The key elements to web design are layout, content, navigation and graphics. There are literally thousands of websites that offer free use of clipart and graphics for budding web designers. This is fine, in the beginning. Once you get serious though, it´s time to learn to create your own images for your website. The first step in learning to create dynamic graphics on the computer is to invest in the best software available that fits your preferences and your budget. An overview of the top four basic graphic programs will give you the information you need to make the wisest purchase for you, and get you started in the exciting world of digital graphic design.

Paint Shop Pro v6.02 offers amazing versatility and painting, photography, and illustration effects for graphic design for about $100 USD. Paint Shop Pro or PSP for short has a solid reputation with graphic artists who create art for printed work as well as website graphics. There is a learning curve when first getting used to this program, but fortunately, the software comes with a clear manual and generous online tutorials. Once you get your feet wet with this program you can enjoy creating work using a number of unique features, specific to this program. One of these features, dubbed "Tubes" allows you to both create and use small pictures of any visual object imaginable to effortlessly add detail and items to your design. For instance, a tree tube can create a forest on your design in literally seconds. Read more at the JASC website.


Photo Impact v. 6 from Ulead is available for about $80 USD, and is truly the find of the year as far as web graphic design goes. PhotoImpact is simply amazing and provides power to your design ideas like you would not believe. Again, it takes a bit of time to master the generous features and unique capabilities of this software. Once you do though, it will be hard to tear you away from your computer. Warning: this program is addictive! It can create wonderful professional text for your design projects in seconds. Special tools create 3D lines, shapes and other designs to make your work stand out like no other.

Painter v. 6 by Metacreations offers the best software for simulating actual oil, watercolor, acrylic and other manual art forms while using a computer. The cost is about $400 USD. This program is the answer for the traditionalists among us who want to create "old school" art using space age technology. It really is an amazing tool for creating true to life looking oil paintings sans the mess. The blending and merging capabilities are astounding: the effects you can get in minutes would take hours using a paint brush and palette.

Bryce v. 4, also by Metacreations is the leader in 3D image software and costs about $200 USD. This is the software most often used for creating those futuristic sci-fi type pictures you have probably seen on the Internet. The effects this program can help you to achieve with a little practice are really quite impressive. This is one of the most popular programs to create graphic art to use with Flash and Shockwave, special animation programs for creating snazzy and unique website front pages.


Once you have chosen a software program, read the manual and make sure you walk through the enclosed tutorials. Check out the help files as well. The key to mastering these programs is practice, practice, practice. All four are quite user-friendly with intuitive controls and buttons.

Graphic Tutorials

When you feel like you have the basics down, you are ready for tips on achieving certain looks and effects. The following links will bring you to several sites created by graphic designers that offer free online tutorials and guides to help you master these programs.

One great site, the Widow´s Lair by Mary Broussard, offers a dozen or so user-friendly lessons in how to create exquisite graphics using various software programs. Go to the Widow´s Lair and learn how to create floral graphics, gold text, seamless textures and more.

Art by Cheryl offers clear and easy to follow graphic tutorials as well. Go Here to learn about the best graphics programs, how to make Paint Shop Pro tubes, and more.



Paint Shop Pro tutorials by Gloria are well illustrated, clear and helpful when learning this versatile and reasonably priced graphics program.



Sonia Coleman offers informative and useful tutorials for a few of the top graphics software program at her site, Digital Studios .