Here's a dumb question that I hope can be answered...

by **DarkPhazonElite** » 05.10.13 12:17am

Ok, so I would like to make wallpapers. What programs should I use? Any special equipment needed? I'm a stay at home mom who wants to take on a new hobby!

Thanks in advance!! :thumbsup:

by **VGMStudios** » 05.10.13 8:05am

There's no such thing as a dumb question. Unless your ame...nah wont go there.. lol
What most ppl use is photoshop to create wallpapers.
So I suggest that you find a copy (GIMP is the free version equivalent) and learn to use it.
You can do some pretty amazing things with photoshop.

Vgm out...

by **HobotiX** » 05.10.13 9:23am

Photoshop is a lot more affordable now ($20 a month subscription based) and its what all of the professionals use. You can make wallpapers, edit photos, draw/digital painting, etc and there are a lot of how to videos online.

Gimp is the free option. I found it a little limiting when i was trying to use it, but it might be all you need. You can also find tutorials online for Gimp, but maybe not as much

If your on a Mac, then you will want to check out Pixelmator. it's only $15 and it seems to be able to do some quality photo editing.

And then on top of what programs you are using, you will also want some photo resources to look through. My favorite sites are http://www.cgtextures.com/, http://subtlepatterns.com/, and http://mediamilitia.com/

Good luck!

by **TheBlackCat** » 05.10.13 1:29pm

DarkPhazonElite wrote:Ok, so I would like to make wallpapers.

Do you mean computer wallpapers or stick-on-your-wall wallpapers?

If computer wallpapers, that depends on what kind and what OS you use. Do you want to take photographs and get them the right size and shape? Or do you want to make some significant modification to them? Do you want to take screenshots of movies or games? Do you want to extract individuals from images and put them into new settings? Do you want to create your own artwork, either realistic or abstract, from scratch and either use those on their own or combine them with bits of photographs and/or screenshots? There is a lot you can do, and the tools you will need vary somewhat.

For most things involving modifying existing images, if you don't already have experience with Adobe products than gimp is probably the way to go since it is free (yeah, you can pay for photoshop on a plan, but it still is hundreds of dollars in the end). Unless there is something specific you really need from photoshop, then don't waste your money, especially not if you are just getting started.

If you want to make your own artwork, you are probably best off with either inkscape or krita. Inkscape (or adobe illustrator if you have money to burn) is good if you want to make something abstract or something that looks like a cartoon. Krita is good if you want to make something that looks like a drawing or painting (there is nothing as good as Krita by any company anywhere).

If you mean stick-on-your-wall wallpapers then I don't have the slightest clue.

by **DarkPhazonElite** » 05.10.13 8:09pm

Thanks, you guys! I will look into those things!

@TheBlackCat: Computer Wallpapers, of course.

and Thanks!

by **VGMStudios** » 05.11.13 1:42am

Sure no problem. Im glad I could of been some help.
Good luck.

Vgm out...

by **Chozo Guardian** » 05.11.13 6:48pm

I know this is terribly off-topic, but I need to upload this image here so I can link to it on the AM2R forums which doesn't have the ability to upload pics, only to link to them. Sorry. -_-;

by **Remnants** » 05.11.13 7:51pm

Chozo Guardian wrote:I know this is terribly off-topic, but I need to upload this image here so I can link to it on the AM2R forums which doesn't have the ability to upload pics, only to link to them. Sorry.

Untitled.jpg

Well, if you have an account on an image hosting website the likes of photobucket.com or imageshack.us, you can upload your pics there so you could link to them elsewhere.

by **VGMStudios** » 05.11.13 9:23pm

For sure. Even google has online image storage.

DarkPhazonElite Posts: 583 Joined: 03.16.12 6:42pm Location: The Phazon Mines (aka Pasadena, TX) Website	Here's a dumb question that I hope can be answered... by DarkPhazonElite » 05.10.13 12:17am Ok, so I would like to make wallpapers. What programs should I use? Any special equipment needed? I'm a stay at home mom who wants to take on a new hobby! Thanks in advance!!
VGMStudios Posts: 1975 Joined: 06.03.07 7:14pm	Re: Here's a dumb question that I hope can be answered... by VGMStudios » 05.10.13 8:05am There's no such thing as a dumb question. Unless your ame...nah wont go there.. lol What most ppl use is photoshop to create wallpapers. So I suggest that you find a copy (GIMP is the free version equivalent) and learn to use it. You can do some pretty amazing things with photoshop. Vgm out... Super Metroid, the most perfect game ever created! Period!
HobotiX Posts: 89 Joined: 08.06.11 12:06am Location: CA Website	Re: Here's a dumb question that I hope can be answered... by HobotiX » 05.10.13 9:23am Photoshop is a lot more affordable now ($20 a month subscription based) and its what all of the professionals use. You can make wallpapers, edit photos, draw/digital painting, etc and there are a lot of how to videos online. Gimp is the free option. I found it a little limiting when i was trying to use it, but it might be all you need. You can also find tutorials online for Gimp, but maybe not as much If your on a Mac, then you will want to check out Pixelmator. it's only $15 and it seems to be able to do some quality photo editing. And then on top of what programs you are using, you will also want some photo resources to look through. My favorite sites are http://www.cgtextures.com/, http://subtlepatterns.com/, and http://mediamilitia.com/ Good luck! - DeviantArt - Glitched Pixel -
TheBlackCat Posts: 811 Joined: 10.28.10 8:43pm Location: Searching for the candle in the dark	Re: Here's a dumb question that I hope can be answered... by TheBlackCat » 05.10.13 1:29pm DarkPhazonElite wrote:Ok, so I would like to make wallpapers. Do you mean computer wallpapers or stick-on-your-wall wallpapers? If computer wallpapers, that depends on what kind and what OS you use. Do you want to take photographs and get them the right size and shape? Or do you want to make some significant modification to them? Do you want to take screenshots of movies or games? Do you want to extract individuals from images and put them into new settings? Do you want to create your own artwork, either realistic or abstract, from scratch and either use those on their own or combine them with bits of photographs and/or screenshots? There is a lot you can do, and the tools you will need vary somewhat. For most things involving modifying existing images, if you don't already have experience with Adobe products than gimp is probably the way to go since it is free (yeah, you can pay for photoshop on a plan, but it still is hundreds of dollars in the end). Unless there is something specific you really need from photoshop, then don't waste your money, especially not if you are just getting started. If you want to make your own artwork, you are probably best off with either inkscape or krita. Inkscape (or adobe illustrator if you have money to burn) is good if you want to make something abstract or something that looks like a cartoon. Krita is good if you want to make something that looks like a drawing or painting (there is nothing as good as Krita by any company anywhere). If you mean stick-on-your-wall wallpapers then I don't have the slightest clue. Man is the lowest-cost, 150-pound, nonlinear, all-purpose computer system which can be mass-produced by unskilled labor. -NASA in 1965
DarkPhazonElite Posts: 583 Joined: 03.16.12 6:42pm Location: The Phazon Mines (aka Pasadena, TX) Website	Re: Here's a dumb question that I hope can be answered... by DarkPhazonElite » 05.10.13 8:09pm Thanks, you guys! I will look into those things! @TheBlackCat: Computer Wallpapers, of course. and Thanks!
VGMStudios Posts: 1975 Joined: 06.03.07 7:14pm	Re: Here's a dumb question that I hope can be answered... by VGMStudios » 05.11.13 1:42am Sure no problem. Im glad I could of been some help. Good luck. Vgm out... Super Metroid, the most perfect game ever created! Period!
Chozo Guardian Posts: 366 Joined: 04.18.11 4:44pm Location: Tallon IV	Re: Here's a dumb question that I hope can be answered... by Chozo Guardian » 05.11.13 6:48pm I know this is terribly off-topic, but I need to upload this image here so I can link to it on the AM2R forums which doesn't have the ability to upload pics, only to link to them. Sorry.
Remnants Posts: 532 Joined: 05.01.11 9:08pm	Re: Here's a dumb question that I hope can be answered... by Remnants » 05.11.13 7:51pm Chozo Guardian wrote:I know this is terribly off-topic, but I need to upload this image here so I can link to it on the AM2R forums which doesn't have the ability to upload pics, only to link to them. Sorry. Untitled.jpg Well, if you have an account on an image hosting website the likes of photobucket.com or imageshack.us, you can upload your pics there so you could link to them elsewhere. In times of crisis, weakness cannot survive. But be very careful how you define strength. "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security is a superstition. It does not exist in nature" - Hellen Keller
VGMStudios Posts: 1975 Joined: 06.03.07 7:14pm	Re: Here's a dumb question that I hope can be answered... by VGMStudios » 05.11.13 9:23pm For sure. Even google has online image storage. Super Metroid, the most perfect game ever created! Period!

Who is online