Graphic Designers: What's your set up?

[digitalnicotine]

I probably have the most basics of setups...
Macbook Pro 1.3 loaded with CS3 design premium, a beautiful Cintiq tablet used for everything and the all essential coffee maker, plus a fibre line for sending out work - beats mailing DVD's.

How do you like the Cintiq? I just got one about a month ago, and am loving it! But now that they have the smaller version, I almost wish I had gotten that instead since I rarely do print work.

 

[dopey220]

The computer in my sig (sitting on a Griffin Elevator stand), wireless Apple keyboard (previous model, with number pad), wireless Kensington mouse, Adobe CS3, Newcastle Brown Ale.

Also thinking about getting a Bamboo Fun tablet.

 

[tsd]

Newcastle Brown Ale.

Nice! I guess I'll have to add strong Earl Grey looseleaf tea, English Breakfast looseleaf with milk and honey, strong black home-roasted coffee and any good Pinot Noir to my list!

 

[jerryrock]

Home Office:

• MacPro 2.66 with 2 TB of storage, 12 gigs RAM, ATIX1900XT video card
• Apple Cinema Display 20"
• Wacom Cintiq 20WSX
• Epson V750 Scanner
• Canon iPF5000 wide format inkjet printer
• Xerox Phaser 8550DP solid ink printer
• RotaTrim 24"

• Canon EOS 1Ds
• Canon Powershot G9
• 17-40 F4L
• 24-70 2.8 L
• 70-200 2.8L IS
• 100mm 2.8 Macro
• 550 EX Flash, 580 EXII Flash, MT 24 EX Macro Twin Light

• Adobe Creative Suite Design Premium
• Quark XPress
• Apple Aperture
• Canon DPP

 

[EvanAgee]

Here's my current setup:

http://flickr.com/photos/evanagee/2266388880/

Here's a quick pic for those less willing to click through.

 

[cgratti]

You're doing graphic design and opted to post using Comic Sans MS? 😱 😕

Oh, the irony!

 

[scotpole]

Recent Upgrade

I recently upgraded my system.

System Configuration:

Leopard
2.8gHz Dual Quad processors
2 Gb ram
1 terabyte HD divided into two bootable partitions.
Dual Superdrives (now probably obsolete since Blue ray is the new standard).
20" Apple Cinema Displays x 2
Wacom Intus 3 graphire 6x8 tablet
Ext 250 Gb Lacie Hd - Fwire 800
Ext 500 Gb Lacie Hd - Fwire 400

Portable: 17"MBP 2.4gHz, 2Gb Ram

Epson 4180 Scanner

Printers
HP 2840 Mf - Airport/Enet connection
Epson 3800 - USB
Epson Picturemate - the lunch box.

Must have programs:
Toast 8
CS3 Design Premium
iPhoto - My light box and photo database.
iWork

Cameras - Canon. Their newest software is usually backward compatible with previous cameras.
Most used: S3 IS - 10X optical, 4 x Digital, Image stabalization, 6 MgPx. Uses off the shelve AA batteries.

Network Airport extreme and ethernet.

I recently had a horrible time trying to send a file to the HP printer using InDesign. I was able to quickly get the job done in Pages. For quick page layout this seems like a highly functional program and the price is right.
😀

 

[Daringescape]

1.5 person "studio" (part time person works for me)

2.0 Ghz MBP 15"

Dual 2 ghz G5 dual 5.5GB RAM, 2 19" monitors, mighty mouse (I like it), Griffin Powermate

Canon Rebel XTi

Epson perfection 3200? scanner (hardly use it anymore)

Dual 500Mhz G4 Tower

All the usual software - CS3 suite, quark 7, Coda, Aperture, etc.

I have been doing design for about 8 years.

 

[Saladfingersz]

I tried searching this forum for a thread like this, but no luck. I apologize ahead of time if this HAS been posted before. 😉

I'm new to the whole graphic design thing and I'm really loving it so far. I'm currently taking a course on "Beginning Graphic Design" and am just interested to see what kind of set up you all have (Keyboard, Mice, Tablet, etc.) Also curious to see what your opinions are of certain devices that are better for graphic design.

Currently, I only have a Wacom 6x8 and the CS3 suite. I'm currently using the mouse that came with the wacom but want to get a Logitech MX revolution. Could you guys also recommend a keyboard that might be better than the average for design?

All opinions are appreciated!

You don't plan on using your Macbook Air do you?

 

[i3iz]

Desktop
Mac Pro 2.66 5GB Ram 4x250GB RAID 1+0
Apple Keyboard
Logitech MX330 (Love this old Shuttle Design - extra buttons set to exposé)
20" ACD & Homemade Hood
Pantone Colorvision Spyder
HP Designjet z3100 24"
HP Designjet 120NR
Canon CLC 4000 + z7000 Colorpass RIP
Epson Perfection 3200 Photo flatbed Scanner
Nikon D70 + Lenses & Alien Bees Strobes
2x Canon XL-1 + lenses
Cuisinart Automatic Grind & Brew (one of my most important pieces of equipment)
FCS 1 & CS3

Portable
MBP 2.4ghz
2GB
160GB + 250GB NAS

I listed more than i should have, but i think it just goes to show that it doesn't really matter about KB and Mouse as long as you are comfortable. I had a work-mate before he moved on and he was very particular about his KB & Mouse.

 

[i3iz]

Oh, the irony!

He actually was posting in Cochin, but the MacRumors server is hosted on M$ and it defaulted to comicsans. ok, that was made up...did i get a laugh?

 

[Hecklerdanny]

Here's my setup:

A Cintiq 21UX
Mac Pro with 23" Cinema Display
Pretty strong Gateway PC for the "boring work stuff."

 

[kielty93]

graphic design newb

i am also new and was wondering how to learn photoshop

 

[MacsAttack]

i am also new and was wondering how to learn photoshop

You can pick up a lot of info from various PodCasts, including...

Adobe Creative Suite Video Podcast (covers all Adobe products)
Photoshop Killer Tips
Understanding Adobe Photoshop
Creative Photoshop wit John Reuter

They don't cover everything, but a picture (or video in this case) is worth 1,000 words and it will get you started.

If you are also going to use InDesign then check out The InDesigner.

I haven't found a good Illustrator PodCast yet - thought the Adobe podcasts cover it from time to time. As this is the Adobe product I have years of experience with its not such a problem though. The PodCasts got me up to speed with PhotoShop and InDesign when it came time to use them in anger.

The PodCasts also point you towards some books that cover specific topics in more depth.

 

[2Sticky]

My set up isn't really the best for a graphic designer, or my eyes!

1.2 iBook G4, 768MB, with a painful 12" screen.

Desperately needing an iMac.

 

[DesignerOnMac]

I have an aluminum 24" imac extreme, with standard corded mouse and aluminum keyboard. All works great by the way. I purchased a stand for the iMac to raise it a little and it is high enough to store the keyboard underneath and adds and additional 3 USB connections. Very fast and very quiet this iMac also. Screen is awesome too.

Adobe ID CS3
Adobe Photoshop CS3
Dreamweaver CS3
Adobe IL CS3
Macromedia FreeHand MX
and more.....

 

[Krafty]

A lame CD MacBook cause im too poor to afford anything good.

 

[Abraxsis]

Im running a Macbook Pro, 22" Lacie monitor, CanoScan 8600, various external HDs, Griffin iMate, Logitech marblemouse trackball, CS3 full suite, Nikon D40, variousother photographic materials/equipment, and a new Wacom tablet is on the way.

 

[pcypert]

Sometimes I just use a piece of paper and some cutouts. Mostly use a macbook pro and the Adobe Suite (though I royally hate CS3 - apart from Indesign). No tablets or anything fancy for me, but I'm mostly photo based.

Paul

 

[Mudbug]

I've got a dual 1.8 G5 w/ CS2 suite + umpteen other programs pushing two 21" LCDs. I have roughly 1.5TB of drive space across multiple external drives +2 internal. As a file server, I have an old dual 450 G4 sawtooth doing the dirty work of automated tasks for things like keeping various web pages updated for client work and file backups, and a black MacBook for getting stuff done while sitting on the couch. Add to that an iPod touch to let me access mail + web things while out of the office at client places and random coffee houses, and I'm pretty complete.

For output (which you'll need some form of, by the way) I have a now-aging HP 2550ln networked color laser for regular sized proofs, and a crappy little HP 1220Cxi multifunction printer/copier/scanner that does all my scanning, which isn't much anymore, hence the crappy scanner. Anything that requires better equipment that I have to work with at my fingertips I use a friendly local print shop to do for me - larger proofs, nicer scans, short print runs, etc.

The G5 tower will be replaced this summer with whatever the middle-ground Mac Pro of choice is, unless I can finally convince myself to go to a true mobile format and move all my day-to-day work stuff over to a MacBook Pro. Haven't made my mind up with that - the stopping point had been not being able to use both big monitors, but I see there are various external display cards on the market now for doing that very thing. I doubt I'll sell the G5 though, instead I'll probably convert it into something my kids would like to use and put it upstairs for them with the parental controls set pretty heavy on it so they're relatively limited in their use of it.

I'd post a pic, but I'm lazy and tired - imagine a tower with 2 decently large monitors on a standard wooden desk w/ wireless stuff talking to it. Visualize whirrled peas.

 

[GoCubsGo]

You're doing graphic design and opted to post using Comic Sans MS? 😱 😕

There should be a test before you can even take a beginner level graphic design course. One question....comic sans yes or no.
It's that simple!

 

[digitalnicotine]

Granted, you can't teach talent or design intuition, but eliminating someone from a career field, merely because they favor a particular font is harsh. So are elitist attitudes used to tear down people who may not share in your knowledge or talents. It's actually possible for a budding graphic designer to choose the comic sans font on a message board, and at the same time, recognize it's not a wise choice for client work.

You're doing graphic design and opted to post using Comic Sans MS? 😱 😕

This is pointing out that it's not a good idea.

LOL!! He did say "I'm currently taking a course on "Beginning Graphic Design" so he obviously hasn't been instructed that comic sans is a no no 😀

This is informative and compassionate.

http://www.design-police.org/

This is informative and educational.

There should be a test before you can even take a beginner level graphic design course. One question....comic sans yes or no.
It's that simple!

This is elitist.

I won't be so bold as to assume that this comment was intended to make someone feel foolish, but after several already pointed out the issue, it just seems unnecessary.

Back to topic: Do any of you use the new Cintiq 12wx? Thoughts?

 

[Artful Dodger]

i am also new and was wondering how to learn photoshop

Check out CGSociety or www.cgtalk.com look under the 2D section and then ask yourself what area of PS do you want to learn. I say this because while I have no real care to manipulate photos I wouldn't mind using PS or even Painter to make my art. For me this guys work (http://einarlunden.com/) inspired me and is close to what I'd like to do in the digital realm.
Just get comfortable with any program and then have a ton of fun, just remember to undo is usually Z and no wasted paper 😉

Also remember that sometimes your work will never be done (we all are perfectionists at times) just shown/displayed/published or given to the client because they feel it's done even if you don't.

My setup, one that gets things done: iMac, 9x12 Wacom tablet, scanner, printer, my imagination…lots of music and very little sleep (optional item is my dog, she keeps me company and reminds me to take breaks).

digitalnicotine,
I've thought about getting the 12" Cintiq but since my 9x12 is paid for I'm not sure anymore even though I really want it even if it is a pretty small work area. I've read up on all the issues from cgtalk to MR to others and I really don't care if it isn't as portable as it "could be." To have a unit like that would improve my work flow or more like my drawing. I like to see what I'm drawing even though I'm not really bothered by my 9x12 I'd be faster using any Cintiq no matter what size. I almost bought one last night from Amazon but I need to sell my 9x12 to cushion the expense. If I do get one I'll post my review with my likes/dislikes and maybe a QT video as well.

 

[UberGeek9]

Home (this is mostly for gaming, so don't diss it for running Windows ;D):
- Windows XP Home (soon to be replaced by XP Pro 64 bit)
- Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 overclocked to 3GHz
- 2 gigs of A-DATA Extreme edition DDR2-800
- BFG Tech Nvidia GeForce 8800GTS 512MB (G92 core)
- Western Digital Raptor X 10,000 RPM 150 gig hard drive
- Asus P53 X38 mobo
- Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Xtremegamer
- 20 inch LG LCD (can't remember exactly what model)
- Corsair 750 Watt PSU
all inside of a Cooler Master Armor full tower case

Notebook:
MacBook, just got it last week and LOVE IT!
- 2GHz C2D
- 1 gig of RAM (getting two.. or maybe four gigs soon)
- 80 gig hard drive (plan on upgrading in the future)
- Leopard (yay)

 

[digitalnicotine]

digitalnicotine,
I've thought about getting the 12" Cintiq but since my 9x12 is paid for I'm not sure anymore even though I really want it even if it is a pretty small work area. I've read up on all the issues from cgtalk to MR to others and I really don't care if it isn't as portable as it "could be." To have a unit like that would improve my work flow or more like my drawing. I like to see what I'm drawing even though I'm not really bothered by my 9x12 I'd be faster using any Cintiq no matter what size. I almost bought one last night from Amazon but I need to sell my 9x12 to cushion the expense. If I do get one I'll post my review with my likes/dislikes and maybe a QT video as well.

Awesome, thanks! 🙂