Exploring Graphics Software and Free Tutorials

Learn about industry standard graphics and design software and how to use it. Looking for some Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator instruction? Or Macromedia Dreamweaver and Flash tutorials? Need to know the difference between raster and vector files, JPGs, and Gifs? The following resources will lead the way in helping you to understand how to use popular software programs for your print and Web design projects.

Graphics Software Tutorials Resources

Article: Differences between Raster and Vector Graphics
Graphic images on your computer come in two different forms, raster images and vector images.

Corel Paint Shop Pro Learning Center
Users of the Jasc / Corel Paint Shop Pro graphics program can visit the company's online learning center to learn how to adjust and retouch photos, get the red out, remove distractions, restore old pictures, collage graphics, and create cool Web and print graphics and effects. Find the learning center from the home page by choosing your software title and then clicking on the Learning Center link.

Impact Resources
A Photoshop tutorials database with free downloads. Categories cover animation, e-commerce, Flash, futuristic, original navigation, pixel, cartoon and illustration, corporate, portfolio, and Web portals.

Web Monkey
A how-to library for site building, graphics, and fonts. Articles include a Web graphics overview; intro to Photoshop and filters; digital photography for the Web; scanning basics; optimizing gifs; jpg, gifs, png, and vector formats; and Web safe color palette.

DesignsByMark.com
Photoshop Tips & Tutorials. "Innovative ideas in Photoshop." An amazing Photoshop tutorial site by Mark Monciardini with Photoshop tips, techniques, and step-by-step tutorials for making awesome graphics, special effects, and textures.

Lynda.com
"Education by creative professionals." Contains a section with free tips and tutorials for leading graphics, layout, and design software including: GoLive, Fireworks, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, ImageReady, Flash, Illustrator, After Effects, QuarkXPress, and InDesign.

Team Photoshop
"One stop Photoshop for Adobe Photoshop tutorials, tips, and help." A super resource from professional Photoshop users with tutorials, articles, actions, for Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Flash. Includes articles, tools, and tips for Web design, and a forum for community help and support.

Paint Shop Pro Tutorials
Contains over two dozen Paint Shop Pro Tutorials and professional tips. Includes watermarking photographs, magic of masks, transparent Gifs, layers primer, page curl, colored spheres, chrome, bevels, emboss, brushed metal, shadows, and photographic edges.

GraphicsDEN
Free software tutorials and online courses. Tutorials include FrontPage, Office, Internet Explorer, PowerPoint, and Outlook Express. Courses cover topics in drawing, writing, and math.

Graphic Software at About.com
A solid graphics software portal and community covering all aspects of image design, software, photography, digital imaging, illustration, and image editing. Features articles, step-by-step Adobe, Macromedia, Corel, and Painter tutorials; plug-ins and filters; multimedia, specialty tools, graphic formats, and Web graphics.

Graphics Tutorials in Photoshop and Fireworks
A collection of graphics tutorials showing how to alter images, make vertical and gradient backgrounds, feather images, make drop shadows, and more in Photoshop and Fireworks.