I use Photoshop CS for layouts, ImageReady for animations and such.
And Dreamweaver MX 2004 for webpages.

That combo pwns.

I've never actually tried GIMP, but I did find a copy of photoshop cs online and thus I use it. It's a lot more effective than paint or the other graphics programs I've used and I like it. I used to use Paint, and my dad bought Microsoft Digital Image studio which was okay. But when I finally got into graphics design I of course scoured the web and got my photoshop cs.

Im gonna try GIMP later, I think

Unless I decide to just get a version of Photoshop instead

Whichever one seems easier to me...

Either way, I'll let you know how it goes

Yea, same here . I can't say I have tried GIMP before. The only time I considered to use it was when I was htinking of switching to linux. But, I decided against that, and here I am. . I love photoshop persoanlly. It is easy to use and expariment with. Though, like most people had said earlier-- the proce tag is a bit high, but it is worth it in my mind.

If you plan on start gfx, in my opinion...get photoshop. There is no comparison in my book. Although like I said, I have not tried GIMP, and can only go off of what I have been told about it.

I use paint shop pro ive used it for 5 years now

--> Photoshop CS.
--> Illustrator, Corel
--> 3d Studio Max 7
--> Maxon Cinema 4D
--> Corel Bryce 5.0

That is my primary choice. Oh, and when I doo newspaper layouts and such stuff, I use Indesign or QuarkXPress

I use this: http://www.snapfiles.com/download/dlphotofiltre.html

This is my favourite for it is quite simple, though works good.

Having read everyone elses comments I have to say I was rather relieved to find that atleast a few people use Paint Shop Pro. I spent ages learning how to use Paint Shop Pro back when it was PSP7, I was just making avatars and email signatures on an msn community with some other artists. I'm not entirely sure if you can call avatars and email signatures art though...

Even now that Paint Shop Pro has progressed so much further since the PSP7 release it's still the version I favour. I have a large collection of filters, picture tubes and masks that help me do pretty much anything I want with the software.

I'm not entirely sure what will happen to Paint Shop Pro now that Corel have taken over from Jasc software but hopefully it will continue to advance.

As for photoshop? Well I'll be honest, I have photoshop 7 and I've never really taken the time to get to know how to use it....whether it's any better than Paint Shop Pro or not I do not know, and as for GIMP, I've never heard of it, I will have to take a look at it sometime. I hope you lot will tell me if I'm actually missing out on something here.....I'm always open to change, I'm comfortable with PSP but I wouldn't have much of an idea what other programs have to offer.

Any information would be greatly appreciated

For basic photo editing (which is, uh, about all that I can do with any graphics program), I like PSP, preferably version 7. It's easy to use, fairly inexpensive (although I haven't bought a copy of my own - still use school computers when I want to do stuff with photos or whatnot), and can do pretty much anything I want.

But if I'm just messing around, doing really simple stuff like creating desktop wallpaper (I like quotes from famous writers - solid background color and plain text), I use MS Paint. That's probably the only thing that program's good for, now that I think about it. Hehe.

I use Photoshop mostly, but my favorites remains, actually 2 favorite programs:
- maxon cinema 4d
- propellerheads reason 2.5

and this last one is such a good software... anyway. that's it..for the list of my favorites..