I shall have to change my computer soon as it is VERY cranky and grinds horrendously when I edit photos. Several friends are encouraging me to get a Mac and I have been to a friend's to familiarize myself with the format. I am sure I would soon get used to it. However on my PC I use the program CoralDRAW Essentials 2 quite a lot for simple graphics. It is very flexible and allows me to draw shapes to exact sizes and position items on a page with accuracy. I use it most to help Mr T create CD covers. I have also used it for greetings cards and to manipulate images for the Postman's Knock project. I have also created labels and inserts for my Etsy shop as it so much easier than Works, unless you are doing straight forward stuff. The only drawback is that they are stored as CorelDRAW files. However that is not the problem. If I get a new PC they no longer produce CorelDraw Essentials, but they do a Home and Student edition which I guess is the similar. But this is not compatable with Mac. What I think I need for a Mac as a substitute is PRINTshop.Pro which is certainly cheaper, but I don't know anyone who uses this. The review sounds as if it will do what I want and more so I am wondering if anyone out there can help me with some simple info. Other people have suggested that I shall be able to do this sort of thing with Photoshop Essentials. I have Essentials 5 and the graphics part certainly isn't flexible enough for what I want. If any of you have any suggestions I shall be very grateful. I do not want to pay hundreds of pounds for a program. So if you have PRINTshop Pro can you let me know what you think of it.
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This is the sort of thing we do - only in coverting it from a Coral file to a Jpeg the white background has turned black! By the way this was the give-away for our guests at our garden do.
Meanwhile back to the creative stuff. I am doing a bit of experimental sewing - more of that another time, but I had to get the camera out in the garden yesterday as the sun came out in the late afternoon and I do like a bit of back lighting,
Honesty seed heads are just delicious at any time of year, but the sun shining through was stunning...
and I think purple and orange is my favourite colour combination at the moment.
What a shame the Buddlea isn't full of butterflies. Are you going to take part in the
Big Butterfly Count ? I did see five species yesterday despite the dull weather.
Do have a good week,
Jill
16 comments:
Sorry I can't help you on the computer front Jill although I do have friends who use a Mac and wouldn't switch to anything else - they are supposed to be better than a PC for artistic work aren't they?
Love the photo of the honesty and the buddlea - I think the tiny orange centres of each flower are amazing and the colour combination is great.
Am just working on your postcard at the moment - not sure where it's taking me but all will be revealed next weekend!
I'd love a mac, but to use it as a mac it would mean buying new versions of most of the programs I use (including word, photoshop, flash, illustrator etc) I'll have to stick to my pc. The other option is to buy a mac and run it as a windows system when exisitng software should work, but that kind of defeats the object in my opinion!
I have a Mac and LOVE IT! However, I'm not able to help you regarding the software you currently use. If you have an Apple shop near you I would strongly advise you to go in - their staff are really helpful and will know what you need to replace your present pc.
All I will say is that Macs are so easy to use and are very user friendly and their after sales set up is brilliant.
Good luck!
Hi Jill,
wonderfully inspiring pictures as usual. I have to say I bought a mac this year and I feel it's opened up a WHOLE new world and I find it amazing. It definitely is good for artistic, creative stuff. I bought it because I start the art MA and loads of people had it.
I can't help with the coralDRAW issue as I don't use it, but I do use photoshop and I'm sure there'll people about who may have a copy you could use . . . .
Good luck :)
Amelia.x
Same as Amelia....photoshop is amazing.xx Good luck.x lynda
I have a MAC and love it, I can not help you regarding the CorelDRAW. I believe it is possible to get a trial version of Photoshop, so that might help. I know that in PSE 6 I can chose the size of the paper, so to speak. Then there are options for creating photo collages. There are so many options that I do not think I will ever discover them all. Maybe goggle it and you will find all sorts of suggestions. There is a help/question ask section on the Apple web site.
Beautiful photographs.
Good luck.
The beauty of Macs is not fussing with viruses. And the creative possibilities, especially for graphics and film, are incredible. I've come close to purchasing PC's, done all the research, and still bought 5or 6 Macs over the years. I'm looking for a new one myself and dithering over laptop vs. desktop.
As for the file transfer problems, have you looked into saving as .eps? You might be able to open an .eps in Photoshop, or export as .eps. If you use layers, you might try saving them individually as .eps and then dragging them together in Photoshop. I don't care for Photoshop Essentials, myself, just because it's limited. You'll want the full Photoshop and maybe Illustrator or InDesign for page layout. Craigslist or other such sites might have used copies of Creative Suite available.
When I saw the headline of this post I thought you were talking about the weather! Yes, I have a macintosh, but not the computer variety. My cat is also called Mac and although he purrs a lot I guess he's not quite the kind of Mac you are after either!!
I'm not being much help, am I?
Hmm, I'll stick with saying how beautiful your pics are - loved the compilation cover. Hardly any butterflies - too many birds? - & my budlia hit the dust a while ago. It's on the list to replace. I'll have to stitch one! Look forward to seeing your new stitching.
I have PhotoShop Essentials, and like it a lot. BUT, I don't do the fancy stuff you do, so that's probably not much help. i think the suggestion to go to the Apple store was a good one. Those kids who work in computer stores are usually really good and helpful.
I would LOVE a Mac....... I would stand and stroke it all day!
Re one of your comments: someone recently was extolling the virtues of Macs re the not having to worry about viruses.....
Haven't a clue as to what program would be best for you to run on one that would be suitable for your needs.
I could never give up CorelDraw. I use Photoshop, but I would never use it for the things I use CorelDraw for -- to me they go hand in hand and both are essential. Not that many people seem to use CorelDraw, but I think it's fantastic.
I use Illustrator along with Photoshop for all my graphic and photo work, but they are expensive I admit. Sorry I don't know anything about the other applications you've mentioned. I love my Macbook!
Re the comment about not having to worry about viruses, it's true! I don't have to buy any internet security software for my Mac. One less thing to have to worry about.
Hi Jill, sorry I can't help with your query. Coreldraw sounds amazing really. Hope you get some good advice; have you tried Googling for info?
Anne xx
Hi Jill
Can't help re: the Mac....sorry. I'm totally happy with my PC using PSE8 and Photoscape. (Have you tried this programme? Its free and brilliant - if you want more info email me.)
Really like your music album BTW - lovely photos :-)
Linda xx
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