Photo editing programs

[winterborn86]

I really want to get some type of photo editing program for my laptop, but don't know what to go for as there is so many, I was thinking about photoshop elements (I think it's called) but i found several different ones.
I did try and download some from the internet but i could hardly do anything on them they were so useless.
so I was wondering what all of you on here use and what ones you find best for you, so i can get some tips on what i should be looking for.

Oh yea and i apologize if I've put this in the wrong thread, i couldn't decide on his or general chat, but i assumed as its about computers it should go here

[Sarah]

I would personally recommend the Gimp. It's a free, open source, image editing program. It has a large community where you can find information and tutorials, just like a lot of open source software does. It's what I use when I feel like doing image editing. You can do most of what you would need to with it, and it's much cheaper than Photoshop and safer than attempting to pirate Photoshop. (Pirating equals worries about being caught and fined/jailed/worse, malware injected into cracked software, unstable cracked software, et cetera, and is not recommended at all.)

[Omega Weapon]

Personally I use Photoshop, I've been using it for more than four years now and it's by far the best image editor I've ever used but I honestly don't recommend it for beginners.

That being said, there is a lot of good image editing programs out there. If you are just starting out, and your interests don't go beyond creating banners and sigs, then consider a simple, easy to use, user-friendly editing software.

I agree with Sarah, the GIMP is definitely your friend. It's easier to use than Photoshop, it has lots of functionality and best of all, it's almost as powerful as Photoshop, it just requires little expertise, and most beginners can guess their way through it.

The GIMP: Features - Download

One more thing, just keep in mind that most of the features in Gimp are more flexible and powerful when you get to know them. Good luck. ^^

[Unknown Entity]

Wow this is WEIRD! I just put Photoshop Elements on my laptop today! O_O

I have Photoshop Elements 2.0 - quite old, but it does the job. AND when I got it, it came free with a digital camara, so it was a bonus!

I've never used anything else, but I too am willing to try out something different. Photoshop... doesn't always give you the result you are looking for if you get what I mean?

[Joe]

Hmm, I've been using Paint.NET a lot recently, and I think that it's a bit better than both the GIMP, and Photoshop.

It works on the same principals of GIMP, core unit, with tons of optional plugins that you can download. it's also more user friendly, and it's free as well.

It's also quite powerful, and I've done things in Paint.NET that I've been unable to do in either Photoshop OR GIMP.

Paint.NET - Free Software for Digital Photo Editing It can be found there, and you can find plugins through the forum on the same site.

[Furore]

Hmm, I've been using Paint.NET a lot recently, and I think that it's a bit better than both the GIMP, and Photoshop.

It works on the same principals of GIMP, core unit, with tons of optional plugins that you can download. it's also more user friendly, and it's free as well.

It's also quite powerful, and I've done things in Paint.NET that I've been unable to do in either Photoshop OR GIMP.

Paint.NET - Free Software for Digital Photo Editing It can be found there, and you can find plugins through the forum on the same site.

Quoted for truth. Every sig/avatar/visual layout piece I've made anytime recently has been with paint.net.

The GIMP's powerful, but I've noticed many users have troubles with it, especially as vanilla GIMP lacks a few features of MS paint even. I *LIKE* having the option of easily drawing a perfect rectangle.