DIY Paper

TysWife2Be

Ok ladies...

Wish me luck...

I have a friend who offered to do our paper stuff BUT she is pregnant so I dont know if she will be able to do it anymore...

So, I think I am going to go out and buy me a program (either Photoshop, Illustrator, Publisher, or WHATEVER) and give it a shot.

Can you ladies let me know what needs to be done? I think I may need help...LOL!!!

Also, what is best?
Photoshop, Illustrator, Publisher, etc???

I would hate to dish out a nice CHUNK of money to only get the wrong thing...

I need to get this show on the road!!!

jagore08

You know me, I'm not crafty but I wish you all the best with this project!

[Deleted User]

Unless you have alot of time to kill, and plan to use the software after the wedding professionally, I strongly urge to think over your plan.

These programs will cost the same to buy them as it would to find a printer or graphic designer to do the work for you. 

While Photoshop, Illustrator and Publisher are awesome industry standard programs, and yes they are absolute miracle workers but when you first start working them for the very first time you will have an incredibly steep learning curve.  Some of the technical books that are published for these programs are extremely dry, long winded and boring.  So, your wedding stationery, given the impression you want to make on your guests, is probably not the first project you want to take on with new unfamiliar software.

The other thing you will want to consider is the cost.  Adobe products don't come cheap.  My FI bought me the CS 4 creative suite because he works for a university and had a significant educational discount--if you have access to something like this, Definitely take advantage of it, but keep in mind you're not just investing your money, you will be investing a lot of time.

If you're dead set on doing it, make sure your printer is compatible with the software you are going to buy and also that the ink is compatible with the paper you are using.  And also have a good printer(someone you can take your files to, in case your home printer cannot do what you want it to, who can run off the finished product).

The DIY route gives you absolute control over the content of what you publish--sometimes at cost discount.  But alot of times what you don't pay in money you end up paying for with time. Unless you enjoy doing crafty things, it can easily turn into a tedious chore, especially after you've been at it for 5-6 hours straight.

I love DIY, if you love it too, more power to you! Just be careful and don't over commit yourself(becuase I know I have already in certain places).

TysWife2Be

I will be using these programs after the wedding.

I am a student so I qualify for the educational discounts as well.

I dont want to have to depend on someone and that is why I am considering doing this myself.

I did my graduation announcements in Photoshop so I learned some things then...the time in learning the basics was spent at that time.

CurlyGirlyGirl

Photoshop used to have a free 30 day trial you could use for everything.

Do you have a mac?  I did all of my paper goods on Pages.

TysWife2Be

I have a PC

[Deleted User]

Given you have the educational discount, I would say go for it.  You might also want to consider getting Illustrator as well, because it will lend itself to doing things Photoshop cannot do.

For example. if you see a cute graphic on the internet that is free you can grab it, clean it up in photoshop, then plug it into illustrator and make it as large or as small as you want to without degradation to the image.

Graphics programs will work the same way on either Mac or PC, the only difference is that there are changes to the key you use command vs control key if you are switching from one to another.

The preference in the arts industry has been towards Macs, but there isn't really something you can do on a Mac that you can't do on a PC and vice-versa.  I've used both and Adobe products work equally well on either operating systems. 

The other tip I can say, is make sure that your machine is powerful enough to handle the demands of the programs you plan to install. Adobe products tend to suck up as much system resources as you give them, since they are designed to work with multiple processors and lots of ram.

My machine is older but I've done multiple upgrades over the years, and sometimes when I run itunes, Illustrator, Photoshop, Firefox and MS Word and dealing with a really high-resolution file it will hick-up.

The other tip I can say, is when you are working with graphics, keep multiple copies of your work--sometimes you'll come back to a file you created for one thing and may want to use it later for something completely different--it happens to me all the time.

xxquemirasxx

I bought a MAc for X-mas last year and it has been FAB! Like Curlygirl said on pages which is like word for PC! AWESOME!!! Seriously the BEST investment I've made so far...no regrets!

I have NOT bought any adobe or any such things and I've created some pretty nifty things if I say so myself. DEEP DOWN I regret having Christina do my invites because I think I could of saved the CASH and made them myself but when I told her I did NOT have the MAC. BUT I'm VERY happy with what she created and NOT that I think it was NOT worth the $ but I just think maybe I could of created it. But then I think well since she created the invites I've been able to focus on other DIY  that I thought I would of NOT paid someone to do (placecards, table #'s, menus etc.)

I'm not really computer savvy so to be honest, if the student discount is that AMAZING like TIllea makes it seem, the heck with it go for it. I would just be sure you would your the program after the wedding I mean some of these programs are $700 ++++. I was considering buying some photoshop BUT II've done on the MAc I've been pretty happy!

Maybe you could analyze your pro's and con's. Creating and designing takes LOTS of time. I mean I spend hoursssssssss when I sometimes realize it, it would be midnight.  (trial and error when printing)

I know you won the contest with Christina, maybe you could ask her if she could do some type of package deal for you. And maybe you could see if the $ is worth being spent on the program or just hiring someone to do it.

I know there is another FAB person that does paper products different style than Christina but I do admire her work so maybe you could ask get prices and compare and see what works best for you. Here is her info:

http://www.thecheshirekat.com/

HTH! and GL with whatever you pick!

xxquemirasxx

BTW if you are interested...I know MAC gives discount to student just a thought

[Deleted User]

The student discount if you buy the entire suite is pretty darn good.  The entire suite retails for around $2000, with a student license you can get it for around $700.

TysWife2Be

When I looked I saw $300 and $400...

[Deleted User]

It depends which version you get, they have a Designers version, web version, etc.

TysWife2Be

This is the $300 one

Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Standard - Student Edition

This is the $400 one

Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Premium - Student Edition

I would be fine with the $300 version...

I dont see the Designers Version or Web Version...

[Deleted User]

Those all sound fine for what you are planning to do.  So far haven't used the video editing software; I am currently using Nero to make our photo montage--simply because I haven't had the time to see how to put it together in their version of the software.

Last creative suite I got lasted me a good 4 years.

TysWife2Be

I got a program for a montage a couple of years ago for my Undergrad Graduation that I can use for that...

I can do 1 program for $200 or 3 for $300

CurlyGirlyGirl

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_california-los-angeles_diy-paper?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:68Discussion:eaedaa51-a9e2-425b-8ec1-62b72a5af893Post:2c83e08d-18f0-471e-891b-9d0f966b80da">Re: DIY Paper</a>:
[QUOTE]This is the $300 one Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Standard - Student Edition This is the $400 one Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Premium - Student Edition I would be fine with the $300 version... I dont see the Designers Version or Web Version...
Posted by TysWife2Be[/QUOTE]

<div>Honestly, for that amount of money, you might want to look into etsy.  People will design your invites and email you the pdf copies so you can print yourself.  The prices for the customized invites I think are around $50.</div><div>
</div><div>However, I will say that if you do your own, they can be EXACTLY how you want them.  I wouldn't have changed a thing about my invites :)  I totally obsessed over those babies.</div>

detailsBYoksanaDOTcom

Hello, 

I design custom wedding invitations for a living. In my opinion, the best program for designing a wedding suite would be an Illustrator- it does some things that Photoshop does (effects and such) and some things that InDesign does (manipulating of text, the layout of it). 

I can relate to not wanting to rely on somebody else, but what is the budget for your invitations? Maybe I can help you with the layout and recommend vendors for printing of your suite. Please check out my site www.detailsbyoksana.com. You will find my business e-mail address there.  

SIncerely, 

Oksana