I'm looking at starting a screen printing business and had some beginner questions about art work.

I've read a lot about Corel vs. Photo Shop and would probably lean toward Corel because of pricing. I looked at Adobe's site but honestly didn't understand their pricing for photo shop. The cheapest I found was $1200 I think, where as Corel was like $500. (Something I would be willing to pay if it was necessary.)

Below are some specific questions:

1. What's a good drawing program to begin with? I don't mind investing money if it means doing it right for the long term.



2. What does vector mean? I'm not familiar with the terminology.



3. Where does most art work originate from? Clip art, free hand creations?



4. What are some good sites to research for buying or free art?



Thanks in advance for all the help!

1. What's a good drawing program to begin with? I don't mind investing money if it means doing it right for the long term.

If you're printing basic vector prints, Corel is the best program.

2. What does vector mean? I'm not familiar with the terminology.

Corel is a vector based program. A vector is nothing but a series of "points" like say a "connect the dot" puzzle. Corel connects all the points to form a piece of art. Color can be added if all the points are "closed" to form a complete shape.

3. Where does most art work originate from? Clip art, free hand creations?


There are 3rd party art sets available with royalty free artwork, mainly clipart style pieces. Search ebay for vector art collections.

4. What are some good sites to research for buying or free art?


Google is very easy. Search using images, choose clipart and black and white from the left hand side choices. You can import jpg's and bmp's easily into Corel then "convert to a vector" The larger the file, with clear sharp edges, the better it will convert into a vector. Once it's a vector you can adjust each node to make the art as you wish.

 

Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop are the industry standards in Graphic Design, but Corel draw can do everything you would need from design software. It even has a few features I wish Illustrator had.

With the Corel suite you get Corel Draw, for vector designs like Illustrator, and you get Corel Photo Paint for photo editing like photoshop. And if it still comes with Bitstream Font Navigator that a very useful program for managing fonts.

I mostly use Adobe products because that's what I'm used to from design school, and I use it every day at my day job, so I haven't used Corel much since version 10.

maybe this will help explain the difference between rastor and vector design.designwashere.com/design-battle-vector-vs-raster/

 

What if you create the design yourself but it is based on something like ... a soda bottle? Would you have to get permission and pay a royalty to, say, Coca Cola if I were to draw a classic coca cola bottle with or without the logo? Or a drawing of a Harley Davidson without the logo, for example. Also, once you get the design, how do you get the artwork from the computer screen onto the t shirt?

 

I don't think Coke will bother you unless you were trying to sell soda using their shaped bottle. A profile of a motorcycle would be impossible to claim it as a Harley, heck the Japanese mfgs would have already been suied if that were the case. Once you get your design created in the computer, you have to print positives so you can expose your screens to create a negative image. To print these you will need some clear plastic sheeting that you can print on. Most printers will require a RIP programs to force the printer to print darker than normal so you can expose the positive and block all the UV light. Have you had any training on screen printing ? I'd advise many hours of youtube videos and some chosen books.

 

I don't think Coke will bother you unless you were trying to sell soda using their shaped bottle. A profile of a motorcycle would be impossible to claim it as a Harley, heck the Japanese mfgs would have already been suied if that were the case. Once you get your design created in the computer, you have to print positives so you can expose your screens to create a negative image. To print these you will need some clear plastic sheeting that you can print on. Most printers will require a RIP programs to force the printer to print darker than normal so you can expose the positive and block all the UV light. Have you had any training on screen printing ? I'd advise many hours of youtube videos and some chosen books.

No training whatsoever nor familiar with machinery. I am just looking for the most cost effective route for a startup. I was going the DIY route

 

Thanks to all for the replies. Vector makes more sense and I'm looking into the link about Vector vs. Raster. As for copyrights, it's a great question, but all of the ideas I have currently don't have any issues like that as they aren't logos type images etc. I am always aware of copyrights though, not an issue I ever want to be involved in!

I do have a few follow up questions:

Regarding Corel - How easy is it to get up to speed with the program for a beginner? I'm computer literate but have no background or real life experience. I'd definitely look to take a proper learning course instead of the "self taught" route. Any advice or comments on a what a noob can expect?

Thanks!

 

Try inkscape for art. Its a free program, its a little hard to use at first but when you know what you're doing, you can do some great things on there. Go to this site and you can learn how do do some artwork screencasters.heathenx.org

As far as your vector question, it is scalable art, meaning you can make it bigger or smaller and still keep your design with sharp edges.

 

Try inkscape for art. Its a free program

thanks matt. that's the way to support the american economy!

 

Hey Tim, why don't you go hug a tree, hippie.
Radishman is starting a new business and obviously doesn't know about art software, so why waste $500 on something he doesn't know if he'll like it or even be good at. Open source software is a great way to learn and later if he's successful, he can upgrade to higher quality software. If radishman can save money on art programs, he can use that money to buy better equipment, which will still support the American economy idiot.
Today is Thanksgiving so don't be a hater. I'm just trying to help the guy out, that's the purpose of forums. I'm sure he'll appreciate my post.

 

$500. Check eBay I bought a legit copy for $50 corel draw x5. Inkscape is also a good program. I use and need both. I mostly Use Corel.

There is nothing wrong with suggesting a free open source program. If Nathan can start printing and making money buying equipment,ink and other supplies the he will be helping with the economy.

Nathan most the people here are helpfulf and respectful. +1 to Matt for a useful post.

 

Thanks for the support guys! I'm looking seriously at Corel, it's $349 on their site, which really doesn't hurt me financially. However, if I don't need to spend that money and can use Inkscape or Gimp (think this was the name I'd seen for that other program) then I won't.

I'm just a bit leery about going with open source then later upgrading and finding I have to relearn everything because the software commands etc are so different.

I don't want to spend a lot of time learning one program then going back to square one when I upgrade. Is that a legit fear?

Also, as for Ebay how do you determine if it's a legit copy? Auction sites make me a bit nervous for things like software.

And . . . is it pretty easy to self-teach Inkscape or the other open source softwares?

Thanks again for the help & support. And Tim, if you want to help the US economy vote conservative. (Notice I didn't say Republican or Democrat.) That's my humble opinion.

 

@ Matt - Thanks so much for the Inkscape link, checking it out now, looks like a good resource!

 

I bought CORAL X5 WHICH IS VRSION 15 A YEAR AGO FOR 60 BUCKS on e bay i sugest you buy the book off amazon for 30 bucks or so shipped the official manual and then go to UTUBE and look at the videos

CHRIST ON A CRUTCH.... what a learing curve but once u learn it it works good. the book first 5 chpters explain things to you then the next 5 are totorials...

you be lost without the book... x5 official one

 

@ Michael - Thank for the tips! I'm all about get the manual, they're invaluable. 8 )

 

I know you guys are more advance than I am but, I have found a few sites that have really help me in what I was trying to do. I hope this will help Radiishman too. What caught my eye at the last NBM show was: Corel Draw x5 $499.00, Smart Designer x 4.5 $699.00 both from Digital Arts Solution. Their Digital Graphics Collection 1 & 2 $399.00 each was stunning. I then went to Action Illustrated booths and saw Action Templates Vol. 1-2-3 $599.00 with Instant Designer 2.0 for $449.00. Last but not least was the Element of Style Vol. 1-2-3 $599.00. I know it is a lot of money but you will get over 1000 Editable Templates. You will have some of If not the Best Artwork ever! You won't have any competition either! When I saw what they had I was blown away at all the possibilities. You will too!

 

Element of Style Vol. 1-2-3 $599.00

All three for $599 or for each one?

 

i bought the full colection and instand designer from action illustrated . it was a big chunk of change but for the artistically challenged like myself it was well worth it

 

You should pay a small fraction of those software prices. I can tell you how. Corel is the place to start. Your other questions require a discussion. If you want help, call 800-500-2279 10-6pm Eastern time. Roger Jennings

 

catch them at the trade shows ...... you will get a deal, i sure did

 

Unfortunately they don't come to Australia. Do they price match the online prices with trade show prices? Does anyone know?

 

One of the advantages , if I have this right, is that with Action Illustrated you get the upgrades and don't have to keep buying upgrades for their version of Smart Designer.

 

Hey Radishman,
Looks like you started all this about a 9 months ago. It would be interesting to hear how the whole start up went. Did you stick with it? I started around the same time. Would be cool to compare and contrast the learning curves!