ok I am just a bit lost on where to start. I have been interested in digital art for a few years now, and now that my back has went out i have time to really get into it. heres the programs that i have now as of this moment

Photoshop 7
Illustrator CS2
Dreamweaver MX
Firewoks MX
Freehand MX
Flash MX
POVRay
DAZstudio
Virtual light

well that is all the ones that i can remember off the top of my head : )

what i am really into is the space and fantasy genres(sp?)

could anyone give me an idea if this enough or am i being to vague in the question and also if this is enough point the way to some tut's that would help me.

Thanks allready

Derrek   a.k.a Dreadedlyfe

Looks like a good collection of software -- I wish I had that many in my own. Photoshop is a good place to start if you're starting with a blank slate. It's the most versatile program, it's industry standard, and there are plenty of tuts out there, just Google them as you learn. Freehand is like Illustrator; they are vector art programs. Fireworks is like ImageReady, which comes with Photoshop; they're used mostly for web graphics. Flash is for animation. Dreamweaver is for web design. DazStudio is for rendering 3D people. And I'm not sure what the other two are.

Anyway, if you're just starting out, I think you have more than enough, to answer your question. Learn what you have, and once you've done that, then you can consider adding to your list. For now, it's all good.

Attached Link: http://www.vecpix.com/tutorials/photoshop/ps018.php

Very nice collection :) As apriligem said FreeHand and Illustrator are both vector apps and are as well industry standards. I prefer FreeHand because of his simple perfection, but thats my opinion. Try them both and see in which one you feeling relaxed while working. Vector apps are perfect for complex illustrations while Photoshop is perfect for coloring and bringing illustration to life. Here is the link to site with tuts. for PS, FreeHand, Illustrator, and more :)

Tihomir

you may want to add bryce and or vue to your collection great collection you have.

Looking at the list of software you have you certainly have a mixed bag.   This is the way that I would approach your situation.   The key point you ask is 'where to start'.  The software you have listed approach the production of an imge from different directions.  You can either paint or draw your picture with a 2d application (photoshop, illustrator, freehand) or construct your picture using a 3d application (povray, virtual light, DAZ Studio).  In the end its all about your picture not really what you used to create it. Others will have a different point of view but in relation to the software that is basically what it comes down to.  That being the case decide where your artistic strength is.  If you decide to paint your picture I would advise learning photoshop first and then illustrator because they are complimentary to each other in that the program functions and pallets are the same or similar and located in the same or similar places on each of the programs interfaces.  If you plan to go the 3d path then look at the other programs I listed above.  Another bit of advice is don't try to learn a bit of all of them, you will just confuse and frustrate yourself.  Got to the webpages of the programs developers to see what each can do as well as the galleries of these sites to see what people have done with them.

My bottomline advice as to 'where to start' is to choose photoshop.  My experience is that which ever path you choose you will probably want to correct, manipulate, adjust your final piece of artwork and you can't beat photoshop to do these things.

Shane

thanks for all the advice : ). i really hope to have something worth shoing in the near future

thanks,

Derrek aka dreadedlyfe