1. Adobe Photoshop CS4 Graphic design programs aren’t just for graphic designers anymore. Designers from all industries, from industrial to furniture to apparel, are utilizing this top graphic design program in order to enhance their products and designs in a very cheap manner (minus the investment for the software). Fashion designers can use Photoshop to enhance the presentation of their work in a much more cost-efficient way than hiring a graphic designer. There are many Photoshop manuals available for purchase—and there are even free ones available online for the most budget-tightening designer.
2. Quicken Home & Business During a recession, it is more important than ever for business professionals to keep track of expenses both in and out of the studio or office. Accountants can be pricey—especially for the burgeoning designer—so Quicken is a practical (under $100) alternative for managing the expenses and maximizing those tax deductions. The software even allows for online banking by connecting to banks, credit cards, 401(k)s, or brokerage accounts. Bills, from electricity to dry cleaning, can be tracked easily—so that designers can focus on the creative portion of their work.
3. Microsoft Word It should be a given that everyone uses Word, but some people have yet to invest in this software and are still using Microsoft Works or another less advanced and standard alternative. Word offers a multitude of typing options, which may not seem immediately important to a designer, but will offer plenty of time-efficient ways to conjure up that last-minute press release flier.
4. Microsoft Excel Along with Word, Excel is a spreadsheet-application necessity for doing quick calculations and managing anything that requires categorization. Remember to purchase two these two software programs together as Microsoft Office—programs such as Publisher and Outlook will also add ease to the designer’s life.
5. McAfee Antivirus McAfee might not aid in any creative or business aspects, but in the long run, the eradication of malicious Trojans, worms, and viruses will result in a longer life for the computer and more stability for the important documents within the computer. Daily, or at least weekly, virus scans are crucial to maintaining the processing speed of the computer.
With a couple manuals and a few hours to spare, money can be saved by utilizing these software programs. Learning a few new computer tricks doesn’t hurt either.
- Noel Duan
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