I'm interested in creating a set of graphics for a website I'm working on. I always wondered how people create nice graphics. Specifically, what software do they generally use? Do they draw the icons directly on the computer or start with a hand drawing first? It seems really difficult to try and use a mouse to draw, so are there other affordable input devices?
How do web illustrators create graphics/icons/logos?
Artists usually create their logo artwork in an illustration program like Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia/Adobe Freehand, Corel Draw or a number of other vector based programs. (Illustrator is the most popular.) These programs have various tools that allow you to easily create all sorts of shapes. Mastering these programs to create logos similar to those you see everyday is very tough so dont expect great results immediately. By the way, sometimes artists do start their logos by drawing them on paper and then scanning them in. But after they scan them in, they basically trace the image using the tools in the illustration program. (You can't just scan it in and use it if you want it to look good.)
Once the final artwork is created in the illustration program, the artist takes into a bitmap imeage program like Photoshop or ImageReady to optimize it for the Web (make the file size smaller and acceptable for use over possibly slow bandwith). Logos and linedrawing artwork should be be optimized as a GIF image 99% of the time. Photos should be usually be saved as jpg images.
For more info on creating web graphics, I recommend books by Lynda Weinmann. She has a site called lynda.com that is all about web graphics. Visit adobe.com as well. They have tutorials about using their programs for designing and optimizing graphics.
In my opinion, you have to have a pretty good background in art to really be good at graphic design. Just knowing your way around programs like illustrator and photoshop is no different than not knowing English and using MS Word.
Also, it would be in your best interest to stick with the Adobe tools if you have the money. They are the industry standard every profressional worth their salt uses.
How do web illustrators create graphics/icons/logos?
Well, the favorite for creating web graphics is probably Adobe Photoshop, but that's too expensive for some. Personally, I use the GIMP (gimp.org) for all my image editing needs.
As for mouse drawing, there is no real need to do anything that requires any sort of real precision if you have a good image editor. Things like gradients, pattern fills, layers, and versatile selection tools allow for easy creation of professional quality images for the skilled user.
How do web illustrators create graphics/icons/logos?
I use Macromedia Fireworks:
http://www.macromedia.com/software/firew...
No need for paper - let's save the trees!
I am a graphic and web designer w/ BA and 10+ years of professional experience. Last 8 years have been more dedicated to web pages.
If you want to get into it, get Macromedia Studio - you will have all you will ever need for web design.
How do web illustrators create graphics/icons/logos?
Icons tend to be smaller, so a nice clean vector program like Illustrator (or Flash or CorelDraw) works well. Illustrator has the added bonus of having the "Save for Web" function which allows you many web optimization options.
Photoshop is also handy in that the shape tools have a lot of the common shapes you are likely to need when making icons (mouse pointers, envelopes, checkboxes, etc.).
As a general rule of thumb, images with solid colors and hard edges should be saved as GIFs. Images that have a lot of subtle color variation (like photos) should be saved as JPGs.
When creating icons, I always draw thumbnails with good old pen and paper. Try doing three to four variations and pick the one you like best.
For brainstorming ideas, try doing a Google image search and set the image size of your results to "small". You can see how hundreds of other designers have made images for common icons like "email", "contact", "more info" and "search", for example.
How do web illustrators create graphics/icons/logos?
Most use Adobe Illustrator and have it in vector format so you can rescale it after creating it; i.e., you don't draw a 50x50 pixel icon at that size - you create it at say, 500x500 (whatever will allow you to have the best detail) and then shrink it to the size you want. Photoshop and fireworks is okay, but Illustrator gives you the most "power".
You can always draw first and then scan it in to illustrator, after which you will need to trace the scan to vector rendering. There isn't an automatic program that will create any of these for you in a snap; you need talent and know how in using Illustrator if you want to generate really good work.
You may want to consider going on the web and just look for icon sets that are for sale (they're not cheap if you want good ones); for logos, you can get them done relatively cheap using a designer(s) that can punch these out quickly.
http://www.iconbuffet.com/
this is an excellent site for web related stuff:
http://coolhomepages.com/
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