The field of computer graphics has developed alongside the development of the digital computer. In 1959, MIT’s Lincoln Labs TX-2 computer gave birth to the field of interactive graphics. By the mid 1960′s major corporations, such as TRW, Lockheed, General Electric and Sperry Rand, had already started research and development in computer graphics. IBM’s 2250 graphics terminal, was the first commercially available graphics computer.

In 1969, the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) initiated a Special Interest Group on Graphics and Interactive Techniques (SIGGRAPH) to promote the generation and dissemination of information on graphics and interactive techniques. SIGGRAPH interests include simulation and modeling, computer generated art, digital motion analysis, text editing and composition, cartography and mapping, computer aided design, and graphics software and hardware.

During the 1970s, personal computers became more powerful, and were more capable of drawing complex shapes and designs.

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People who use their computers for graphic design work need computers with specs different from those that will be enough for general users. Because the hardware configuration plays such a huge role in the quality of the final output, most graphic designers take a lot of trouble in choosing their computers. For a long time, Apple was the first and practically the only choice and Macs set the standard for graphic design abilities that others tried, but never could match. Today companies like HP and Dell have introduced PCs and laptops that are able to compete with Apple. But the best way to define what makes a good graphics design computer is not to look at competing brands and models, but to define the specs that make a computer the right one for a graphics designer.

It’s Not Going To Be Cheap

A graphics design computer is going to be a high end one, with a lot of expensive options. While there are the lucky few for whom money is no object, for most of us compromises will have to be made. These compromises need not affect the performance of the computer if they are thought out judiciously. For example, a person who does designing as a hobby will not need huge storage and can make do with a smaller HDD. Those who do not do large volumes of work could consider a less expensive processor since speed is not a critical area for them. There is only one thing that must never be compromised on and that is the graphics card – always get the best you can.

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