I’ve recently built a new computer and now that it’s complete and all is in working order I thought I would post some thoughts on the process and hopefully fill in some blanks on the way to go about building a computer for optimum performance in Photoshop (along with other multimedia applications). This is of course a very broad subject which would be hard to cover in its entirety in just one post, but I will try to hit the main points and provide some links to more in depth discussions. Also, if you’re a computer genius and expect this to be some sort of treatise on the intricacies of processor architectures and FSB speeds, best try somewhere else because I only know my hardware as much as I need to in order to make it work. So you might find that I oversimplify some things, but I am more concerned that things work and not why they work.
Caveat 1: This rig was built to do large scale print work (12×18" @ 300dpi and up). If you are just doing design for the web or screen (72dpi) a lot of this might be overkill. The CPU will still be an issue, but the memory and swap disk’s roles in speeding up performance will be greatly diminished.
Caveat 2: I will be assuming you are using Photoshop CS3 so some of the examples may not make sense (e.g. menu hierarchies) but all of the core concepts will apply to any version of Photoshop.
Caveat 3: I am also assuming you have some level of technical knowledge when it comes to computer hardware / software or you probably wouldn’t be trying to build your own computer.
Caveat Emptor: I have no idea what I’m talking about.
Caveat Googlor: If you need more info than is provided here, the collective super-brain known as Google is your friend and knows a hell of a lot more about all this than I do.
So if you’re feeling brave, click the link below to read the full article.
Some great shots from Graphis 121 (1965) via Insect54’s Flickr. I’ve been meaning to start collecting the Graphis annuals but haven’t got around to it yet….Someday.
This was a poster from Arcade Fire’s Neon Bible tour that could be folded into what they described as a "shadowbox". Found it while searching for something to post alongside this song. Neon Bible is incredible, I still find it hard to believe they outdid themselves after 2004’s Funeral, but here we are.
Thanks to everyone for the great tips in the comments of yesterday’s Portland post. We’re going to try and hit those places. Last night we ended up hanging out downtown. We had dinner at Voleur - amazing mac and cheese, highly recommended. Then we hit a great little place called Bo’s for Martinis. We ended up at a really cool bar where a wall hit me above my eye opening up a nice little gash and drawing blood; I’m an idiot. In my defense the wall hit me unprovoked; I was pretty much minding my own business. Unfortunately none of us could remember the name of it this morning. The middle picture above is the DJ at the place, if anyone recognizes it speak up in the comments.
Please excuse the picture quality, as I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I neglected to bring my camera so I’m using my friend’s point and shoot Canon. I actually enjoy using it, at the expense of quality of course. It’s just nice for a change to not be lugging some 10 lb. chunk of metal around everywhere.
Today we went to Floating World Comics (thanks to J.Cross for the suggestion). They have a nice little collection of design books there, got a couple cool ones, I’ll post some pics up when I get home.
In Portland right now and of course didn’t bring my camera again. This place is always great; we hung out in one of my favorite spots today, the Pearl District. It’s a great little neighborhood which really reminds me of Midtown Sacramento and Wicker Park in Chicago. I’ve got my friend’s little point and shoot so I will try and snag some shots here and there. Trying to figure out where to go tomorrow night, heard good things about hollocene, any suggestions?
Very nice colors from an old BOAC campaign. Could do without the clouds and the airplane but I suppose a concept like that would never make it past the marketing people without some of the obvious thrown in for good measure. Note the BOAC logo that is formed in the middle by the arrows, love it. Great fine print line at the bottom, perfect kerning. Unfortunately no info on the designer, anyone?
"This Land – A Geography of Canada by Edward Wahl c1961 Hans Kleefeld cover designerGreat book discovery by Rosemary Travale. Hans also designed the original logo for the Toronto Zoo."
Very nice book cover via