1. Where do you guys get your pictures from for creating characters/cartoons/vehicles?

2. What are some good beginner programs i can buy to get me started in contests and practice?

Anyways thats all it and i look forward to see what you all have to say, thanks

It is either made by professionals using softwares like corel draw and photoshop..

Start with Photoshop..

While creating banners I take pictures from stock photos site. And as far as the cartoon is concert I hire commercial artist to do that work.

HI Friend,
There are lots of sits but I think www.masterfile.com and www.sxc.hu are very kool sites. in master file u can get small pic for web or other press work and from www.sxc.hu you can get big images if you are desinging big designs for billboards and any other huge projects.

2: DO check this site http://www.webdesign.org, from here you can get lots of help regarding diffrnt desiging softwares like adobe psh, adobe illus, coral draw.

For your first question there are several ways. The hardest and prabably most useful way is to make them. The method I like for this is to draw what you want on paper then scan it in and use the pen tool in photoshop (or similar program) and basically outline it. It is actually easier then it seems.

As for graphics programs, I would suggest getting a free trial of Photosop, or Fireworks, both available free at adobe.com

with me.. max of time Google... and some time ripping off from some ones and modifying it according to my need..

PhotoShop CS2 or CS3 Beta can be download free of cost for limited number of days working time... you may try them if you like u may buy them !!

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b2b