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[Stripey]

Whatever you do, get a font manager instead of installing tons of fonts - it's quicker to preview fonts and doesn't slow down the system. Linotype fontexplorer X is the best one I've found but at the moment their PC version isn't online as it's just out of beta. It's also free.

[emergency72]

Originally Posted by lepeep

my advice (and this isn't the practical "how to learn a new program" thing), but if you are going to learn graphic design, you have to live it...

be aware of everything you look at (grpahics etc)...you've got a great photographic eye, so apply that sense of composition, colour and balance to your work...

looking at other's work, whether you like it or not, will inform your practice (contextualising it)...
you can reflect on your work through others, and self assessment (critical evaluation).

know WHAT you like, and WHY you like it.

look at billboards, magazines, tv ads everything...get a favourite font!

you've got to live it to be one!

This is very true. Around the start of the 00's I was heavily into web design....the theory behind it was easy but my presentation was shit. So i got into graphic design and acted in a very similar manner...I was then able to design things which i thought looked great, but I could no longer code. Then a change of job and I could do neither. Obsessions are good....but the second you turn your back on something like that, it goes...

[daveofficer]

thanks so much for the response folks, very helpful indeed. at the moment it's just for fun and to help develop my style and general skillsbase. a bit of cross-platform action never hurt anyone so i figure if i can develop some graphic design skills as well as continuing to develop as a photographer i'll be all the better for it. plus photography and graphic design seem to be converging artforms anyway.

a site which i've found particularly useful since starting out is BLUE VERTIGO | Web Design Resources Links

it's a resource site which lists tons of places to get brushes, textures, vectors, fonts and stock photography for non-commercial use. great for practicing.

Adobe Elements Range, cheaper but with much the same features

[daveofficer]

Originally Posted by Neutral

Adobe Elements Range, cheaper but with much the same features

i've used elements and photoshop and frankly elements just doesn't cut it if you want professional standard images. it's great for learning and for basic adjustments but photoshop and the other full version programmes just work.

[Steve_Start]

The Learn List

I'd recommend subscribing to Computer Arts as well, they give out free CDs with every issue often containing pretty decent tutorials and basic training for things like Illustrator from the site lynda.com for example, as well as 100 free stock photos etc.

[The Subtle Arts]

All the info you need to learn about photoshop and how to create amazing stuff is here.

No better place