i know there are good job oppertunities in photo manipulation etc. (other wise you guys would be out of a job) but what kind of thing can you do if you interested in digital illustrations?

also, in your opinions, would it be better to specialise in photoshop, illustrator, or better to not specialise at all?

I'm not special, and LOOK AT ME!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh my eys...the goggles do nothig
I looked at Reindude

Mate contact a publisher, and have some illistrations ready...there always looking for illistrators for childrens books over here.

better to be good at as many software titles as possible Armo, but web design firms always need good digital illustrators now-a-days for flash site intro and inner graphics.

Have a look around, there are plenty of jobs.

I'll have a look through my contacts see if any may be interested. I am guessing you would be looking at Freelance work? or do you want a solid job?

maybe just some freelance stuff now and again. thanks so much marco but don't go to too much trouble i can safely say i wouldn't even dream of becoming a graphic designer if it wern't for you guys or this site.

HUZZAH FOR PSC!

have you looked into what your school district has to offer in vo-tech school?

if you mean teaching courses etc. then i've not found anywhere that teaches graphic design around me . The closest to it is art A level ( <stage before college) so I'm taking that

I have gone to college, a couple times now, for artistic type "training" and "knowledge".

My experience was that it would have been better to take the money I spent (which is LOTS) and used the cash to buy equipment and software of my own... and then get a part time job and spend 1/2 my time teaching myself.

Not saying this is for everyone... but you've either got a KNACK for this kinda thing or you don't. Most "schools" for graphic arts will gladly take your tuition money and tell you how dandy you are, but in the end you'll have to face the world on your talent alone. A design firm or production house won't take your work on just because you got a piece of paper that tells the world YOU ARE CREATIVE.

Illustration (which is not even NEAR my forte) is a good field, but competitive (I imagine) the world over. You gotta have goods "chops" and you gotta have a WINNING attitude. Just this week I had a new friend tell me I was "LUCKY" to be getting paid $70~80 an hour for my visual work. I quickly pointed out that if committing years of my life, thousands of dollars of my money, and a deep portion of my Soul makes me "lucky", then YES I am LUCKY.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say (and it might have NOTHING to do with your original question) is that you DECIDE what you are going to do, and then you BEHAVE like you are doing that already, and you WORK HARD and with PASSION. Next thing you know, some crazy Big Ass shiny magazine wants you for their primary illustrator position! How LUCKY for you!!!

I meant there may be useful vo-tech classes..
I was thinking that some school districts actually have
'printing' as an option.
I think it would be nice if some choppers who are professional here and not just the freelancers would describe what their work involves and directions you can look in and consider.
Possibly an idea on any part time jobs that would be
a good learning experience for a wanna be illustrator..
like in printing and press.

Good Point, Scion!

Working for free (and learning REAL shit from people in the industry) is usually much better a deal than paying $thousans$ to be in an aritficial classroom.

well thanks for the great advice everyone, especially reinman. i remember you giving a lot of talks on how to make it as a graphic designer.

scion sorry i know what you mean now, before i just meant i didn't know what a vo-tech class was (possibly its just an american thing). anyways like i say thanks, its greatly appreciated by me and im sure everyone else who sees this thread.

Amen...Been aorund this world for a long-while-there's people who work for someone,
there's natural smart college type folk that are successful..there's natural talented people who manage to run/learn their careers/ business for themselves..and there's everyone else ..

Now--big oops-- I had a great idea and didn't say it...
Local sign shops--local sign shops---those guys need help,
down to earth workin' people willin' to teach,
surprisingly talented...ya get paid and get real world experience,
dealing with people,ok--
like I said--wanna hear the pros ideas for m'self too..
interestin' stuff.

ILLUSTRATION....ah, I love it! I started a thread called "In search of good Illustrators" or something like that a few months ago...

also...this magazine showcases the BEST in the field of illustration.
http://www.commarts.com/

There are also books available on freelance illustration...including contacts, fees, etc.

Lots to look into. I suggest if you're interested start looking around.

check these links out...

http://photoshopcontest.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=4641

and this...the thread I mentioned before...

http://photoshopcontest.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=4230

Good luck, Armo, you've talent, use it

imo AMO you need to master a couple of softwares: illustrator, photoshop, in design I guess.

Creative illustration....I think people look for good vector illustrations since those are original, very "visual" and often cheaper than photography.
I don't see any kind of commercial application for what we do here at PSC though.

you need either to get contacts, and/or make yourself a printed portolio, as well as a web based one.