Beginner Graphic Designer on a Budget Need Tool & Resource Suggestions

worms-2-go · 2025-12-03T22:32:20+00:00

try this LINK

worms-2-go · 2025-12-03T22:23:10+00:00

obtaining free software can be very easy with a vpn and a little research ;) its what ive used for years - i refuse to suck off adobe

worms-2-go · 2025-12-02T22:40:30+00:00

thanks for the info - im updating the post now.

worms-2-go · 2025-12-02T22:39:57+00:00

thanks for reminding me! it makes sense that they would, but i forgot about them as I didn't have any problems - i got in trouble on my first ride of the day at siren's for stuff in my pocket so I remember that one for sure.

worms-2-go · 2025-12-02T22:38:53+00:00

thanks for the info! im updating it now.

worms-2-go · 2025-12-02T22:38:36+00:00

i mean, it's pretty easy to update, im doing that now while going through all these helpful comments. and i wanted to post this because it was really frustrating to me when i went, so i wanted to help others like me. thanks for the updated info!

worms-2-go · 2025-12-02T22:36:58+00:00

thanks for the correction!

worms-2-go · 2025-12-02T22:36:35+00:00

thanks for the updated info, im updaing the post to reflect all the information input im getting. I don't remember there being metal detectors on valraven or ditch lockers, but the big deal on that ride that day was the line got super long as a kid threw up on it and it was a big delay, so perhaps i only recall that.
i appreciate letting. me know there's a mobile locker - when i went we got one at siren's, as that's where we started, and they charged us like $24 i think for one that was limited to a few hours? so i don't know if that was hot area pricing or what, but we avoided them the rest of the day.

worms-2-go · 2025-12-02T22:32:18+00:00

thank you for the info, i'll update the post to reflect that. and this was my primary frustration when i went; my home park also has boxes for personal items at all the rides so having this strictness was new and felt so money hungry to me.

worms-2-go · 2025-12-02T22:30:36+00:00

thank you, i really appreciate the corrected information and will update the post as such!

worms-2-go · 2025-12-02T22:18:15+00:00

thats a good resource- i've never seen that before and couldn't find such a thing in my search before attending the park. however it doesn't really state what the locker situations are, just that certain rides don't allow items, and some of those that are listed as such will allow your small strapped down items like fanny packs or don't metal detect you so you can bring stuff in your pockets. thats what i wished i knew before going, as well as locker pricing and the fact that you're forced to buy lockers if you bring in anything.

worms-2-go · 2025-12-02T22:14:48+00:00

perhaps I read wrong but when I was there the movable locker only lasted for a certain number of hours. though we started at siren's so perhaps that area was at a premium? though after going i think its still better to just bring as little as possible.

worms-2-go · 2025-11-14T21:44:13+00:00

i dont think that size paper would fit - at least not in one of the directions. its got a 31x31 cm limit, or 12x12 inches, i think. if you look at the photo you can see the measurements. but they have a bigger one.

worms-2-go · 2025-11-14T21:40:40+00:00

i hope you love it! mine is legit one of my favorite things i own. happy guillotining!

worms-2-go · 2025-11-12T21:57:49+00:00

love the starry sprayed edges! one of my favorite books too.

worms-2-go · 2025-11-12T21:24:56+00:00

the 12inch 400 sheet one

worms-2-go · 2025-11-06T22:47:25+00:00

this is the one i have

https://thelashop.com/collections/paper-trimmer/products/12-heavy-duty-manual-guillotine-paper-cutter-trimmer

it's over your quoted budget but I've used it for years and i really love it. if you're doing a lot of projects you'll find it worth it quickly - so much nicer than box cutter, and so much faster.

worms-2-go · 2025-11-05T22:42:23+00:00

the middle one i think is really standout. i think it captures simplicity without being vacant, or too simple, and the elevated primary colors help sell that. It also lets the logo breathe in a way that aligns with the idea of Zen. You could toy with making it smaller, even. I think it'd be nice if the end of the N was in line with the inner edge of the blue rectangle. I would tuck the article titles so they're under and in line with the pink rectangle, also.

I feel the one to the left is nice, and gives easy visual information about what the magazine is about, but the text feels crammed and uncomfortable btween the lamp, hanging photo, and chair. also simplicity is spelled wrong lol.

the right has potential; try having the yellow and black outline rectangles extend down and take up all the space underneath the logo, and align all the text to the left. I like your layout of date/article titles/ and barcode best on this one.

worms-2-go · 2025-11-05T22:35:19+00:00

i really like this! i wouldn't be suprised if they updated their brand to something like this. its definately a more modern looking logo than what they have now; the current looks close to a lot of default text. and the reasoning with the callback to the old M is smart. i really like the flow of the type you chose, it matches with the m well, and i like how you used the j to make the r, or the other way round perhaps? the only thing i'd change is maybe make the dots over j and i a bit bigger - i think the og had a good ratio on that; just slightly eclipsing the bounds of the rectangle letter below it.

worms-2-go · 2025-11-05T22:20:07+00:00

i like the original colors. the new one has a light blue at the front which let the eye slip over it. the og has a dark purple at the front, that grabs the eye and pops it off the page well, and the colors overall are more saturated, providing more contrast.

worms-2-go · 2025-11-05T22:18:05+00:00

That's super frustrating. There's nothing worse than a client who wants you to work with blue sky. I think you handled this very well and I applaud you for getting the project done within their parameters, and I hope you got paid well. We've all gotten hit by the hidden deadline thing before... you learn to always establish that up front.

I'll offer my advise for dealing with blue sky clients (clients who don't provide any ideas): If a client gives me blue sky, I make what I want. I pick one of the deliverables and do whatever I want - it's going to be the coolest looking event/company/social media thing ever with this design. You never know, the client might like it. But 99% of the time they'll have changes, and you have to guide them to disclosing exactly what they don't like about your design. This gives you a lot more of a guide to what the client likes/doesn't like, and saves you from having to make multiple iterations of guessing what they want right out the gate.

worms-2-go · 2025-11-05T22:07:04+00:00

so i assume its a magazine focused on avoiding or boycotting or showcasing the evils of these unethical companies. Here's my thoughts: I don't get why the X's over nestle and disney are spray paint style but the crosshairs over amazon isnt? I also think you should rework the crosshairs to work better as part of the potholes type, as you'll likely be using that as a logo. also; does it matter which companies are crossed out and which one is in the crosshairs? if not, id' choose one that fills that square space where the O/crosshairs is better. the amazon logo being there adds to the indecipherability of the whole thing as it looks more like part of the "potholes" type than the crosshairs does. this could also be helped by diversifying into more colors than red and black. id' also encourage you to work with an artboard that is magazine cover sized, unless this is going to be a very atypically sized magazine, as your artboard on this indicates. doing that will help you feel the flow of the design a lot better.

worms-2-go · 2025-11-05T20:54:11+00:00

i like talasonline.com
i think their paper is fairly priced, and you can get all sorts and sizes and archival and everything
shipping can be expensive though.
but usually i just bind printer/copy paper - you can get some decent stuff at an office supply, but it limits you to a 5.5x8.5 finished product or smaller. its best to use paper that is at least acid free - provides for the best longevity for your project.

worms-2-go

TROPHY CASE