Design made simple; with clip art, anybody can become an artist - includes buyer's guide of clip art software packages and related articles on illustration, paint and image-editing software and clip art for logos and newsletters

Home Office Computing, Oct, 1993 by Steve Morgenstern

Designer's Club

For: DOS, Windows, Mac

Format: EPS (black and white) Electronic Clipper

For: DOS, Windows, Mac

Formats: EPS, TIFF (black and white)

Publisher: Dynamic Graphics; (309) 6888800, (800) 255-8800

Some of the best-looking assorted clip an anywhere comes from Dynamic Graphics. The company offers two electronic clip art subscription services: Designer's Club has 55 images for a $50 monthly fee; Electronic Clipper delivers more than 70 images for $67.50 monthly. Annual collections on CDROM or disk are also available ($611 and $821, respectively). These are premium prices relative to other vendors, but the superb quality justifies the expense for serious users.

DigitArt

For: DOS, Windows, Mac

Format: EPS (black and white)

Publisher: Image Club Graphics; (403) 2628008, (800) 661-9410

Each of these 26 clip art libraries has a distinctive style, letting you choose a 'specific graphical look. Some favorites from this fun-filled collection include funky Fabulous Fifties, striking Woodcuts, and several volumes of classy type treatments. You can purchase the libraries as individual volumes ($50 to $100 each) or as a complete collection of 9,000 images on disk ($899) or CDROM ($799).

The Dover Electronic Clip Art

Library, Volume 1

For: DOS, Windows, Mac

Formats: CGM, EPS (black and white)

Publisher: Random House Electronic Publishing; (410) 848-1900, (800) 733-3000

This collection includes an assortment of more than 400 images, covering business, borders, dining, education, entertainment, health, and ornaments. The package of four disks costs $50 and includes generous-size illustrations in a paperback book that includes worthwhile information on acquiring and using clip art.

Images With Impact

For: DOS, Windows, Mac

Format: EPS (black and white, color)

Publisher: 3G Graphics; (206) 774-35 l 8, (800) 456-0234

These six handsomely crafted portfolios can be purchased separately ($100 to $130 each) or on a 1,700-image CD-ROM ($500) that also includes bitmapped versions of the images as a bonus. Images come apart especially easily to produce thousands of component pictures.

Masterclips

For: DOS, Windows

Format: CGM (color)

Publisher: Masterclips; (305) 983-7440, (800) 292-2547

This high-quality PC color image library is available in 24 low-priced ($20), subject-specific collections or as a reasonably priced 6,000-image CD-ROM ($299) that covers the gamut from flags and signs to household objects. A cataloging utility works with all the clip art files you own.

Presentation Task Force

For: DOS, Windows

Format: CGM (black and white)

Publisher: New Vision Technologies; (613) 727-8184

This collection of 3,500 high-quality clip art images is available on disk or CD-ROM for $199. The realistic images look clean and modem, and those in an animated style, while a bit over the top, are graphically consistent. Specialties in this general-purpose collection include medical images, attractive animal pictures, and people in real life poses.

ProArt, The Professional Art Library

For: DOS, Windows, Mac

Format: EPS (black and white)