What Signboard/Advertisement Graphic Software Do You Use?

I'm getting ready to start selling some structures I've built and packaged with Rez Faux and I'm looking for a decent application to create signboards and sales boxes.

I am not great with Photoshop so I'm looking for something WYSIWYG like The Logo Creator application that you just drag-n-drop mostly, enter in some text and wind up with a quality well-rendered image that looks professional within minutes.

Freeware is preferred, shareware is second. The Logo Creator is neither of those unfortunately - you gotta buy the full application, no exceptions. It's $30 and not at all outside my budget but wanted to ask here among the SL veterans who have spent a lot of time creating their own signboards for suggestions.

So what do you suggest?

Many thanks!

- Lenny

for windows, serif draw plus 4

its old .. but free, and while not really a "choose 3 menus and enter some text" application it is really easy and powerful to use

http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/DrawPlus/default.asp

also
http://www.freewarefiles.com/program_3_39_13648.html

Hmmm.

I downloaded version 4, the older free version but upon installation it said I had to register for a serial before I can use it. No biggie, but after 30 minutes they still haven't sent the serial via email. I've got plenty of time, unless I choose to find a serial elsewhere since it's a free application to begin with.

$30? outside my budget?

I am amazed at how "cheap" some of the people who play SL are these days.

Um, you misread... And how rude of you to assume...

I said it was $30 and NOT AT ALL outside my budget... I also alluded to the fact it is one of a number of tools out there and before paying for THAT one program I thought it would be nice to get the opinions of others here who actually USE these tools to see which one I am best buying.

It amazes ME that some people will rant, even quoting someone else, and yet still completely misunderstand the intent of the original post.

BTW, I am a premium account holder with a current monthly tier of over $100 so as I previously stated, I have no issue with paying $30 for an application. I just want to buy the RIGHT application to do the job.

Humpf... Ok, at least I feel better now.

- Lenny

I just use an ancient copy of Photoshop 7. On the cheap you can do a fair amount with the graphic tools in MS Office, if you have that. Or Open Office, which is free and multi-platform.

If you're serious about designing these things, I'd advice hunkering down and 'buying' a copy of Photoshop.

Learn it, live it, love it...nothing compares.

Good luck.

Lower cost alternative is Paint Shop Pro, which has many of the features of Photoshop and can use Photoshop plugins. Around $100. Formerly by Jasc, now by Corel.

Check out Paint.net. Free and easy to use. Not near as powerful as Photoshop, GIMP or Paint Shop but it sounds to me that you don't really need all that power anyway.

http://www.getpaint.net/index.html

I too use Photoshop 7. I tried CS when it came out, and it's just too bloated. 7 does all I need.

Thank you all very much.

Yes, Photoshop is an amazing tool. I've watched a co-worker come up with some outstanding graphics using it before. I also have noticed that a lot of people who wish to design their own textures use Photoshop to do it.

I think the suggestions might be right - Photoshop would probably be my best bet. I have a copy of Photoshop and though the task of learning it might be a bit daunting, I do see a countless number of websites out there with tutorials, many of which are very detailed and step-by-step so if I can design and build highly detailed 3D structures in SL I guess learning a new tool like Photoshop isn't such a bad idea.

Thanks again for the suggestions. I'm investigating the other tools mentioned here as well, that way I can familiarize myself with the pros and cons of each one.

- Lenny

yea you have to register, then they send you a key tru e-mail

sometimes it seems to fail

but theres a web applet that will give it to you instantly

http://www.serif.com/support/registration.asp

sorry, i forgot about it being quirky