morning!

running an old copy of PS7 and I'm realizing I don't use very many of the new fangled features at all.

... installed my tablet again tho - fun (if initially awkward) to be using it again.

I've alway thought a tablet would be interesting to use. Is it a Wacom or a different brand?

Wacom - just the small one

great for painting stuff, lousy for precision work - so I switch a lot

What do you switch to?

oh, switch between tablet and mouse. Depends what I'm doing - if I'm hand drawing stuff vs being all exact on a path

ah, I see. I was a technical illustrator in a former life, but never could afford the equipment to go digital.

Worked with digital CAD tablets, but that's a horse of a different hue.

I'm semi-pro photog IRL, but do pen and ink and oils IRL as a hobby. Drawing mojo just doesn't play without a tablet - got it for zmas

a couple years ago - but the software for drawing is... hang on - friend of mine uses it in a hybrid style...

www.claudiasalguero.com/... ... good example of Claudias work

she uses Corel Painter

mixes photography with overlaid painted elements

that is an interesting style. I especially like this one www.claudiasalguero.com/...

yah - she's got this fabulous HP printer that costs a fortune - prints those things HUGE on *canvas*

but the hybrid style is intriguing. I might take a hand at it, but would need to get Painter - I tend to work far too tightly in photoshop

probably a DesignJet, works like a plotter. Just never heard of using canvas - usually is vellum or smooth papers. Cool.

www.claudiasalguero.com/... is interesting cause you see the shot before and after

nice technique, I like the results www.claudiasalguero.com/...

Yes, I think it's a DesignJet.

I think the program was be the key to helping you loosen up, and the style looks like fun.

Too bad the program is so pricey ($399 US retail).

yah, I know - I wouldn't buy it to dabble a little bit - would have to decide I was going after it as a style.

Too bad you're not a student - academic price of Painter 11 is under $100.

I wonder if there's open-source software that you could get cheaper to try out the effect?

The dev team is 30 mins away and I know the product manager... could prolly get them to do me an employee copy...

Oh now that would be sweeet!

BTW, this software looks interesting - Xara Xtreme 5 ($89) www.xara.com/us/products...

I'm not sure it has the same effects as Painter, but it look like fun. The Xara Gallery - site.xara.com/gallery/

Okay, upon closer inspection, its a vector drawing program. But a nice one for the price.