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If you were to go back about 20 years and
took a poll asking people if they considered themselves
artistic and asked that same question today, how do you
think the numbers would match up? I undoubtedly think that
the numbers would be much greater today then they would
have been 20 years ago? Why? For one reason, computers.
Today computers are as common in house holds at TVs and
with software readily available, although not always obtained
legally, people today have the ability to create like never
before.
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Programs like Photoshop, PaintShop Pro and 3D Studio Max seem
to be everywhere. Children 12 years old can now download $5000
programs for free illegally on many P2P networks. Students can
purchase the same programs directly from the company’s at
large discounts, and almost all these programs can be downloaded
for a free trial off the company’s websites. It’s because
of this that there are more artist today then ever before.
Today we have web designers, graphic artist, 3D modelers, applications
skinners and game designers. All can be considers artists in there
own right. It’s because of these programs being so available
why sites like DeviantArt, GRXArtist and Bluesfear can exist and
why there are hundreds of tutorials sites that will teach you
how to use all these programs, all adding to the art community.
Now I do not condone anyone downloading any programs illegally,
but is this situation really so terrible for companies like Adobe,
Macromedia, etc? The 12 year old kid that downloads Photoshop
from Kazza or some other file sharing program, would he have gone
out and purchase the program? No, of course not. So in this situation
the companies are not losing or gaining anything. Where companies
lose money is when professional designers use these programs illegally,
directly impacting the companies profits. But on the upside, how
many of these kids who are using these illegal programs eventually
turn their hobbies into a career, in turn purchasing the software.
Probably a small percentage, but this is income the companies
would have never had unless there programs were available illegally
or for a trial. I believe adding up the numbers would most likely
cancel out any losses that companies receive from illegal downloads.
So what you end up with is the same amount of profits for these
companies, but vastly increasing their brand name due to the programs
popularity, which in turn gets legit designers to purchase the
software. But I’m getting off track.
Art is everywhere now days. Go to your favorite forum and I’m
sure you’ll see some graphic signatures or avatars. Playing
your favorite online video game and you might run into someone
that created there own custom skin or spray. Start up your favorite
chat program and most likely it is also custom, made by some teenager
playing around with Photoshop in there spare time. And let’s
not forget your screens background image. I could go on, but there’s
no need. Art is everywhere today, no longer restricted to the
painting or picture you hang up on your wall and I for one love
it.
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