Designers & Opensource software!!

[BizGurl]

Just out of curiosity.....does any designer who calls themself a professional use open source software for work, like Inkscape, GIMP, Scribus?

I have all three, and can use them at a basic level, but would not use them for professional work for various reasons... Besides, I prefer Illustrator/Photoshop and am quite enjoying learning CorelDraw.

I've heard of people using Inkscape to 'compliment' Illustrator.

And I always hear people use the saying "only a shoddy workman blames his tools", so what I'm asking is...

Really, is it possible to run a design business, to a good standard, using soley opensource software? If the work was of a good standard, and managed to print properly etc, would it actually matter/make any difference?

 

[Astaroth]

Define "professional" firstly.

Secondly, by "opensource" are you really meaning freeware (ie no cost) or that the source code is available? (as you can get free software that is close source and opensource software that you have to pay for)

There are certainly those that run profitable businesses, charging market rate and producing reasonable quality outputs that use the likes of GIMP for website graphical design.

 

[Juvanescence]

Personally I use the Adobe Creative Suite but if someone can design using opensource software to a high high standard (or even an acceptable standard) then fair play to them.

 

[BizGurl]

Hiya,

By 'professional', I meant 'paid for' work.

By 'opensource' I meant the free programmes like GIMP

Your reply (Astaroth) seemed a bit defensive! I don't have anything against anyone who uses them, I was just curious as to whether they could be used in a professional environment and thought I'd ask N/O!

 

[ooh]

Really, is it possible to run a design business, to a good standard, using soley opensource software?

Yes. (sole*l*y )

If the work was of a good standard, and managed to print properly etc, would it actually matter/make any difference?

No.

Some professionals even use things like pencils and paper. And most importantly their brains -- for ideas. That's what you should be concerned about; their brains, their thought processes.

It's the end results that matter. Whatever works for them is what they should use. That's their business. Do they come up with good stuff or don't they? Who gives a hoot about which software they're using?

The only times tools really matter is when the end result is going to be used directly by end users (e.g. Flash), or if their work is to be shared among other workers, but then there are formats which are portable...

 

[SteveSant]

The tools are simply a means to an end. I've designed things that often start as a scribble using my open source pencil and paper... Adobe, Quark, Corel et al are just the means to making it happen. I've seen beautiful work created in GIMP - I've seen some beautiful pin hole photographs - not a PhaseOne digital back in sight...

Don't be afraid of using any tool at your disposal to express your creativity!

I tire easily of equipment/software snobs. Boasting the latest and greatest tools does not an artist make! You can polish a turd, but it's still, at the end of the day, a turd... you get my drift