PLEASE NOTE:  These pages are quite old, in terms of software lifespan, and the version numbers, and even programs mentioned here are SORELY out of date.
The march of progress, yadda yadda.

Subject: Re: How do they do that?
Date:  Sat, 27 Jan 2001 17:37:55 -0000
From:  "Tane" <tane@NOSPAMscott.fisher.freeuk.com>
Newsgroups:  alt.binaries.multimedia.xena-herc

Hiya Herv... here's a little rundown of the Common Software Programs used by people in this group (there are, as always, various other programs that people use - but these are the basics...)  PhotoShop (version 5, 5.5, or 6) - Expensive, but worth it (so I have been  told)  PaintShop Pro (version 5 onwards, I think v5 uses layers, v4 definately does not!) - About the fifth of the price of PS, but still a very versatile piece of kit to have (around £80 here in the UK), and my personal choice.  Picture Publisher (version 7, or 8) - Another great program (I used to work with this), and if you're in the UK it's on the front of a PC magazine this month, for nothing (the complete, unrestricted version 7!!), I'm not sure which magazine it's on (PC Magazine, PC Direct, or something like that).  Version 7 is very flexible, and uses Layers, Masks, and all sorts of other good stuff!

Painter - another good program, especially if you're after 'natural' painting techniques.  A great program to use if you have a drawing tablet.  You can achieve some great results with this - just ask Mr Ian Wolf.  There are others, such as the Corel range of products, but I am unfamiliar with them.   - The basic, minimum requirement (although our recent ZeroTech Competition did a good job to disprove this) is something that can handle multiple layers (being able to add picture on top of picture, whilst still being able to edit the individual 'layers')... but basically use whatever you can get your hands on.      My Best Advice is - Practice, Practice, Practice (It may sound a little cliche, but it really works.)  Any questions, just ask.

To enhance your understanding of other Tips on the other pages, the common abbreviations are:

PSP - Paint Shop Pro

PS or APS - Photo Shop

A not-so-obvious, but vitally essential piece of information for novice PaintShopPro users:  The software gives you the option to turn off the Layers Palette.  This is a little window that shows the various layers in the picture you are working on, so you can do things like make one layer invisible, or adjust the DEGREE of visibility of a layer (so you can do, like, a ghost face in the moon, etc.), or reorder the layers (move a picture to the back or front).  I cannot stress enough, you REALLY SHOULD keep it on your workspace, I refer to it constantly.  If you don't have it open, you can find it under View-Toolbars, and click the check box in front of Layer Palette.

 

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