help with poker chip design

[fireman664]

I want to design my own chips in the near future, but have ZERO idea on how to do this on my computer I have some ideas floating around in my head though).
Are there easy to use programs I can get, or might already have?

Thanks

Fireman

[rusellmj]

Depending on where you get your chips most manufacturers should have some sort of design dept. I know www.homepokerchips.com has an archive of chips they've done in the past. Really nice work from where I sit. You have to "join" which I think requires your email in order to view the archive but I enjoyed seeing the cool designs.
Good luck,
Russ

[Fins]

Re: software

If you're wanting to design for the Chipco style best to use Adobe Illustrator or one of the other vector based graphics programs such as Corel Draw or Freehand. Otherwise something like Adobe Photoshop is good. You could probably do up rough ideas using something as simple as MS Paint. Most of the custom places have art dept.'s who will do the graphics for you and run with your ideas given as little as a theme. They can usually use (or have on hand) a variety of different graphics available. I can personally highly recommend Patrick, the graphic artist at homepokerchips.com, who was excellent (and patient) in working with my design. More than likely any of the custom folks will have to redo your art anyway to tweek it for color pallets, design problems etc...

Someone might be able to suggest an affordable program but most of the graphic software I've seen can be pretty pricey (definitely worth the cost but expensive for me a non-artist anyway).

Hope that helps,
Fins

[fireman664]

thanks a bunch