Try www.getpaint.net - this is the red-headed stepchild of photoshop (open source freeware) and has most of the capabilities of photoshop. There are also a ton of add-ons to play with - I just got one that lets me do weird things with text - curving, etc. - and also lets me turn my pictures 'metallic' looking. LOTS of fun for free!
I was going to do my own graphics however I chose not to. Because it wasn't going to be a service to offer it would have costs just as much to buy the software and time for me to teach myself. There are a lot of people on this forum that offer this service. Unless the software can make you a profit in the end.
If you decide to commission a graphic artist, you can cut down the amount of time it will take them if you have an idea in mind. If you sketch it out - no matter how poorly! - it then becomes mostly mechanics on their part.
If you have no idea what you want, take some time to collect some logos that you like to show your artist. That way they aren't starting completely from scratch & that will save time, & hence money. There are some logo sites out there that might be a good place to start.
If you are unsure about the logo, have it subbed out. There are lots of capable VA's here and tons of logo designers that are reasonable in their rates. I did my own logo at the beginning and finally this year had it done by someone else. I am finally happy with it and they helped me fill in all the gaps that I felt I was missing.
Should I purchase graphic software
Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Linear Mode
