OpenGeofiction
Autoshapes can go a long way for basic pictures
Posted by Ernestpkirby on 6 September 2015 in English.As some of you know or have likely noticed, while some of my images I use on the wiki are public domain or hand-drawn, most of my images are produced using autoshape functions on either PowerPoint or preferably Keynote (both are slide show applications, one for Windows, the other for Apple). That’s largely because I often find it hard to find images that reflect what I am imagining, and, well, because sometimes I don’t feel like handdrawing something really intricate :P
But it wasn’t till today that I stopped to reflect on some of the things I’ve managed to make with autoshapes and realized…Wow. You really can do a lot with a powerpoint app and some time.
A couple of the examples that came to mind…
All of these were completely produced using Autoshapes on Keynote.
Discussion
Comment from isleño on 7 September 2015 at 02:35
You should definitely be proud of what you’ve done!
My only recommendation is that anyone with a talent for design — such as yourself! — should really be using a proper drawing program.
It takes time to learn, but in the end it actually saves you time because (as you build your skills) you discover that using the right software is easier and faster than what you’ve been doing. And best of all, you can bring your ideas to life at a whole new level:
For example 1, 2, 3.
So far, it’s like you’ve been making delicious meals using only a microwave. Sure, it’s fun to cook good food with nothing but a microwave. But… just think of the amazing dishes you could create, if you learned to use a full kitchen! :-)
And unlike a kitchen, powerful programs such as Inkscape and GIMP are 100% free. All you need is a computer where you can install and use them. I know some people here have computer access issues, so it may not be easy… but anyone with interest and talent should definitely try to find a way to make it happen. I guarantee you’ll be glad you did.
Cheers, :-)
isleño
Comment from Luciano on 7 September 2015 at 03:57
@isleño I am guilty of this same issue, to some extent. I become “comfortable” with a given program, but it’s just a microwave. And of course, those times where I’ve taken the time to master a more complex tool, as when I finally broke down and accepted that I needed to learn JOSM, I’ve had spectacular results. I have both GIMP and Inkscape on my computer, and I’ve made some progress with Inkscape, but it’s still a struggle (I still don’t really “get” layers, at all), further limited by my preference for just drawing maps, which made JOSM much more of a priority. I do hope I can get there, someday.
Comment from isleño on 7 September 2015 at 07:05
@Luciano — Have fun with it! And to be clear, I wouldn’t suggest that everybody learn Inkscape or GIMP. Everyone has different ways of expressing their creations, and lots of people aren’t that interested in making images, which is fine. But for anyone who’s definitely wanting to create lots of visuals over the long term, learning the right software will make your life a lot easier and will help you express your visions a lot more powerfully. :-)
Comment from Ernestpkirby on 7 September 2015 at 18:49
Thanks, Guys. I’ll be sure to take the advice. :)