What Lee Hammaker uses to create his digital art

November 28, 2008 by Lee Hammaker

Here's a list of most of the programs I use to create digital art (at least the heavy hitters) and a bit about them or why I use them:

Photoshop Elements 7 & Adobe Premiere Elements 7 - MIR - MB

Adobe Photoshop Elements is an exerted version of Adobe Photoshop. I've been using it primarily for editing digital photos I've taken with my Nikon D60 a DSLR camera that I will not do without.

altTerrainBuilder

This program creates digital terrains for 3d programs like

Bryce and Vue D'Esprit

3d art programs that creates almost realistic environments I'm talking about similar computer programs that Pixar and other movie companies use to make animated films.

Bryce 6

One of the 3d environmental programs I use.

Calculator

Every computer has this program. It's uses are versatile. I use because I only have 8 fingers, ten toes and two thumbs.

CanoScan Toolbox X

CanoScan Toolbox program is for the Cannon digital scanner I have. I've been experimenting on how to scan food into the computer so I can keep it longer, but so far all I've managed to do is make a large mess on the scanner bed.

Carrara 6

Carrara is a 3d modeling tool so I can make simple objects for my 3d environments programs. Imagine modeling the Eiffel tower strut by strut.

Corel Photo Paint 10.0

Corel Photo paint is the nemeses of Adobe Photoshop. Where Adobe was used primarily for 'repairing photographs, Corel Photopaint was originally used as a digital paint program. Slowly but surely the programs are reaching across the aisle and shaking hands in the spirit of computer by -partisanship, like our politicians. *Ahem* maybe not.

Corel R.A.V.E. 1.0

Rave came with Corel 10. It's supposed to be a program like Adobe Flash. It's nice, but all I've been able to create with it so far is a multi-colored amoeboid crawling around my computer screen. It's new and therefore limited so far.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 [DVD]

Corel's vector illustration program. There are thousands of ways to make a mess of any text or drawing with this program. Um, did I mention this program is the opposite of Adobe Illustrator' Did I have to'

GarageBand

Garageband is not guitar hero; it's an Apple program to help you create music with. I'm not much musically inclined so I haven't tried to do anything with it yet. I might sometime though, maybe later'

WORD MAC 2008 EN DVD

Yep, Microsoft Word for MAC. You thought I might want to use Corel Word for MAC, right' I would have if I could, but I can't because Corel hasn't created a MAC version yet. I'm still waiting. Anytime now, *Sigh*

Mimic3

Mimic 3 is the third version of Mimic for poser (See below). It's designed to make 3d figures talk even sing. I've played around with it a little bit but since I'm not very good with animation it'll have to wait until I am.

Poser 6.0 OS X

Poser is a 3d program that allows you to 'pose' 3d figures in a 3d image and then 'render' the image into a 2d image. This program is similar to what allows Pixar stars and the character Shreck to move. I love this program.

Poser Maconverter 1.1.8

Most 3d products are created for PC's. This program converts these products into usable files for my MAC. I love my MAC.

Preview

This small program came free with OSX. It allows you view all types of images on my computer. It also has a very simple photo-editing program within it. But for some reason it refuses to work properly.

TextEdit

Text Edit is another free OSX program for you guessed it writing. I've used this program for short lists and quick writing projects.

UVX

UVX is used to 'map' textures onto 3d models I've created in Carrara.

Vue5

Vue 5 is another 3d environment program I like to use. I've been using exclusively now. I know It's French, but I like it a lot.

ZBrush2

ZBrush is a 2.5d program for people who need another half dimension for their art. To give an example, I can make a line that looks like I'm painting with toothpaste; has length and width, as well as the appearance of height, it's fake though.

I also have a Cannon PowerShot camera. A non-DSLR camera that takes fantastic digital images. My favorite camera though is my Nikon D60, a digital DSLR. It's even better I think than the Cannon camera, but that's just my opinion.

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Lee Hammaker has a passion for graphic arts and has been involved in computer graphics for over 15 years. Although he does it mostly for personal satisfaction he does contract out to businesses and organizations through GoFreelance. He has a new website where he is selling some of his unique designs on clothing at Half Infinity Productions. His artwork has appeared on various websites.