: Tools for the designer work (developer) I am a Java programmer who likes to create own programs/web pages/games which look nice. I am not a front-end guy even though I am willing to dedicated

@Caterina889

Here's a general idea of what you need in terms of image editing/creation ......


A vector editing application (Inkscape, Illustrator)
A raster editing application (Gimp, Photoshop)
Paper, pencils (colored or graphite), pen, markers, straightedges, triangles, etc. (for sketching)
A scanner
Knowledge or experience to know when to use what.
(Optional) a light table or light box.
(Optional) Paints, brushes, etc. - if you plan on painting rather than drawing.


Beyond those, it's all a matter of preference. Sure you could invest in a tablet, but there are thousands of designers who don't use tablets. Some even dislike tablets. There's no way for us to know what will work best for you.

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@Harper654

Oh, this is partly personal preference, but here are my two pennies:

Rough ideas are (to many/often) quicker and better to sketch out on paper. Faster, easier. Do not underestimate the power of post-its and the back of envelopes :) Then you could either redraw them entirely, or scan and draw "over".

I would suggest you use Inkscape instead of Gimp, as this is vector based and definitely the most sustainable.

As for tablets and such, personally I use a simple (wacom) pen tablet and I am very happy with that. Seeing as you are starting out, it is cheaper and easier to test if that will suit you.

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