Which graphics software for the newbie?

[Bookworm]

Which graphics software would you recommend for the newbie to get started with. I've got Paint Shop Pro but I keep getting put off from trying to learn it.

I only want to be able to touch up a few photos and design a few simple graphics for the web.

I know Photoshop is considered the best, but it's way out of my price tag. What about photoshop elements? There's a new version of that out soon.

I'd like to learn things the correct way as at the moment I'm sort of fumbling around in the dark!

[Bromy]

Actually Paint Shop is pretty good program for a new user,it's does pretty much the same thing a Photoshop,don't know much about Elements, but being Adobe you can bet it will still cost a few bucks

[Bookworm]

Thanks.

BTW what is Bryce?

[Bromy]

It's a graphics program that is known for creating landscapes, but can be used as a modeler if your an advanced enough user. Everything you see in my galleries is Bryce. Heres a link that shows some of the interface

http://www.computerarts.co.uk/news/bryce5/


It's not clasified as a high end graphics program, even though it is worth several hundred dollars.But the work people are doing with it takes it beyond the "simple landscape generator" classification'It a nice beginner program, has a strange interface when you first see it, but once used to it, it becomes simple to use and you can achive great results. The only limitation is the person using it.