Designing Frustrations...

[Moeluv4u7]

Just had to post how very frustrated I am becoming- I have downloaded a trial of PhotoImpact X3 and Chaoescent has been generous enough to give me some pointers where I couldn't even figure out how to start into it- However, & I am not sure if it is the "Trial version" or if I am just not getting it... But, almost everything I click on to do a design says it is not able to be performed- some things say I must download the files to link to my program- ???? Have no idea what that means - sometimes I get a message saying unable to perform due to grayscale/trubit color - sometimes it says not an object (which I have changed on some and some won't but then the step afterwards on the ones I can change still don't work- Grrrrrr! I am about to give up- This stuff is hard! I admire all of you designers for taking the time & energy necessary to do these designs but also stepping out and commiting to buy something that may or may not be able to be understood (this is how I feel) I can not see buying a program if I can't even do basic design stuff with the trial... Am I getting frustrated by the wrong thing here?
Well, this post was just a rant more than anything- I guess I will go back to requesting and bugging the actual designers... Would love to be able to do a few of my own but at this rate, and the amount of time I work outside the home- I guess it won't be happening...

 

[chaoscent]

Some of us DISigners like it when you ask us to personalize our work. Makes us feel that all the work we did was worthwhile. LOL
Sorry you are getting frustrated. Yesterday I made 50 DISigns for a friend and her family that are going next week. Some were to give them font options (which takes about 5 minutes to change a font, once you have what you want) and then to change the names for 6 people. Right in the middle of this my computer decides to start shutting things down on it's own. It didn't like one of the clip arts I was using and would not allow me to post it into the DISign. So I finally got the hint and changed the DISign around.
I was annoyed I went on line to see how much the program that Natalie uses cost (I love her bevels/DISigns) and was seriously thinking about buying it until I worked everything out.
Take care, Penny

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I feel your pain. I downloaded a trial version of Paint Shop Pro X2. It is like learning a foriegn language, layers, rastar, vectors, etc. I finally figured out how to just do some texting and make a png file so I can transfer it to my designs I already made in Print Shop. It is very frustrating. Makes me appreciate all the DISigners even more.

 

[Kellybell]

Hello my friend I am so bummed to see your post, I'm sorry it's not working out for ya! I second Penny's sentiment we do like to personalize stuff so it's no bother and it does make me fill like my time making the disign wasn't wasted. But I would like to see you have some fun with the disigning. So my advise is to not give up, cuz we you do figure it out it is sooooo worth it!

 

[tmdart]

Paint Shop Pro X2, PhotoImpact X3, it all sounds like Greek high tech lingo to me That must be why your stuff looks much better then my stuff. I'm using Quick book pro to make my desgins
Just kidding, I'm using a simple program... Microsoft Publisher. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles as the others, but it is a good starter program. I find new things all the time that I can do with it. Sometimes you can get into option overload if you're just starting out. At some point I may upgrade to some of these other softwares, but for now I'm making sure I enjoy doing it, without involving too much time or money. My advice is to give it up before you get addicted. Because once you get the hang of it, you can't step away from the computer for a minute. But I honestly can't think of a better group of people to get advice from or share talents with. Hang in there. Your time is coming.

 

[DisneyWhirled]

I too feel your pain. I downloaded the trial for PhotoImpact X3 and am playing around with it before I decide to buy. Chaoscent has provided a tutorial on the DISsigns page that was extremely helpful, but I feel like I need to take a class!!

Right now I am stuck with this problem. Any ideas? There has got to be an easier way?? I have a clip art image saved. It is the character on a white background. I am trying to get rid of the white background so that I can just put the character on my DISsign. And, I want it over the stuff I already have on the DISsign. I tried magic wand and lasso, but that doesn't seem to work. I also tried to erase the white, but I kept getting a "you must make a selection" error. I also need the clip art to be smaller.

We have a year before we cruise, and DH doesn't understand my frustrations, he keeps saying, you have a year!!! I really want to learn!!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Have you tried converting it to a PNG file?

 

[DisneyWhirled]

Have you tried converting it to a PNG file?

Sorry, were you asking me or the OP??

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Sorry, were you asking me or the OP??

Sorry, DisneyWhirled, I was asking you.

 

[DisneyWhirled]

Hmm, I haven't...I didn't know that was an option! I will try that tonight at home. Thanks so much!!!!

 

[Dom13]

That was one of the problems I had with Photo Impact. A simple thing in PSE, like turning a background transparent, I could not even figure out how to do! I'm no computer rookie either. I've written web pages and computer programs. I've also used several other graphics/photo programs couldn't even find what I considered basic things in there!

Wish I could help you but I no longer have PI at work. I gave them my copy of PSE 1.0.

 

[chaoscent]

As I said, most people do not like PI. I happen to do ok (not great) with it. My DISigns are no way as good as Dom's and that is because he is better at using his software than I am . Anyway, if you want to send it to me (I am back at work now so it will take me a few days) at chaoscent@verizon.net I will clean it up and send it back to you as a png or gif. that should help. Penny

 

[MomETC]

I used to use PI, I probably could not manage now. lol That is what I started with, then onto Paint Shop Pro. I've gone from like 8 to 9 now, I'm afraid to change and go up. lol I also have Photoshop CS3. I'm so lost on it!!! It seems so confusing to me....so when I try to do something in it, I end up back with PSP and finish in a few seconds. =) I'm sure it's more my habit of using the same program for so long rather than PS. It just seems like so many more steps than necessary.

 

[Moeluv4u7]

Oh Wow! You guys are all so great! & Believe me- I have truly enjoyed chattin' w/ you all as I have asked designing questions as well as requesting designs! I will never stop requesting- LOL But I would so love to know how to do a few myself- & I am like Dom- I am no computer rookie - I wortk on a computer all day- now of course it is to negotiate loans w/ the banks but I used to maintain my own webpage, have done plenty of ad design for others and even can manage (or used to be able to anyway) to fix some errors that many people find foreign-
Chaos has been great with the tuts and taking time to e-mail me and share her helps, tips, tricks, & even a few editable designs-
Kelly, with her ever so generous and elated passion for designing rubbed off on me- Every single design she makes seems to shine w/ how happy it makes her to make others happy- Thx Kelly for every design you have shared w/ me & my family!
Many others of you have also rubbed off on me- I lurk a lot- well, especially lately since I have been trying to do my own- I have browsed through every thread, photobucket & 4 shared site album I could find just to look at the different clipart images used, where you may have obtained them, how some of you have edited the images themselves before using them and how you may have possibly "merged" the backgrounds w/ the images & which came first, the chicken or the egg- LOL Sorry, I had to make light of it but that is probably part of my frustration- not knowing what to start w/ first, the image, choosing background and doing text, making said background "glassy", etc- But I have really loved trying to figure out how each of you have made the designs you came up with- I have only requested so far T-shirt type designs but I have saved every autograph page I have found, many of the candy wrappers, a large assortment of the blank menu pages, journal pages, Activity book covers, name badges, etc- In short the more I have browsed this board, Terri is right, I have gotten hooked- But not just on your designs, on your energy, passion and true kindness- So, Yes, I will continue to try the designing, I will experiment little by little w/ different programs, and I will ask questions as I need helps- (be ready Chaos during this PI stint I have been going through- LOL) But I will also continue to admire, browse and request your designs- They are all very appreciated by me & my family- For us it's not just Disney that is magical but all of the great people here as well!
I hope to try the PSE version trial next - didn't want to mix programs though so I was trying one at a time-PI may not be for me- OR I may not get all functions until I purchase??... Not sure, & that irks me but I can get past it- LOL- Other than that, Terri, I may take your suggestion of using a good 'ol standard and it could be that you are right- too many options and I am overwhelmed- LOL Wouldn't be the first time!
Disneywhirl, that gave me a tip right there so thx for posting your experience w/ this as well! I have literally been keeping Penny's (Chaos) tuts open in one browser while I play in another - LOL
Sorry this ended up being so long- I just really appreciate everyone who took the time to even post and share in my vent- It lets me know once again how very caring all of you are!
OT here- I may also be rambling more than usual, my DH was taken to Duke today after going in for a regular scheduled appointment- He had a heart attack a few years back and had a stent put in - long story short, the stent has been named in a class action suit, they won't remove it and he has had it in since June 2006- After constant problems, they saw something today they didn't like (finally) and admitted him to the VA here and had to ambulance him to Duke where his cardiologist is located (about 2 hours from us)- so I have some nervous energy going- Left work early to try and see him before the ambulance took him and just missed them leaving by 5 minutes and now can't get his phone to pick up (probably turned off due to machines in the ambulance) awaiting some word here as to what they plan to do... This was totally not the place to post but it has made me feel better- LOL Thx to all of you!

 

[Moeluv4u7]

I used to use PI, I probably could not manage now. lol That is what I started with, then onto Paint Shop Pro. I've gone from like 8 to 9 now, I'm afraid to change and go up. lol I also have Photoshop CS3. I'm so lost on it!!! It seems so confusing to me....so when I try to do something in it, I end up back with PSP and finish in a few seconds. =) I'm sure it's more my habit of using the same program for so long rather than PS. It just seems like so many more steps than necessary.

I just had to ask- so there is really no need to have a newer version of the program?- I figured I would be missing out on something by not having the newest, latest thing-
Also, I do know since I have Windows Vista that not all of the programs are compatable- (read that on Corels site while trying to decide which free trial version to download)
Thx for sharing!

 

[MomETC]

I just had to ask- so there is really no need to have a newer version of the program?- I figured I would be missing out on something by not having the newest, latest thing-
Also, I do know since I have Windows Vista that not all of the programs are compatable- (read that on Corels site while trying to decide which free trial version to download)
Thx for sharing!

Sorry to hear about your DH and hope everything will be OK. <3

I'm not sure about the newer versions, but they all basically do the same. IDK!! lol I seem to manage just fine so far with what I desire to accomplish while playing. (I think they change one little thing here and there & call it a new version so they can get ya money again. <wink>) I just install different plug-ins to do different effects. I am still using PSP 9 and I use Vista, you should be fine. The only thing I've noticed is when the program starts up, it says my colors are changing to Vista basic...they go back automatically when I close it. Not a big deal for me. I can't tell the difference. lol Blond thing I guess. =)

 

[Moeluv4u7]

Thx MomEtc...

First, hope I didn't alarm anyone last night- It was late, I was tired (more from work than anything), & just getting the unexpected call at work that they were taking him and not knowing why just had me up in arms I guess-
I spoke w/ him this morning, He is waiting to be taken in for tests and very hungry- LOL He said all they have told him is that his blood pressure was very high (this is ongoing and once before was so high they couldn't believe he was able to function), his blood flow was not "smooth" as it should be.. and w/ his constant chest pain (angina most of the time) they said they needed to have his cardiologist check his stent out- (I am wondering if there have been more deaths reported and now they are trying to be more cautious...) Hope they don't decide to put in another one (well, if needed then I hope they do) they have insisted that they can't remove the stent that he does have due to more risk taking it out than putting it in... awaiting word here, I hate being at the mercy of the doctors- especially when I am not physically there- (I tend to get the doctors to speak to me at every step when they have him, I am a little OC about what they are doing to my DH- LOL- what can I say after 18 years... Yeah, I love him and have to make sure no one is harming him) anyways, I will be by the phone today and staying busy...

Thx for the tip back on PSP- I think by what I know and what I have worked with in the past that PSP or PSE may work better for me- I still am not real sure about layers and such but I think I can grasp the concept- Designing is so cool & I have always been a crafty type person, even took design in school (many many years ago before computers became the "way")- LOL
I guess with my limited time I am expecting results like all of you great designers overnight and it is not happening that way- LOL I really didn't think it would be so hard- I was thinking more like If I can do this to a photo I can change an image from the internet- So Wrong! LOL So I will browse, surf and read all tuts I can find and are shared with me (Chaos has been a gem to take the time to try and give step by steps)
Hope I will start finding things easier to do-
I think another issue is that I don't know why saving it as a jpeg is any different than a gif or png (that one is new to me)- not sure why it being an "object" gives me certain abilities but not others and visa-versa-
Well, I am off work today, waiting to hear from DH when they finish his tests to see if he can come home or if they will keep him another night, and I have some ironing to do (shirts that is- LOL) But I will also take some time and play around with PI and check out the PSE site to see if I can get a trial there yet- I was waiting for PSe 7 trial because I assumed that w/ Vista I had to have the newer versions- We will see...
Thx again!

 

[tmdart]

Thx MomEtc...

First, hope I didn't alarm anyone last night- It was late, I was tired (more from work than anything), & just getting the unexpected call at work that they were taking him and not knowing why just had me up in arms I guess-
I spoke w/ him this morning, He is waiting to be taken in for tests and very hungry- LOL He said all they have told him is that his blood pressure was very high (this is ongoing and once before was so high they couldn't believe he was able to function), his blood flow was not "smooth" as it should be.. and w/ his constant chest pain (angina most of the time) they said they needed to have his cardiologist check his stent out- (I am wondering if there have been more deaths reported and now they are trying to be more cautious...) Hope they don't decide to put in another one (well, if needed then I hope they do) they have insisted that they can't remove the stent that he does have due to more risk taking it out than putting it in... awaiting word here, I hate being at the mercy of the doctors- especially when I am not physically there- (I tend to get the doctors to speak to me at every step when they have him, I am a little OC about what they are doing to my DH- LOL- what can I say after 18 years... Yeah, I love him and have to make sure no one is harming him) anyways, I will be by the phone today and staying busy...

My heart is breaking for you. I can't imagine not being there. My DH and I just shared our 15 anniversary and I would be a nervous wreck if I was in your shoes. Please let us know how he's doing. Here are some flowers, pixie dust and more hugs for your day.

 

[chaoscent]

Luv - your email really touched me and I am glad you took the time to write it. When I started on the boards (before the Creative DISigns thread opened) I was using PrintMaster. Now let me tell you, I couldn't do much with that. I then got PSE 2 and never mastered it. When I started DISigning again, I got both PI & PSE. Not knowing the PSE is supposed to be better, I put my time, trial and error into PI. If I knew then, what I know now, I probably would have spent the time, trial and error learning PSE, but at age 60, I am where I am.
I am sending you lots of good thoughts and pixie dust for your DH. I know how scary that has to be. I am home again today as it is raining and blowing in Philly & I am afraid to go out in it with the broken ankle so I will work from home today. Keep us posted and don't iron too much.
Penny

 

[Moeluv4u7]

Thx Terri! It really does mean a lot- We are very positive about everything! Never have been big fried food eaters but he is from Alabama so he loves country cooking! I am a military brat but all of my family is from Kentucky! LOl We definitely do a lot of country cooking- I just adjust things so he is getting more healthy options than not- BUT... He does have a thing for sweets- Every night he has to have a snack of sorts- I guess with everything else that isn't so bad - To look at him you would never know anything was wrong with him- He used to lift weights daily so he is still very big, muscular (a small gut in midsection due to age and beer-LOL) and of course, we are still very young- He just turned 41 last month- still a bit nervous just due to the fact his Dad passed at 42 of a heart attack- But again, we live a very different life style than his father did (& that's another very long story...) However, we are positive and ever since the first time when he was 38, God has stayed with us through all of this and obviously has a bigger plan for us- We have taken advantage of that and decided to help along by changing some things for ourselves- Disney has been one of them! It was just this year we were able to buy into the DVC though so we have gotten a late start - It is never too late though- I plan to keep him around for many years to come-
Thx so much-
>>> Sry to everyone who is checking out my vent and finding this thread has gone pretty OT but it has been helping me and whether by kind words to keep me motivated to try designing or the fact that you all are giving us best wishes on my DH's hospital stay- I think it has accomplished the same thing-
You guys are great!