Each year I have a mini-meet/Car show on behalf of the Fairlane Club of America. I have purchase magnetic dash plaques but the prices is getting pretty expensive. I know I can search out some cheap .99 cent over the internet dash plaque makers but I was thinking of making my own artwork. Does anyone have experience with a rather inexpensive software that I can purchase and make my own artwork? Thanks,
I don't want to burst your bubble but there's no such thing as a good and cheap graphic software unless you are prepared to switch to Ubuntu (Linux). Then it'd be free (I think). For PC, there's the CorelDraw Graphics suite currently at 329 USD, best bang for your buck. What will cost you here is the time to learn how to use it. I suggest you really read the manuals and do as much as you can of the exercises guide. A good computer won't hurt, minimum system requirements are (thats just for installing, to save your work you'll need a few gigs of empty hard drive): Windows® XP (with Service Pack 2 or later) 512 MB of RAM, 430 MB of hard disk space Pentium® III, 800 MHz processor or AMD Athlon™ XP 1,024 × 768 or better monitor resolution DVD drive Mouse or tablet http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Product/1191272117978
Check out GIMP. http://www.gimp.org/ It's an opensource (FREE!) graphics manipulation program that's available for Windows or Linux based systems. It's a Ph*t*sh*p work-alike and is widely used by folks who don't want to/can't spend the big buck on retail packages. Like most programs it may not easily do everything you want to do. If you are looking for font editing it may not be ticket. Graphics? Yup Yes, tablets are getting reasonably priced and are very useful. Oh.. lots of online tutorials exist for it as well.
""I don't want to burst your bubble but there's no such thing as a good and cheap graphic software"" dudes gonna make some dash plaques, not try to compete with Norwell in the art show. I paid 40 bucks for mine and can do all sorts of cool stuff with it. they no longer make the one I got, but there are cheapos out there. it has a big list of different fonts to choose from. as for art.. do your art and scan it or take a photo of it to put it on your computer. my avatar is a photo of a sharpie over pencil drawing I did.
you forgot this part "... unless you are prepared to switch to Ubuntu (Linux). Then it'd be free (I think)." I didnt know GIMP was windows friendly or I wouldn't have said that. As for 60 bucks softwares, that's great. When I started 2 decades ago, corel didnt exist yet and adobe was the only serious option... I just stated what I thought was right. Thanks for the heads up.
I like to use my art for this stuff as well and I don't think there is a cheep way to get exceptional quality. You pay for what you get and if you want them to come back keep'em happy.
Thank you!. I try though the best result almost always comes when many ideas from different points of view get put in the pot... Chaddillac is also a good designer
might try this too. http://www.inkscape.org/index.php?lang=en you want do draw it in vectors so that it is scaleable and you can manipulate it easier.
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