DebAnn Loc: Toronto

Try Paint Shop Pro X5 from Corel. It's a lot like Photoshop and in some ways better. It's also more intuitive for a beginner. And it's available at a very good price. Everybody knows that professional designers prefer Photoshop; however, many photographers cannot afford to invest almost $1,000 in a program when there are other programs available to suit their needs. I do have Photoshop but I use Paintshop more often when I'm editing photos.

Dun1 Loc: Atlanta, GA

It depends on how you want to ride, if you want some editing software to perform minor adjustments, and feel that you "don't really" need to do anything but lighten, darken, adjust contrast some to the free software may fit your needs. As you move higher up the ladder not only with your cameras and equipment and want to do more precise editing, then Lightroom is a great place to catalog and edit your photos, and Lightroom allows you to select an external editor to perform those adjustment, i.e. Photoshop Elements, Adobe CS. If you use a Mac you can also select iPhoto as an additional external editor.
Yes you can run Windows software on your Mac, just as Mogul suggested, the only question I would ask is why subject yourself to all of the reasons you decided not to use Windows software. Why take a Ferrari engine and put it in a Yogo and expect it to still function like a Ferrari

PhotoGator Loc: Florida

Here is a link to all the posts on GIMP resources and tutorials compiled by me.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-94735-2.html#1615546

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Should be part of the FAQs!

twitcher32 Loc: North Carolina/Costa Rica

Picasa is free and does an amazing job of basic adjusting to photos such as saturation, definition, light. I would recommend it as the best place to start editing your photos as it is user-friendly. After you are proficient with the basics you may want to tackle the more professional programs such as Photoshop.

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

Weidoh, here's another Joe's opinion - mine :)
The full-blown Photoshop software is very expensive. If that's not an obstacle, go for it. Many of us can't afford, or choose not to spend that much, so we've jumped into using Photoshop ELEMENTS. (I call Elements, "the poor man's photoshop"). You will be amazed at how many things you can do with Elements that the full-blown Photoshop software does. In fact, I feel, unless you're a very demanding professional, Elements is all you'll need for a long, long time. It's great, and often you can find it reduced to half-price, which is about $50.00.
Picasa, on the other hand is totally FREE. It is a very good bit of software, and depending on your need/demands, will suffice for many post processing needs. Try it...can't lose anything. Then, if it's not enough, jump toward Elements. I really enjoy using Elements. Good Luck!

Willy Loc: Alaska

As others say, they are two completely different programs.
Photoshop is far and away the leading software for photo editing and graphic manipulation. There are no competing products to my knowledge.
Photoshop is not user friendly and has a very steep learning curve. It is also very expensive. In my opinion the best way to get it is to enroll in a class in your local community college and pick up a student version.

Stryder Loc: Texas

You might try this Adobe site. Download Photoshop CS2.
http://www.adobe.com/downloads/cs2_downloads/index.html

Old Tom Loc: South Fort Myers

Be sure to check out Corel Paint Shop pro X-5 befor you buy. Easier to learn and under $100.

Daddeo Loc: Ronkonkoma NY

Picasa is a great 'first step' program for me for initial cropping, leveling and raising light levels. It's basic tools are all a beginner needs for tweaking a photo for maximum presentation. Also, I've found it to be a very easy to use storage of all my photos (103,000+) with creating folders, moving and re-naming. You can view all in different folder trees, set the viewing order, see a timeline (great for locating) and create a nice slideshow in the viewing order you want on a DVD or CD for groups of photos (events, candids at weddings, parties, gatherings, etc. to give to people. It's newest version has many new features you can use for vingettes, frames and some cool special effects. I taught this in my photo club along with another free, easy to use and effects rich program... PhotoScape!
For a free program, I can't recommend it enough for the beginner who just wants to make not so great photos a lot better to show, view or organize. I have many other editors, including Photoshop, elements, Corel, Topaz Labs (all) ACDSee Pro 6, HDR's and several others I use occasionally. I've had Picasa since the first version and have never seen a better free offering anywhere. Today, most software can be downloaded for trial periods and it certainly wouldn't hurt to try them before buying.

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

I may enroll in school to get that student discount. It would be cheaper that buying Photoshop CS! Then I just wouldn't bother attending.

Willy Loc: Alaska

You'll have to pay for the class so why not attend?? If they offer one, you could take a photography class or a photoshop class.
There are always math classes. They are not any fun but it never hurt anyone to improve on their math skills.
Of course there are always a slew of electives to choose from. Underwater basket weaving 101 comes to mind...

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

Everytime I drive somewhere it costs my old clunker minvan $10 in gas. I don't need any more schooling anyhow, I have UHH!

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

Those 2 would be considered the ULTIMATE top and bottom of photo editing software. PhotoShop the ultimate and most difficult, and Picasa the simplest and easiest. Also, PS is the most expensive and Picasa is free. Photoscape is also free and offers most of what PhotoShop does. I personally use PaintShopPro for the more extensive items (usually can find on sale for 50-80) and Picasa for the more basic items. The others mentioned are all good items to try. Target even carries the basic version of PaintShopPro for $40-50 as regular price!

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

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