Check out these free trial versions for three of the mainstream graphics programs avaliable.

Adobe Photoshop CS

Photoshop is the most powerful of the three, but it will take a lot of time and patience to master it. It is also the most expensive of the three, and will cost close to $800 USD. There are some great advantages to using PS. For one, there are thousands of Photochop resources out on the web, and the user base is both intelligent and helpful.

Jasc Paint Shop Pro 9

Paint Shop Pro is like Photoshops younger brother. It costs about $700 USD less, and while it is simple to use initially, there are some amazing things that can be done with it. One of the compromises that is made in making this program easy to use is power. Some things just can't be done in PSP, or they can't be done as easily. That being said, there is no shame in using Paint Shop Pro; for what you will be most likely doing, it won't matter.

Macromedia Fireworks MX

Fireworks is the most basic of the three programs listed, but it is basic for a reason. Firworks is generally used to develop graphics used in webpage design. Now think about it, do most websites have tech borders, or abstract backgrounds with some images blended in? Not usually. Most web graphics are less than 500 x 500 in dimension, and aren't very flashy. If web design is your game, Fireworks is for you.

Hopefully that will help your decision on which program to LEGALLY purchase. If any discussion about filesharing takes place, you will be warned. Is that simple enough for you?

On a closing note, I would also like to mention the GIMP, which is a free, fully featured graphics application. It is, however, very complex, so I wouldn't reccomend it for anyone who is new to designing graphics.

Er, you guys know somethings up with the Jasc Paint Shop Pro 9 page?
It says theres a ERROR!! Just thought i'd say.

Yeah there is a error on the page

There is a error and I cant download Fireworks for some werid reason

Can someone please fix the Paint Shop Pro 9 Page please?

Yes, done.

yeah it happend to me to and gray no-one can fix it its bnoty like they made it

My Ctrl + (anything) Dosent work in Photoshop, I dont know why.

why did you bring this topic back to life you said something pointless and where it doesn't belong stop spamming everywhere its just posts calm down.

What Program do you guys use to make all your sig's with usually?

you mean use old 1337's we use photoshop its about 800 dolloers but i have my ways infact i think everyone has the same way as me but if its to "Expensive" to get your hands on i'd go with photoimp but thats also pretty hard to get well you jsut need the cd so download fireworks.
or psp i ahve no clue about it though.

Adobe has Creative Suite 2, so if you wanna change that link cobb? anyway i brought my copy captain so i would shutup if i were you mate.

oh no cyber police are gonna come get me geez its not a big deal no differnt than downloding music hehe.

No, but the ultra-awesome mod squad will nab you right now with a warning. You're flirting with bannination again, Captain. I would memorize the board rules if I were you.

Cobb thats stupid and you know it.
how in one way did i break a rule i didn't flame i didn't spam i'm pretty sure theres no rule about downloading music what did i do.

Quoted from The Rules

Proof: http://mgsforums.com/index.php?showtopic=1

Quoted from the rules.

It says MIGHT!!!
Idiot don't mean its certain <_<

no but your stupid to think you "might" you know you can't.
now stop before i get myself a warning.

Argh Captain, Your on your last legs mate. 1 more toe outta line and I will personally add that fifth warning onto you.

That is:

Breaking a rule.
Pushing something.
Trying to start on a member.
Discussion of anything.
Spam.
Flaming etc etc

Any slight mishap will get your ass banned. Im fed up.

Well Out of the 3 choices if your a beginner i would choose Paintshop pro if your experienced i would use Photoshop but Im not sure about the other one..In fact never heard of it...but i think Paintshop is for beginners because the toolboxes are alot easier and alot easier to cut stocks out...well it was for me

I'd recommend The Gimp
I've been using it for years and love it. Unlike a lot of other photo editing software, this is not confined to one 'box'. You have one window containing the tools (pretty much the same as the 'toolbox' feature) and the main menus. This is the main window. Close this and you close the gimp. From there, you can open a photo, which will open in a completely different window. It's a bit daunting at first, but you soon get used to it, and eventually you may grow to love it.
:)

same for me but i want to get photoshop though :o

Yeah but why pay for a tool that does the same thing as the other?

Congratulations, you bumped an ancient topic to say that you shouldn't get Photoshop, to a guy who now has Photoshop, so doesn't care.

Lock?

It's a pinned topic; I'm leaving it open for queries.

But White, check the dates, yeah?

Well I guess so, I mean it is Quite a Huge bump, 8 months, to say something that most likely is already resolved.

*sadistic_greyfox gives JCC complicated DC hand shake.

EDIT: Fargin ADJ, i'll reopen it.

SHIZZING MC SIZZEN! the Mang with hair is right (he's lucky I know him)

Since when did bumping a pinned topic ask for a lock?

Don't think Rich knew it was pinned. Anyhoo, it's sorted.

right since it's already been bumped,gimp is far far far very very far from ps,it can't do half the things ps can,i know this as a well seasoned gimp and ps user,and who said anything about me paying for it :ph43r: :unsure: i'll just leave it at that

How dare you not tell us your secret... <_<

I'm just gonna have to stick with my inferior Fireworks application then...

your not allowed to discuss such matters on this forum

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you clearly did the same?

i'm talking about the way i obtained it,only said that i didn't pay for it,nuf said

"'Nuff said" my ass! Learn to accept your mistakes before being such a wise ass.

Mr. Dani is right mang, shouldn't have brought it up in the first place. Anyways kill that stuff, only discussion of the programs from here.

Anyway... I find the GIMP much more easier to use then PS or even Fireworks...

when i first tryed it out i didn't have a clue on how to use it,but with time come's...wait i think i typed that wrong,with practice come's....okay nevermind,but after awhile of testing it out i knew how to use it pretty well,and ps is pretty hard to operate,but after a bit of practice you know it like the back of your hand,well maybe not everything but to me it's pretty easy

I'd like to know what PS can do that GIMP can't.

well i'll start with something simple,can you download brushs to your brush database in about 2 seconds by just clicking on "load brushs" on the brush screen thingy,no,you have to save it by going one at a time for each brush,you can even customize your brushs to have different settings to make a good smudge brush
you can resize images by holding down the Shift key and the image keeps it's quality,it doesn't do that in gimp
you have alot more filters and other added things like that like stroke,transform settings ,layer adustment styles(drop shadow,beleval and emboss,ect.)you can make different kinds of fonts with different looking styles for each word,can't do it in gimp,
you can use te clipping mask feature in ps which gimp doesn't have,you can other tools in your pallete that gimp doesn't have,you can make higher quality images in ps then in gimp,you can download patterns such as scanlines and others,not only that,but with the limited amount of gfx stuff that gimp has you can make better sigs,avas,lps,ect. with ps because of all the things it has installed in it,it takes up about 2 gig of RAM on your computer for it to run with all it's software
not only that,but don't you find it strange at how all the best gfx artists on alot of forums only use ps because of it's superior capibilities,try a trial version of it to test it out and see for yourself,of coarse you need to fool around with it abit to get the hang of it

or if you want a pro's opinion on why it's better then go on a gfx site like gamerenders or something and ask there,they shoulod be able to explain it better,hell try wikipedia if ya need to