Return of the Open Thread! & Software Question

[onyxhawke]

Hello,
First the software question:
I need some graphics creation software. I know nothing about this. It needs to be suitable for cover art creation, web comics and other similar things. I also need to know what platforms its available for.


As for the Open Thread...

Got a question? Know interesting LiveJournals or LJ feeds I should be reading? Got a con you want to invite me to?

Talk dammit!!

Comments

[burger-eater.livejournal.com]

You recommended Dave Freer's A Mankind Witch a little while ago and I was surprised by how good it was (considering the cover).

Thanks!

[onyxhawke.livejournal.com]

Cover art is often directly disproportional to the quality of the story...

[burger-eater.livejournal.com]

Heh.

Here are some feeds you might enjoy reading: bookslut, wrong_questions and grumpybookman.

[aeamek.livejournal.com]

You might look into Paint.NET (if you're looking for free programs): http://www.getpaint.net. It's for Windows, so no Mac for you, if that's what you have.

You should be reading my LJ!

[woodrunner.livejournal.com]

Your icon is disturbingly mesmerizing.

[jleemoffatt.livejournal.com]

I use Adobe Photoshop for my graphics. The newer versions of the software are a lot easier than when I started out. I also learned a great deal on icon creation communities here on LJ to stretch my PS boundaries.

I think you're already a member of urbanfantasyfan, but if you meant graphic comms try icon_tutorials.

Come to Conjecture in San Diego next year. It's small, but excellent. Rachel Caine was the guest of honor last year, and this year the guest of honor is Larry Niven.

[jleemoffatt.livejournal.com]

and neither of my LJ tags worked there :(. urbanfantasyfan and icon_tutorials.

[cordova829.livejournal.com]

Yeah Mike, you should go. I'm pretty sure I'm a guest to that one. :-)

Besides, it'll be like the week or two before Crisis comes out. I could use a boost of confidence, aka "Have another shot, Jason... the sales will do fine...."

[buddykat.livejournal.com]

Yes, you will be a panelist... I'll figure something out for the hotel.

[onyxhawke.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure the bar would have enough alcohol for both of us...

[onyxhawke.livejournal.com]

Actually i will be at conjecture 08.

[hai-kah-uhk.livejournal.com]

Wellll.... I friended you awhile back. We met at Pi-Con. I'm married to shaharazad. I suppose I could recommend myself.

I'll also recommend Dark Red (http://www.darkredcomics.com/). It's a pretty new webcomic but I'm enjoying it immensely so far.

[onyxhawke.livejournal.com]

Heyla!

[amandatkd.livejournal.com]

I'll second the recommendation for Photoshop. I've been using it for years and have never been disappointed.

As for cons, there's always Fencon down here in Dallas. The inestimable Toni will be there, among others [G]

[onyxhawke.livejournal.com]

This year, the only other con i'm going to is WFC.

[amandatkd.livejournal.com]

There's always next year [G].

[shaharazad.livejournal.com]

We use Photoshop at home, and I'll also second the recommendation of paint.net as a workable free alternative that maintains the look and feel of Photoshop. I recently downloaded it to use on my Mom's computer when I'm visiting her and it was easy to learn and had all the functions I needed.

[onyxhawke.livejournal.com]

Next year I'll be _busy_ I have to Confirmed cons as a program participant: Ravencon & Conjecture,I'll be at WorldCon even if all i do is float between parties faking witty and informed. I'm likely to be asked back to Arisia, Pi-Con and Boskone, and then because that's obviously not enough I'll either be at WFC in Canada or Philcon...

[amandatkd.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a fun -- but busy -- schedule. At least we'll run into each other at WorldCon, if not at some of the others. That's the only one I know for sure I'll be going to. Of course, I'm open to suggests as well [G]

[onyxhawke.livejournal.com]

Ravencon for fun, quasi-close to you.

Libertycon to meet lots of Barfly's.

Arisia for the oddities of party.

Boskone for Literature

Pi-Con for the ability to meet almost everyone, and the fun.

Conjecture cause buddykat will beat me if i forget to include it, and probably a half hundred others I've never been to but other like.

[mckenzee.livejournal.com]

I tend to do the smaller cons; Trinoc*coN, MomoCon, What the Hell Con, etc.

I could probably get you on the guest list for any of them, but they have almost no budget for travel.

Also, I think I'm getting in for Raven Con. If not, I'll buy a ticket.

[onyxhawke.livejournal.com]

Given the interestingness of my outside of the agency schedule next year, i probably shouldn't even do the four... seven will be intriguing...