paint.net
 

does anyone else use this? i can't quite afford elements, so am using this (it's free...) and i wondered if anyone else is in the budget range with me :)

Take a look at GIMP as well. It is closer to PS in features. Harder to learn than paint.NET

thanks - will look into that. i've heard of GIMP but hit paint.net first(!). i'm still finding things it will do, but always happy to look around until i can afford 'proper' pp. although, i might prefer to save up for more lenses instead lol... :D

TBH I would seriouly look at Photoshop Elements, it is a great piece of software, fairly intuitive to use and also the standard most magazines and websites adopt for tutorials. I have played with the GIMP myself and found it pretty frustrating and confusing to use infact a colleague of mine told me it reduced her to tears:eek:

You can get a 30 day trial version of Elements off Adobes website [url=http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html]here[/url] just click the try button on the right handside under Photoshop Elements 10.

Of course that is just my opinion;)

I would agree get elements its a good investment i have used GIMP and it is very like photoshop but without the refinements. when i switched it made life so much easier

dave - i had the free trial at the end of june for a month so unfortunately can't have it again...

maybe i really should add it to the list of things i need to buy (ho hum). i'm getting on better with paint.net - GIMP just confused me. however, it would be nice to be able to use all the tutorials i read in magazines, rather than having to 'translate' them into paint.net after a fashion.