![]() ![]() As many others have already mentioned, in 3D, the software package Blender is very powerful and a free open-source project, but it has one of the least intuitive user interfaces I've ever experienced, so unless you are a programmer or plan to do 3D as an open-source hobby, or really really really want to spend $0 forever, I'd steer clear of it. Photoshop is not intuitive either, but after a half day's worth of tutorials or a workshop, most researchers can perform most of the tasks they need quickly and efficiently compared to GIMP, so ask yourself if you have more time or money to decide which route is best. I've had people use free software in my classes and have explored it myself, but unless you used it on a very regular basis, it tends to be highly limiting- not in its capabilities, but in its usability and intuitiveness. Also, design students interested in building a portfolio are also potential allies. Some of his projects are netting him a thousand a month (100 for his designer) - that's good pay for a book cover to receive "forever." If co-authorship is important to someone creative (someone in a design college perhaps), they might be willing to help for free. Another of my colleagues, a very successful author, gives a graphic designer friend a cut of his electronic book sales. Get someone to help you if you have a reliable friend or have a budget for it. Being able to visualize something well and create a compelling graphic is not something most academics are trained to do. Indeed, many of the newspaper informational graphic designers are excellent, I included their work in a chapter on design and infographics in my Public Relations Writing book a few years ago. One of my colleagues designed informational graphics for newspapers before he became a professor a few years ago ( ). Pay attention to informational graphics in other publications (newspapers, books, etc.) and save copies of the work and the designer. ![]() Start a "swipe file" (a cardboard box or folder on your computer where you collect samples of excellent designs of all kinds that you can browse when you need ideas). ![]() Obviously there are many excellent design professionals as well, but I recommend finding a designer whose work you like and going to them directly. I have been involved in several projects where someone was hired for their design skills and never delivered, refused to make changes to their initial design, refused to provide final document files so that changes that they refused to make could be made, asked for more money after putting in what looks like a few hours work, download their designs from the internet, etc. I agree with Ariane, but there are a lot of bad (lazy, incompetent, etc.) designers out there. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |