Comments on: Is using free brushes in your design cheating? http://velvetant.net/blog/is-using-free-brushes-in-your-design-cheating/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=is-using-free-brushes-in-your-design-cheating A design blog revolving around all things design Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:41:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Nikki http://velvetant.net/blog/is-using-free-brushes-in-your-design-cheating/comment-page-1/#comment-166 Nikki Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:34:20 +0000 http://velvetant.net/blog/?p=100#comment-166 This is a subject that worries me everyday and makes me feel uneasy using free brushes. Great Article! This is a subject that worries me everyday and makes me feel uneasy using free brushes.

Great Article!

]]> By: Al Woods http://velvetant.net/blog/is-using-free-brushes-in-your-design-cheating/comment-page-1/#comment-75 Al Woods Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:52:25 +0000 http://velvetant.net/blog/?p=100#comment-75 Thanks Antonea for visiting my blog and commenting. I'll be posting up links to more of my own work soon rather than having pure links to selected sites, I just need to get my crap together and get a good selection to show off. I hear what you're saying here, I suppose my arguement isn't against brushes as they are a basic tool for creating if used properly, but more the vector packs. Really tricky subject this as sometimes you really do need something in a hurry but don't have the time to create it so I suppose this is where they really do become a great designer aid. I just hate all these designers who claim awesomeness but are really only slapping some stock vectors together without doing anything else to them, like creating a unique pattern or using them within a bespoke design. Thanks Antonea for visiting my blog and commenting. I’ll be posting up links to more of my own work soon rather than having pure links to selected sites, I just need to get my crap together and get a good selection to show off.

I hear what you’re saying here, I suppose my arguement isn’t against brushes as they are a basic tool for creating if used properly, but more the vector packs. Really tricky subject this as sometimes you really do need something in a hurry but don’t have the time to create it so I suppose this is where they really do become a great designer aid. I just hate all these designers who claim awesomeness but are really only slapping some stock vectors together without doing anything else to them, like creating a unique pattern or using them within a bespoke design.

]]> By: Antonea Nabors http://velvetant.net/blog/is-using-free-brushes-in-your-design-cheating/comment-page-1/#comment-54 Antonea Nabors Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:28:59 +0000 http://velvetant.net/blog/?p=100#comment-54 Thanks for sharing your view on this Al. I'd have to say it is much easier to make a brush yours opposed to some kind of vector element. People who are using vector elements are using them as part of their design which is a bit over my head. I would never go there. As for brushes, if you are a skilled enough designer I'd like to think you can incorporate a brush in a way that it is almost unnoticeable, yet helps balance your composition. Great blog by the way. I am really enjoying some of your posts! Thanks for sharing your view on this Al. I’d have to say it is much easier to make a brush yours opposed to some kind of vector element. People who are using vector elements are using them as part of their design which is a bit over my head. I would never go there. As for brushes, if you are a skilled enough designer I’d like to think you can incorporate a brush in a way that it is almost unnoticeable, yet helps balance your composition.

Great blog by the way. I am really enjoying some of your posts!

]]> By: Al Woods http://velvetant.net/blog/is-using-free-brushes-in-your-design-cheating/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Al Woods Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:04:21 +0000 http://velvetant.net/blog/?p=100#comment-53 Bit of an issue this for me but I suppose it all depends on the job at hand I suppose. I personally have a bit of a disorder with design, I don't like using stuff like the brushes and vector packs because I do feel like I've cheated. I especially won't touch them on a project that I want to put a lot of effort into, it'd feel insanely wrong for me to sit back looking at a logo or graphic I did that had all those wings and scrolls on that I just took from a brush set and say 'yeah I created that'. I suppose a good designer can 'arrange' the elements better than a chump could, but still, you're using the same elements. You can use them well in backdrops to create a piece of a texture or something but I just hate to see a lot of these so called 'cool' clothing labels clearly slapping a few GoMedia sets together as a centre piece and claiming awesome design status. The brushes are fine if used well but I have a bit of a hatred for these vector packs as they're everywhere now. Creating silhouettes and doing them well can be a bit of a skill in itself but that has all been blown now by these being too easy to get your hands on. Save time, yes. Look good, yes. But would I? Na. Bit of an issue this for me but I suppose it all depends on the job at hand I suppose.

I personally have a bit of a disorder with design, I don’t like using stuff like the brushes and vector packs because I do feel like I’ve cheated. I especially won’t touch them on a project that I want to put a lot of effort into, it’d feel insanely wrong for me to sit back looking at a logo or graphic I did that had all those wings and scrolls on that I just took from a brush set and say ‘yeah I created that’. I suppose a good designer can ‘arrange’ the elements better than a chump could, but still, you’re using the same elements.

You can use them well in backdrops to create a piece of a texture or something but I just hate to see a lot of these so called ‘cool’ clothing labels clearly slapping a few GoMedia sets together as a centre piece and claiming awesome design status.

The brushes are fine if used well but I have a bit of a hatred for these vector packs as they’re everywhere now. Creating silhouettes and doing them well can be a bit of a skill in itself but that has all been blown now by these being too easy to get your hands on.

Save time, yes. Look good, yes. But would I?

Na.

]]> By: Kumail.H.T http://velvetant.net/blog/is-using-free-brushes-in-your-design-cheating/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Kumail.H.T Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:08:10 +0000 http://velvetant.net/blog/?p=100#comment-31 The question is, would it be possible to "make it" your design. You would have to apply it to a particular project which means you choose the right brush for the right project. :P The question is, would it be possible to “make it” your design. You would have to apply it to a particular project which means you choose the right brush for the right project. :P

]]> By: Antonea Nabors http://velvetant.net/blog/is-using-free-brushes-in-your-design-cheating/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Antonea Nabors Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:59:44 +0000 http://velvetant.net/blog/?p=100#comment-26 Thanks for your input Kumail.H.T. I'd like to think that its not using the brush that is an issue, but how you use the brush. It is all about making it your own. I agree completely that with you that is it how you display your brushes or stock assets in composition to make it work and function properly. Stock assets should me merely that...assets, not your design. Thanks for your input Kumail.H.T. I’d like to think that its not using the brush that is an issue, but how you use the brush. It is all about making it your own. I agree completely that with you that is it how you display your brushes or stock assets in composition to make it work and function properly. Stock assets should me merely that…assets, not your design.

]]> By: Kumail.H.T http://velvetant.net/blog/is-using-free-brushes-in-your-design-cheating/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Kumail.H.T Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:58:38 +0000 http://velvetant.net/blog/?p=100#comment-25 I wouldnt be ashamed of using brushes or any stock resource. Thats like saying, the painting created by an artist is good because of the brush he used. The brush is available to everyone, it is how you use the brush. Stock can be used in many different ways with diff techniques, colors, layout etc, it is how the stock is composed which is important. Those are my 2cents. Kumail.H.T I wouldnt be ashamed of using brushes or any stock resource.

Thats like saying, the painting created by an artist is good because of the brush he used. The brush is available to everyone, it is how you use the brush.

Stock can be used in many different ways with diff techniques, colors, layout etc, it is how the stock is composed which is important.

Those are my 2cents.

Kumail.H.T

]]> By: Antonea Nabors http://velvetant.net/blog/is-using-free-brushes-in-your-design-cheating/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Antonea Nabors Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:53:25 +0000 http://velvetant.net/blog/?p=100#comment-15 Yes, there is no shame in using the resources that are available out there as long as you are using them as elements. I think that web icons are a bit different. There is almost no need to even change the color of them as long as they match the site you are designing. It's all about usability when it comes to the web. Takes a talented designer to be able to create a usable, functional, and beautiful icons! Yes, there is no shame in using the resources that are available out there as long as you are using them as elements. I think that web icons are a bit different. There is almost no need to even change the color of them as long as they match the site you are designing. It’s all about usability when it comes to the web. Takes a talented designer to be able to create a usable, functional, and beautiful icons!

]]> By: Mike Oliver http://velvetant.net/blog/is-using-free-brushes-in-your-design-cheating/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Mike Oliver Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:18:15 +0000 http://velvetant.net/blog/?p=100#comment-14 I will...LOL. I look at it this way, there are people who do nothing but illustrate, and rely on it for a living. We should take advantage of their skill, because basically it is the same as us hiring a freelance photographer for a project b/c we are not photographers. But like we have all said, there's a fine line of using it in your design or as your design. By the way my favorite illustrator is Simon Oxley, he does all the crazy figures and illustrations of istockphoto... here's his site http://www.idokungfoo.com/ I will…LOL. I look at it this way, there are people who do nothing but illustrate, and rely on it for a living. We should take advantage of their skill, because basically it is the same as us hiring a freelance photographer for a project b/c we are not photographers. But like we have all said, there’s a fine line of using it in your design or as your design. By the way my favorite illustrator is Simon Oxley, he does all the crazy figures and illustrations of istockphoto… here’s his site http://www.idokungfoo.com/

]]> By: Antonea Nabors http://velvetant.net/blog/is-using-free-brushes-in-your-design-cheating/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Antonea Nabors Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:10:44 +0000 http://velvetant.net/blog/?p=100#comment-13 I couldn't have worded it better myself, Mike. I think you are spot on here. It is like you almost feel guilty when someone tells you that they really like a certain logo you have created because in the back of your mind you know you didn't create certain elements of it. I'd like to think textures, filligree, and other assets such as are ok to use. When I do use them I think to myself, 'One day when I get the time I am going to create my own to use.' It is a nice thought, but I am always pushed for time. The key definitely is not let other design created content to define your design and only be used as elements. I couldn't agree with you more. Thanks so much for your feedback. I really appreciate your thoughts on this topic. I honestly couldn't agree with you more. Make sure you change those web icon colors mister!! Haha :) I couldn’t have worded it better myself, Mike. I think you are spot on here. It is like you almost feel guilty when someone tells you that they really like a certain logo you have created because in the back of your mind you know you didn’t create certain elements of it. I’d like to think textures, filligree, and other assets such as are ok to use. When I do use them I think to myself, ‘One day when I get the time I am going to create my own to use.’ It is a nice thought, but I am always pushed for time. The key definitely is not let other design created content to define your design and only be used as elements. I couldn’t agree with you more.

Thanks so much for your feedback. I really appreciate your thoughts on this topic. I honestly couldn’t agree with you more. Make sure you change those web icon colors mister!! Haha :)

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