Question

C
Posted By
Carrie
Apr 23, 2012
Views
788
Replies
8
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Closed
What, if anything are you all doing with photoshop as in "earing a living" or making money in some way?
I’ve been using it, learning it for around 10 years (started out with version 7, actually I started out with Paint Shop Pro 7) and now have CS3, which I like. I use it to create art, fix pictures, etc. I love doing this, and learning new things about it, which seems never ending. I’d like to do something more with it, the term "graphic design" comes to mind (as catch all). I like designing book covers, which I’ve dabbled in (just on my own, not for actual books). Making logos, setting up note cards, etc. I have Illustrator and In Design, but over the years have learned Office (2007) and use Publisher for anyting like that. I make things like calendars, etc. Again, for myself and family, etc. Not like a business. I have fixed picture for people who have asked me (like online discussion groups) and a few times have gotten paid for this. But I just love doing it. On the other hand, I don’t wantto do things because I HAVE to, that I don’t feel creative about (if that makes any sense) Not sure I have enough skills (or organized enough) to set up a business of some kind. It would be nice, though to be able to do what I love AND earn some money from it.
I got a flyer in the mail from a local Community College and one course (online)offered is "Graphic Design". a 2 year Assoicate Arts degree (then one is supposed to go to a regular college from there) I tracked down the discription of this course, and it has the "art" ones (graphic design, drawing, advertising setups, making basic websites, and such) but also required are "English Composition", Math, Communication, Human Behavior, etc. which I guess are required for the degree.
Going by what the art part sounds like, I probably already know it or a lot of it (and thinking a teacher might not want me to do it MY way LOL) I coudln’t find anything about what was required for it for programs, but they probably want you to have the newest PS.
I really don’t plan to take college courses and get a degree. I’m 68 years old and don’t plan to go to a real college (I live in a rural area and have no car, for one thing) and won’t ever be working for a graphic design firm, or something.
I like the idea of learning on my own (which I have been doing) and at some point, it would be good to do something with this. I’ve looked into uploading my photos to sites that sell them as downloads (for $1.00 or so each) but doesn’t seem like this would be a way to bring in much money. Book cover designing (for the self-publishers? I notice it says on them something like "deduct $175 if you submit your own cover" so the publishers must get covers from somewhere if the people don’t submit their own) Selling designs to greeting card companies? (online?) Submitting pictures to magazines (online) or something?
Seems like there are millions of people already doing this. I’ve noticed, a few times I have entered photo contests, usually the prize is money, or a new (expensive) camera, and the person who wins usually already has a $2000 camera and $3000 telephoto lens, and takes pictures in Tahiti or something (exotic views) and wins. Also, I’ve noticed those contests usually say that all photos that are submitted become the property of the place running the contest.
I know, I’m rambling and will probably get at least a few rude remarks back, but thought maybe we could get a conversation goind about "doing what one loves" in a more business way?
I have looked this up and read books on it, but it usually involved buying a lot of expensive things (one book I had said one HAD TO have a MAC computer for a Graphic Design business) or something I can’t do… like retouching pictures for wedding photographers, which involves driving around (and a more populated area).
Just looking for possible ideas- discussion about this. I once asked something like this on a discussion group (doing what one loves and earning money from it) and one person said "get your lazy ass down to the local unemployment office and get a job!" I guess I can’t stop people from writing stuff like this, but people who love "computer art" (whatever an overall term might be) and/or photography, and just love doing it (but t woudl be nice to earn a little money from it… if one is organized enough and knows how) might know what I mean…

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V
Voivod
Apr 23, 2012
On Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:36:59 -0400, "Carrie"
scribbled:

I’ve been using it, learning it for around 10 years

Ten years and you’re still a complete, clueless, newbie?!

Sell the PC.
C
Carrie
Apr 23, 2012
it’s more like "what do I need to know"? ( to actually do something more productive with this than have fun LOL)
and "how do I know what I don’t know, that I should know?" Like putting it all together in some way.
V
Voivod
Apr 23, 2012
On Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:02:45 -0400, "Carrie"
scribbled:

it’s more like "what do I need to know"?

More than you know now.
DJ
david johnson
Apr 24, 2012
On Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:36:59 -0400, "Carrie"
wrote:

What, if anything are you all doing with photoshop as in "earing a living" or making money in some way?
I’ve been using it, learning it for around 10 years (started out with version 7, actually I started out with Paint Shop Pro 7) and now have CS3, which I like. I use it to create art, fix pictures, etc. I love doing this, and learning new things about it, which seems never ending. I’d like to do something more with it, the term "graphic design" comes to mind (as catch all). I like designing book covers, which I’ve dabbled in (just on my own, not for actual books). Making logos, setting up note cards, etc. I have Illustrator and In Design, but over the years have learned Office (2007) and use Publisher for anyting like that. I make things like calendars, etc. Again, for myself and family, etc. Not like a business. I have fixed picture for people who have asked me (like online discussion groups) and a few times have gotten paid for this. But I just love doing it. On the other hand, I don’t wantto do things because I HAVE to, that I don’t feel creative about (if that makes any sense) Not sure I have enough skills (or organized enough) to set up a business of some kind. It would be nice, though to be able to do what I love AND earn some money from it.
I got a flyer in the mail from a local Community College and one course (online)offered is "Graphic Design". a 2 year Assoicate Arts degree (then one is supposed to go to a regular college from there) I tracked down the discription of this course, and it has the "art" ones (graphic design, drawing, advertising setups, making basic websites, and such) but also required are "English Composition", Math, Communication, Human Behavior, etc. which I guess are required for the degree.
Going by what the art part sounds like, I probably already know it or a lot of it (and thinking a teacher might not want me to do it MY way LOL) I coudln’t find anything about what was required for it for programs, but they probably want you to have the newest PS.
I really don’t plan to take college courses and get a degree. I’m 68 years old and don’t plan to go to a real college (I live in a rural area and have no car, for one thing) and won’t ever be working for a graphic design firm, or something.
I like the idea of learning on my own (which I have been doing) and at some point, it would be good to do something with this. I’ve looked into uploading my photos to sites that sell them as downloads (for $1.00 or so each) but doesn’t seem like this would be a way to bring in much money. Book cover designing (for the self-publishers? I notice it says on them something like "deduct $175 if you submit your own cover" so the publishers must get covers from somewhere if the people don’t submit their own) Selling designs to greeting card companies? (online?) Submitting pictures to magazines (online) or something?
Seems like there are millions of people already doing this. I’ve noticed, a few times I have entered photo contests, usually the prize is money, or a new (expensive) camera, and the person who wins usually already has a $2000 camera and $3000 telephoto lens, and takes pictures in Tahiti or something (exotic views) and wins. Also, I’ve noticed those contests usually say that all photos that are submitted become the property of the place running the contest.
I know, I’m rambling and will probably get at least a few rude remarks back, but thought maybe we could get a conversation goind about "doing what one loves" in a more business way?
I have looked this up and read books on it, but it usually involved buying a lot of expensive things (one book I had said one HAD TO have a MAC computer for a Graphic Design business) or something I can’t do… like retouching pictures for wedding photographers, which involves driving around (and a more populated area).
Just looking for possible ideas- discussion about this. I once asked something like this on a discussion group (doing what one loves and earning money from it) and one person said "get your lazy ass down to the local unemployment office and get a job!" I guess I can’t stop people from writing stuff like this, but people who love "computer art" (whatever an overall term might be) and/or photography, and just love doing it (but t woudl be nice to earn a little money from it… if one is organized enough and knows how) might know what I mean…

i am all for people who go out and use there skills to get a job. The reality is, to get a real job using photoshop in a company, i would guess you would have to have some qualifications in graphic design.

to work for youself, you are as good as your last job really. There are so many niches in photoshop. I for example rarely if ever do any artist stuff. My photoshop work is more or less anythign else. But mainly photo manipulation, making dvd covers and dvd menus. But mainly as i work for myself making you guessed it dvd’s 😛

Any comments you receive on here will be from local knowledge. I am in the UK, and i’d find it hard to believe you wouldl get a job as a wedding photographers photo retoucher. they do it themselves.

A Mac is only preferable on the theory being it crashes less

Of course then some body decided to put windows on a mac, no idea how stable that is now.

Any way i wish you look i looking for work, the main problem is advertising for it, locally, which costs money of course. As an idea, again though over here they do it pretty cheaply but in a mass production way, make a book of photos. I was thinking more of say older people.

A nice 50th 60 th etc birthday present from teh family. retouched up there old photos, rips stains creases etc. and put into a book designed into a theme. they are about £30 here but you just send your photos and they print them into a book style, no retouching no intensive touching up and stuff of course.
U
Ulysses
Apr 24, 2012
Here is my suggestion
try a web design. if you have a copy of microsoft office run the program microsoft publisher. it is an easy starter set up some of your graphics ideas then publish on the web most providers have a free web page. you will get comments from friends and associates to say if you have the talent don’t use anything personal at first. show it to anyone who can give you further advice I spent days doing my web page and oh god what fun. wish i could give you my web site, but can’t. must remain anonymous…good luck, carrie
V
Voivod
Apr 24, 2012
On Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:56:48 -0400, "Ulysses" scribbled:

Here is my suggestion
try a web design. if you have a copy of microsoft office run the program microsoft publisher. it is an easy starter set up some of your graphics ideas then publish on the web most providers have a free web page. you will get comments from friends and associates to say if you have the talent don’t use anything personal at first. show it to anyone who can give you further advice I spent days doing my web page and oh god what fun. wish i could give you my web site, but can’t. must remain anonymous…good luck, carrie

I can’t imagine the inarticulate crap you’d churn out as a web designer.
C
Carrie
Apr 24, 2012
"Ulysses" wrote in message
Here is my suggestion
try a web design. if you have a copy of microsoft office run the program microsoft publisher. it is an easy starter set up some of your graphics ideas then publish on the web most providers have a free web page. you will get comments from friends and associates to say if you have the talent don’t use anything personal at first. show it to anyone who can give you further advice I spent days doing my web page and oh god what fun. wish i could give you my web site, but can’t. must remain anonymous…good luck, carrie
Thanks for the feedback. I just want to do "what I love" but be more productive (maybe thats it?) I have made webpages, and have some now (Angelfire has free ones, with ads, but now I have found they don’t let you use ftp without paying for the website, so maeans going in and uplaoading from the site, which is time consuming) I do pretty much know Publisher. I have made address labels (to give people as gifts) and notecards. Just nothing that seems like a businesss
I looked into self publishing, I have a lot of pictures that have stories with them (I know the stories LOL) but using color pictures is complicated and expensive. This morning I thought of having them printed like spiral bound (like reports) someplace like Kinkos? This just came to me. once made I could offer them for sale on ebay or the craft site, etsy. I’ve also thought of screensavers (I have a lot of pictures where I live, Vermont) I had a screensaver maker but now found it doesn’t work with Windows 7 (the finished screensavers).
I just have to get something "together" using all I might know. I don’t thinik I need a degree, I won’t ever be going to a job for a real company. Just thought we could get a discussion going about this. Doing what we love?
U
Ulysses
Apr 24, 2012
My internet provider allows me to have up to 5 web sites presently I am using 4. each time I improve on the previous one using photoshop. now they look downright professional I am quite sure your provider will do the same.. ask them all is FREE…..no ads

MacBook Pro 16” Mockups 🔥

– in 4 materials (clay versions included)

– 12 scenes

– 48 MacBook Pro 16″ mockups

– 6000 x 4500 px

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