What kind of software should I use?

Personally, I use Paint Shop Pro. Last time I checked they offered a demo download on their website. jasc.com

Paint Shop Pro is a good option - it's a very full featured graphics program and it's a lot less expensive than the big names. The industry standard for graphics is Adobe photoshop but I think it costs about $600. Paint Shop Pro can be had for $129. Much better (unless, of course, you can afford to pay $600!). You can get a "used or new" or an older version for even less.

(oooh, were they bought by Corel??? Intersting...)

You might want to look into books on using Paint Shop Pro to help you learn. I find that books usually have a lot more detailed and comprehensive instruction than you could find on the web.

Here's an Amazon.com search:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search/104-3902437-8722311?tag=opera-20&index=blended&keyword=paint+shop+pro

They've actually got the software for $99, plus a bunch of book options.

HTH!

(p.s. That's a neat hobby you have! You could do some neat things with coloured squares in your graphics )

You could try The GIMP

Yes, that's a good option too. I think Photoshop Elements and ... there's another one....I forget what they call it.... are actually Photoshop version 5.0. So for many people it's a perfectly good option. I think you can sometimes get a copy of this free with a scanner or digital camera purchase. Photoshop is actually on Version 7 (?) right now - you could probably get a v. 6 or v. 5.5 on ebay for much cheaper, and they're almost the same.

(There seems to be a new trend among software developers of releasing new versions without actually changing a whole lot...)

Quote: (There seems to be a new trend among software developers of releasing new versions without actually changing a whole lot...)

Yeah no kidding. I bought acrobat 5 then upgraded to 6. Now 7 is coming out. Come on. And they wonder why people resort to bootleg copies.

Just recently purchased the lastest Paint Shop Pro. Great program at reasonable price. Absolutely don't spend $600 on Photoshop....unless you're rich.

P.S. I'm poor though. Maybe one of these days I'll pick the right numbers.

Adobe Illustrator is d bomb.

But not so good for web graphics unless you use it alongside Adobe Photoshop?

The GIMP is a good option as it's free!

Yes, I like GIMP, and also Inkscape for vector illustrating.

If you have the money though, I suggest you do go for Photoshop and Illustator - you can't go wrong.

Cubefreak ... the site is OK

Since you haven't requested for a review, I'll tell you I use Photoshop for my graphics. The moment you understand the layers you'll become the king. It's an awesome program and you can do wonders with it.

Welcome to the webmaster community of webmaster-forum

Paintshop Pro 7 to 9...

THEY have layers ever since, photoshop is not unique with layers.

Paintshop has something new and innovative to offer every release like in ver 8 they make deleting background images in photos much smarter and quicker. In ver 9 a lot of quick fix for photos are there, a lot of digital photo fix are also there, Macro Recording so you wont do the same process everytime is present in ver 8 and 9, A paint pallette which where you can blend colors like a real paint is being blended... well... ive tried photoshop, its great but for the price??? ill stick to paintshop...

I'd recommend Fireworks MX. It's a very powerful design software and can be used for both vector designs (drawings, shapes, text, etc.) and photo editing. It's also very user-friendly compared to something like Photoshop. It's also very well intergrated with Dreamweaver, Freehand, and Flash (all Macromedia)

hmm for me, i prefer to use corel 12 draw, fireworks mx, and ulead for designing web graphics, because all this graphic softwares have a good photo effects like flamming effect, lightining, blur, glow, etc.