Hello all,

I am a student and trying to get experience with anything that can be published on the internet (trying to build a portfolio in web development and design), so I thought I should start dabbling with Graphic design. Therefore I have two questions:
1- Should I even try to deal with it or just hire someone to do all my Graphic Design for now?
2- If I should start, than what program do you recommend I use for Graphic Design?

With great appreciation,
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If you want to be able to compete with other hiring candidates in the web design field, you'll need to learn how to use photoshop.

If you want to test out your creative ability, there are free applications available that do similar things as photoshop, but most people who use photoshop find them lacking. One is call The Gimp http://www.gimp.org/ (it stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program). There are also others, I know if you search around the forums a bit you'll find lots of discussions about web design.

Gimp is excellent for a free application. It is perfect for amateurs, people who aren't running windows, or people who simply can't afford to pay for photoshop. It also has good documentation and some tutorials http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/

Take note however that Gimp is by far buggier than Photoshop and it's not nearly as powerful. It has a great learning curve (but then so does photoshop)...

Tutorials are harder to come by too

After leaving the university, when out your are unexperience - but the most precious thing an employer can get is the fact that you are a quick learner.Many employers want a certain level of knowledge, but of lesser rank, do not expect to go - the classic line Do not worry, we can hear the little is often used if the announcement of the future because they learn quickly. Result to show that, besides knowing the specific applications mentioned, I might add that the friend should try to learn the up / Why study software. I think people today have no experience with educational software designed for specific tasks in the suite specific software without understanding how the software works at a fundamental level.

well photoshop is now out dated.... you need to try some more advance tools.