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Getting back into Graphic Design....
Hi,
For the last 5 years I've been an admin worker for a financial company, prior to this I did a BTEC ND at my local college. I had a few interviews for design agencies when I left college but due to the fact I had no office experience I was always unsuccessful.
I want to get back into Graphic Design, I've had a good read through the site and taken a lot of info from it. Going back to college full time isn't possible, I need to keep working full time so could only do a part time course if it was in an evening. Would I be frowned upon for only having an ND by employers?
I'm looking into doing some design work for my sister (logo, letter head, biz card etc) and hopefully other people to beef up my portfolio, problem is I'm looking at second hand ibooks and not sure what minimum spec I need!? :embarassed (just got a pc at the mo and hate it!) I'm experienced in photoshop and illustrator with some knowledge of quark and freehand, any other packages I should be investing in?
Any help, tips and advise would be greatfully received :)
Thanks
Steve
For the last 5 years I've been an admin worker for a financial company, prior to this I did a BTEC ND at my local college. I had a few interviews for design agencies when I left college but due to the fact I had no office experience I was always unsuccessful.
I want to get back into Graphic Design, I've had a good read through the site and taken a lot of info from it. Going back to college full time isn't possible, I need to keep working full time so could only do a part time course if it was in an evening. Would I be frowned upon for only having an ND by employers?
I'm looking into doing some design work for my sister (logo, letter head, biz card etc) and hopefully other people to beef up my portfolio, problem is I'm looking at second hand ibooks and not sure what minimum spec I need!? :embarassed (just got a pc at the mo and hate it!) I'm experienced in photoshop and illustrator with some knowledge of quark and freehand, any other packages I should be investing in?
Any help, tips and advise would be greatfully received :)
Thanks
Steve
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- Contact in PM
Faizan-uk
Messages count : 13Likes count : 0Registration : 13 May 2007Hey
I'm in my first year of BTEC ND in Graphic Designs and I just got employed by the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, so I don't think that it matters much. - Contact in PM
Steve_Hull
Messages count : 5Likes count : 0Registration : 6 June 2007Thanks for the replies :)
Just looking at second hand G4 & G3 laptops, any models I should avoid? Also with regards to software any specific versions of Photoshop and Illustrator I'd be better off getting?
Thanks
Steve - Contact in PM
mortimer1979
Messages count : 8Likes count : 0Registration : 23 May 2007Steve,
If poss get hold of the adobe CS2/3 creative suite, this contains the latest versions of photoshop, illustrator and indesign. If you use quark you will need to purchase that seperately.
Sadly these aren't cheap but they are the ones you want...... unless anyone say different?
James - Contact in PM
Steve_Hull
Messages count : 5Likes count : 0Registration : 6 June 2007Thanks, im hoping to get a second hand one through my sisters friend (IT technician), hoping he can get one with Illustrator and Photoshop already on it. Didn't know about indesign!? What would you suggest is a reasonable price for a second hand laptop? Sorry for all the questions! :)
Thanks
Steve - Contact in PM
mortimer1979
Messages count : 8Likes count : 0Registration : 23 May 2007I suppose it depends on the laptop and how much you are willing to pay.
You can get brand new laptops (from pc world, curry's etc) for £300 - 400 but I would spend the money to get something decent. IBM Thinkpads are very robust and sony vioa are very good but you will pay over £1000 for these.
You have to get something that will last, remember that you will be using this everyday and it needs to be able to cope, good memory/processor etc..
What I would say is that if you buy a second hand laptop, you don't get any kind of support or guarantee so if it blows up or goes wrong you are stuffed. - Contact in PM
Steve_Hull
Messages count : 5Likes count : 0Registration : 6 June 2007Good point about the second hand aspect, think im going to go with an IBook rather then a PC, i have access to a PC already so ok on that front. Am I right in saying Apple only give you 1 years warranty though? - Contact in PM
mortimer1979
Messages count : 8Likes count : 0Registration : 23 May 2007I thinks its 1 year but you can probably extend this, at a cost obviously. - Contact in PM
mikehadley
Messages count : 6Likes count : 0Registration : 8 June 2007Design=Apple
If you're going into graphics you just HAVE to go Apple. No question. If in doubt just ask some design companies. Ditto, they'll tell you about software. My understanding is that InDesign has pretty much taken over from Quark. - Contact in PM
Steve_Hull
Messages count : 5Likes count : 0Registration : 6 June 2007Just shows how much catching up I need to do, didn't even know about InDesign until I joined this forum!? (was all quark and freehand back when I was a student) :embarassed
Here's hoping this guy can get me a decent iBook, looks like most of my cash will be going on the adobe software (if it doesn't have any already on it). - Contact in PM
Faizan-uk
Messages count : 13Likes count : 0Registration : 13 May 2007Quark is just as good as InDesign you know, so don't worry about it. Forget Freehand though, thats just non-existent now. LOL.
I use Photoshop CS, Illustrator CS2 (because it has Live Trace and Paint!!) and Quark 7. All are awesome packages ^_^ -
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hewligan
Messages count : 7Likes count : 0Registration : 13 June 2007I don't think technically that there is much difference now between Macs and PCs - however the one thing I would say is that all the printers use Macs so if you want your work to be compatible with their machines you'd better get a Mac.
I create my work in Illustrator on my PC, but have to print through PDF because although they use Illustrator at the printers, they don't accept PC Illustrator files. It does annoy me a little because I always imagine the PDF file loses some quality (actually in reality, it's probably fine...)
Anyway the upshot is, I'm saving up for a Mac. -
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hewligan
Messages count : 7Likes count : 0Registration : 13 June 2007Does it stay vector once converted to PDF? If so, i'd be quite relieved.
The other good thing about PCs compared with Macs is that they are easier to fix! Perhaps I'll save my money and get a decent printer! ha.
