SOFTWARE> Graphics Software : Authoring Software

Graphics Software

If you don't have any graphics software and have a limited budget, don't worry. There's excellent freeware available:

www.gimp.org
The famous freeware Photoshop-lookalike "The Gimp" - developed for Linux, but now available for Windows. I haven't tried it, but it gets excellent reviews and the open-source ethos of the programmers makes them heroes in my book.

www.vicman.net/vcwphoto/index.htm
This is another freeware graphics manipulation program with good reviews.

directory.google.com/Top/Computers/Software/Freeware/Graphic_Utilities/
Links to hundreds of freeware graphics software.

Or if you're considering buying graphics software, you can try PaintShop Pro from Corel.com for a one month "evaluation". It offers very good value for money and is widely used by professional web-designers. Although it lacks some of Photoshop's more sophisticated features, it's far less RAM-hungry and you can customise the toolbar to suit yourself. It's my preferred graphics software - all of the graphics on this site were prepared using it. It's also not very expensive, a fraction of the price of Photoshop. The anniversary edition of PSP7 was only US$99 RRP - which is a bargain. I prefer PSP7 to 8, I tried the trial and went back to 7.

If you're buying Photoshop, consider whether you need the Full version, or perhaps Photoshop Elements (a much cheaper, cut-down version) might do.