Best graphics software for iMac Late 2012

[WRXiceman]

Hi All,

I own a late 2012 iMac 21.5 and I'm looking for some decent software that will allow me create various backgrounds and logos.
I'm new to this type of thing and was looking at trying it out, so preferably something with a shallow learning curve.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[maflynn]

Did you look into Pixelmator?

 

[WRXiceman]

Pixelmator looks good. Shame there isn't any sort of free trial though.

 

[chrono1081]

+1 for Pixelmator. It actually does a lot of things better and faster than Photoshop.

Pixelmators filters are in real time, and its pen tool in my opinion is superior to Photoshops.

 

[zepman]

Pixelmator looks good. Shame there isn't any sort of free trial though.

There is. http://www.pixelmator.com/try/

 

[CylonGlitch]

Another +1 for Pixelmator, and at the price, just buy it, it's worth it.

 

[CrickettGrrrl]

Hi All,

I own a late 2012 iMac 21.5 and I'm looking for some decent software that will allow me create various backgrounds and logos.
I'm new to this type of thing and was looking at trying it out, so preferably something with a shallow learning curve.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

There are some terrific Pixelmator web design & icon design tuts on pxm-tuts.com and idea-venue.com, --and also Abduzeedo. pxm-tuts has some free gradient packs, backgrounds, and in the interface design tut I think there may be a free downloadable button pack. Pixelmator -$15 in the MAS, free trial from their website.

http://www.pxm-tuts.com/
http://www.idea-venue.com/
http://abduzeedo.com/tags/pixelmator

Another option is iDraw for $25 in the MAS. It just updated and is more powerful than before. Their shapes library has buttons and things which you can customize quickly. Check out their website and FB page. They just started a tutorials site with logo design and interface design tuts. The iDraw user manual is one of the best I've seen in a long time.

http://www.indeeo.com/idraw/tutorials/
http://www.indeeo.com/idraw/mac.html

You can buy both programs for practically peanuts, and they complement each other. With iDraw you can make text follow a path --you can't (yet) with Pixelmator but you can save the iDraw text file as a tiff or png and then open it in Pixelmator.

 

[WRXiceman]

Thanks for all the replies. Greatly appreciated!

 

[Caponey]

Pixelmator is insane and an absolute steal at the price they are offering it at.

Also, check out Sketch. http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch/

When I was on windows I was jealous of this software, so I picked it up right away when I got a Mac. It is the closest thing to Adobe Fireworks yet, and only has a $50 price tag.

Sketch + Pixelmator is a lethal combination.