Advice on graphic design for a newbie

[Guest]

Im looking to make some posters and could use advice on graphic design. anything helps

[tromboniator]

Take some courses, read some books, draw some stuff. Beyond that, your request is far too vague, and beyond the scope of what pretty much anybody here is prepared to offer you, and it's not specifically about Adobe Illustrator. Somebody else may come along and contradict me, but that's how I see it. Sorry.

Peter

[Test Screen Name]

Maybe a college course. Expect a year's study to get the basics of graphics design (so you know the main elements of it, even if you can't do them yet). The Adobe apps may be too powerful and (hence) complicated for a newbie, unless your year of study also teaches the apps.

[sishamIAGD]

As per the last 2 comments, you will need to look into this a lot to be able to have the end result you want. If you are interested in design then base your research around that and how we use design tools/applications. There are plenty of free resources out there, good luck.

[Test Screen Name · Accepted solution]

We don't know, of course, what your motivation is. Here are some random thoughts. I don't know anything about you so they aren't a reflection on you. 

• Do you want to become a professional graphics designer? That's great, but realise that lots of other people do too. You will need a lot of study and it's a competitive job market at the best of times. Only experienced people are likely to be able to make a living from it freelance.
• Bear in mind it is really is a kind of art, not just learning the buttons to press. Some people are full of ideas and need only the tools to turn them into a product, others will always been looking for templates and other work to copy. (There is room in the profession for both types).
• Perhaps you want to make a poster as a fun project or hobby, not to support advertising a serious product or service.  Perhaps you want to advertise a local event to a few people who are already intererested or want something for a notice board. That's great too. I'd say the Adobe tools, aimed at experienced professionals, are way too complicated for someone with this need. 
• Perhaps you need a quality poster or other promotion for a product, service or event. You may feel you can do it yourself with a few day's playing with the apps. DON'T. This is not cost effective and, unless you are naturally gifted, will make a poster that does not give out the right message. Find a professional, look at their work, discuss their prices, discuss the need in great detail.