Here are some tips for people on this board who are graphics artist...

• Best programs I know of for making banners, signatures, avatars, etc: GIMP, Photoshop, Inkscape, and Paint Shop Pro
• Be a perfectionist! -Dont just whip something up in 5 minutes! You can always add one more detail!
• Try new techniques! Try new ways to make graphics and it could open up a totally new level of graphics!
• Try tutorials! Tutorials are one of the best ways to learn new techniques. Even if you do not complete the tutorial, chances are you learned something!
• Have an open mind! Be adventurous when making graphics, there is no limit to what you can create!
• When taking requests, be sure you DON'T FALL BEHIND!! Believe me, it can get pretty bad.
• For the best detail of the picture, save as a .png. I have noticed people save them as .gif, and that does not always have the best detail.

If you like, you can post your own tips. I just wrote these down as soon as I thought of them.

Hmm...Lets see if I can think of any.

Look at other peoples graphics to see what styles they do and what you like about it and want you don't like about it.  The more you look at other peoples graphics the more ideas your able to get for making you own.

Don't know exactly what you want your graphic to look like when your finished.  You probably can't get it too look exactly and then you might not like the after look of it.  But instead just play around and try tons of different things.

Never be afraid not to stick to general conventions. Always try something new. If you don't learn anything new everytime, there's no point making graphics.

dont worry if ur first try looks like crap just try try try again wer not all perfect the first time around

I have a tip i ofter listen to music whilst makinjg stuff the musixc should go with the grahpic design for example if i was making a sort of urban style of graphic i would listen to something a bit urban...