[SydsDiamond]

I've never actually used photoshop or anything digital for art yet. But, I'm getting a new computer and it's main purpose will probably end up being for drawings and art.
My question. What would anyone here say is a computer that would work well for art programs?
I don't wanna go out and buy a computer that won't last long or do well with this kind of stuff.
And seeing as how I am a dumbass when it comes to digital art, if you could give me any suggestions on photoshop, computers, or anything I'm going to need I'd be grateful.
thanks for any help at all

[DarkVVulf]

Large monitor- 19"
At least 1Gig mhz processor.
At least 512mb DDR ram (unless you paint pretty small)
At least ATA100 hard drive speed for scratch disking.
Use Win2k Pro or WinXP (I prefer Win2k myself).

Tis about the only recommendations I can really think of.

[strata]

Following Lokis optimum setup guide for the drives too... reeeaaally helps performance. it's on http://www.vigilante.net/~loki

[gawain]

apple macintosh G4: from 1600 $. Really worth it in my opinion
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/71/wo/YUV9V1V4SpfS8m3fJ5/0.3.0.3.30.31.0.1.3.1.3.1.1.0?122,52

+19" (possibly a good brand...)

G.web page

[Fabrys]

Regarding the programs and as you're lucky to begin in digital, I'd recommand to learn both Photoshop and Painter.
The reason's why is that the two progs have very different interfaces which are hard to learn when you're used to the other one... well, I expect that I'm clear
In any case, those are complement each other.
As DarkVVulf, I still prefer Win2k because I don't need neither all the "optionnal" stuff or to download any new patch every two days (I see it with my 2nd computer equiped with XP Pro, that's really amazing).

[eyewoo]

You can never be too skinny or have too much RAM...

If you're going to primarily be working on web graphics then 512 to 1 gig of RAM will probably do. If you are going to work on graphics for printing then get as much RAM as you possibly can in your machine. I have 2 Gig of RAM and still need more on frequent occasions.

Processor speed - at least 1 gig.

A digital tablet and if you can swing it, a dual monitor system. Only one of the monitors needs to be large - 19" or 21". The other can be a a cheap one. On the good one you draw. On the cheap one you place all your graphics program resources - brushes, color swatches, tools, etc...

Win2K or WinXP... if you go the PC route. Not aure about the Macs operating systems, but everything else holds true for Macs as well.

Good luck and have fun with it...

[ April 09, 2002: Message edited by: eyewoo ]

[MarcusX]

Painter.? is that the Old Fractal design Painter you folks are talking about? ? didn�t they quit making that one?

and On the Dual Monitor thingy, ,, You need 2 GFX-cards to do that, dont you? and then one have to get a sloppy PCI card for the second one?

[Fabrys]

quote:

---

Originally posted by MarcusX:
Painter.? is that the Old Fractal design Painter you folks are talking about? ? didn�t they quit making that one?

and On the Dual Monitor thingy, ,, You need 2 GFX-cards to do that, dont you? and then one have to get a sloppy PCI card for the second one?

---

Painter is now a Corel Product under Procreate label, the last 7th version dated from 2002 (the first one really full-compatible with Photoshop).
Painter7 Home
Regarding dual screen, Matrox has developped its Dual Head cards for a while. And they are aslo the firsts to allow dual-screen between CRT and DVI monitors. Matrox GFX Cards
Other companies are developping their own DH cards (Hercules, ATI).

[Brain]

My ASUS Geforce2MX 32MB card has both svga and digital ports, and supports two monitors. If you had two monitors that were svga, you could simply grab a converter. So I'd be surprised if there weren't higher end cards (Geforce 3 and such) that didn't have the same setup.