimes feel different from a lot of artists here because I use a quite uncommon program to do my colorwork with the computer. I know 80% people here in FA use the almighty Photoshop, and some others use Painter or OpenCanvas... While the one I use is Paint Shop Pro 7.04 (old version, in fact.... I think the current one is ver.11), or, as I call it, PSP.
Since PSP was the cheaper program I was able to afford, that's the one I got used to handle.... no tutorials, no manuals, just try and mistake... to find out how the tools worked, to make my own tricks, to realize what I was able to do... and to do with it all the wonders others do with more powerful programs....
But, later, well, I have gotten some copies of better, upgraded programs, thanks to some friends, and I bet it's easier, and faster, to do the same wonders with them than with PSP.... I bet the brushes of Photoshop are awesome, and layers are surely easier there.... but, well, for some reason, it's hard to change from PSP to Photoshop, even if I know I need to....
I feel also that I will put aside one of the few things making my art look unique and original... maybe not so High Qualty neither Awesome as the others you can easily find around FurAffinity or other galleries, but.... I usually feel really well when I realize I can do good things with simple tools.... it makes me feel proud somehow, and I dunno if it will be the same with Photoshop.... or Painter, or whatever....
It's a step I need to do, but it's so damn hard to do it... XD *shrugs*
Since PSP was the cheaper program I was able to afford, that's the one I got used to handle.... no tutorials, no manuals, just try and mistake... to find out how the tools worked, to make my own tricks, to realize what I was able to do... and to do with it all the wonders others do with more powerful programs....
But, later, well, I have gotten some copies of better, upgraded programs, thanks to some friends, and I bet it's easier, and faster, to do the same wonders with them than with PSP.... I bet the brushes of Photoshop are awesome, and layers are surely easier there.... but, well, for some reason, it's hard to change from PSP to Photoshop, even if I know I need to....
I feel also that I will put aside one of the few things making my art look unique and original... maybe not so High Qualty neither Awesome as the others you can easily find around FurAffinity or other galleries, but.... I usually feel really well when I realize I can do good things with simple tools.... it makes me feel proud somehow, and I dunno if it will be the same with Photoshop.... or Painter, or whatever....
It's a step I need to do, but it's so damn hard to do it... XD *shrugs*
http://home.cwru.edu/~nxl25/downloa.....opencanvas.exe
You could try GIMP, its free and a good addition to PSP7, providing some filters PSP lacks.
I have ACDSee Fotocanvas and that's all I'm using. I could easily get photoshop from the net but I'm just better with Fotocanvas.
and the version I use is the 2001 version, which I think is the best. c:
I say stick with what you're using and make progress with your art through your limitations that the program pose. It's just like a painter painting but limiting himself to only a certain colour or brush, or a musician composing but only uses 3 notes. ^_^
Details and features don't make a game better ;3
But it's 5 years old XD
I'm rambling because I have no idea how to say what I'm trying to say XD
I just feel worried about... what if I'm missing something really good to develop my skills for being stuck to PSP? X3
It's a shared feeling.... like to be a proud GameBoy Tetris player, in the Playstation3 world.... x3;;;
Despite the fact that high-end programs don't run well on my computer (Photoshop is too huge for my ooold computer to run), I probably wouldn't use them anyway... even though, like you say, it is probably easier and faster.
So I know exactly what you mean! I like sticking with my old friend, openCanvas. XD
But sometimes, I feel the itch of trying new ones, to take a challenge... even if I know I would fail... x3;;;
I mean, don't you feel sometimes limited by OC, even if it can do awesome wonders? :3
I teach you tricks in PS ;3
En mi opinion, creo que no importa que programa utilices, he visto trabajos en paint que son mil veces mejores que algunos hechos en photoshop.
a fin de cuentas, el programa solo es una herramienta; depende del artista los resultados que se logren.
[x saludos.
hasta donde se, el PSP es un buen programa tambien y no le pide nada a photoshop; pero necesitaria probarlo para poder decirlo con certeza xD
Sometimes, I tend to wonder what kind of amazing pictures you all could do with a professional program like Photoshop, but then I realize you know OC to the bones, and that may be the reason you produce so good pictures with it and feel so comfortable with ^^
Did you never feel the itch to upgrade to a better program, Kami? :3
Honestly, I don't think there is such a thing as a "better" program. It's what you make of it.
I don't know if you feel the same or not, hehehe ^^ But I also wonder if we just limit our pieces of art to the levels our programs can work with, sometimes :3
I mean, take away a kid's no.2 pencil and give him an HB and he's still going to try and draw like he's using a no.2 unless someone teaches him the difference.
The key in that example is learnin'. So, it's not what you use, it's how you use it.
I should steal your MSN or AIM for advice next time I feel overloaded with doubts XD Since the postal address was a quest I was not able to do after all! :3
I used to use PSP, though, so I can relate. I miss some things, like arbitrary brushes, but the shortcomings haven't stopped me from making images I'm proud of. Of course, I'm probably going to pirate Photoshop CS 3 from a friend soon, thus ending my GNU advocacy on FA.
And I kinda agree with you, the first one you learn to use, is the one becoming your favourite, but the itch to explore new possibilities is always there.... :3
Oh, I forgot to mention this before, but one of my multimedia professors (and freelance multimedia designer) told me that there was very little he couldn't do in Photoshop or Illustrator or both... and he did well in proving it too =p
I used to use psp when I was starting out too, I just never got along with it too well, same goes for painter.
So don't feel the need to change to something else because it's what others use.
Use whatever program you want and feel confortable with and if you change, do it for your own taste :)
Better tools do help improove the quality, but it's not the tools that make the artist ;)
If you really feel you can't improove anymore with psp, then go for it.
photoshop really isn't that complicated and I'm sure you could get the hang of it in no time :)
The fact that you been using psp for so long will help in using photoshop if you want to try. alot of things are similar :)
Your words are madness and are deserving of PAIN!!
*Clothelines you*
Your coloring rocks and you're DOUBTING OURSELF??
FOOL!!!
*PILEDRIVES*
Listen to Kami! For she is WISE and STRONG!!
Photoshop is a TOOL. Paint Shop Pro is a tool. In the end, nobody looks at a cool picture and goes, "Wait... this was drawn in PSP?!? FUCK THIS SHIT!! *RIP*"
Hell, I know a person who does phenomenaomomominal pictures with P-CHAT!!
Yeah, go ahead and practice with Photoshop and all that shit, but DON'T toss your PSP aside, and DON'T FUCKING DOUBT YOURSELF OR I'LL BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF YOU, BACK INTO YOU, AND THEN OUT OF YOU AGAIN!!!
ARRRRGH!! YOUR WORDS OF DOUBT ANGER ME AND MAKE E DO HORRIBLE THINGS TO INNOCENT PEOPLE!!!
*Runs around breaking shit*
I know people doing awesome drawings with the simplest oekaki XD But I still tend to think what could happen if those talented people get a better tool in their hands... :3
It's like a NASCAR driver... of course his talent is the basic tool, but if he gets a better car, chances to improve are better, but.... also, he would drive better in the car he's used to drive all days, right? ^^
And now, you talented you, what program do you use??? OC like Kami, or your tool of the trade is some I still don't know abut? ;3 *nudges nudges*