Photoshop, Paintshop Vs. MS Paint, Paint.net

I’m often asked if there is a Graphics program that is easier to use. I always say “NO!” Then someone asks the more important question, which one is less expensive? Unless you have about a hundred dollars or more, that question is more important. Of course you can turn to E-Bay and look around until you find one for less. The first two, Photoshop and Paintshop are relatively expensive, not so easy to use and sometimes downright confusing. If you have time you can learn to use them and become quite proficient. You can turn out some downright beautiful works of art. There are thousands of folks out there that are willing to help you learn.

Microsoft Paint is free and comes pre-packaged with your windows operating system. While it is much less the intensive graphics program that the aforementioned are, it nonetheless will let you have fun. You will still have to spend some time learning how to use it. It will do quite a few things with pictures such as change colors, sizes, edit in text and a few other odds and ends. Remember it’s free.

Paint.net on the other hand is an open source (means the files are readily available on the internet) program that will do everything the first two will do. It is very intensive but “free”. You will spend just as much time learning how to use it as you would Photoshop or Paintshop.

During all this Graphics Programs exploration, some of us have come to realize that while we want to draw something, as in pencil and paper, electronically that is not really what is going to happen with the program we purchased or downloaded from the internet.
There are literally hundreds of “Graphics” programs out there that claim you can become a graphics artist over night. Most of these have pre-sets that do certain things to your pictures, but very few actually let you draw free hand pictures. Also beware of the programs that claim to be “Graphics” programs but merely let you assemble your pictures by category. A list of your pictures so to speak, that you can scroll through and view. These programs are very helpful if you have a lot of pictures but that’s all they do. They archive your pictures for easier viewing.

Bottom line is that if your going to get a program that will allow you to be a creator of art, it’s going to take some intense learning and dedication. Choosing one is most difficult because we all have certain “Learning abilities” and finding someone to teach us is even more concerting. There are a lot of folks out there who want to learn the same thing. The “HELP” files in most programs are almost totally useless to the common folk. Remember people write them who already understand the program and are not written in any language we the common folk understand. So finding a tutor can be almost as difficult as using the program itself.

There are however, a few places where we can go to find “Online Tutorials” and folks that will try their best to explain how to use the programs. I find these places are for the most part, very helpful and friendly. They seem to be everywhere now days, and the most trouble I have is finding when the folks are actually online. It seems to facilitate the help when I don’t have to wait for days to get an answer. Most of these places require you to “Register” but don’t worry; they just want to make sure they’re talking to a real person and not a web-bot. (Web-bot is something that electronically gathers information)
Some few are the exception and tend to be a little overbearing and protective of their time spent doing this kind of thing. Folks don’t want to waste their time unless you’re willing to learn. Almost all claim the tutorials are their own, and in some ways that is true. They have spent literally hours and hours putting together something that makes sense to the common folk. They are in most cases easier to understand than the ones already in the “HELP” files. In almost every case there are helpful pictures of what you should expect to see when you follow their instructions. Learning becomes easier and if you follow through, you’ll start to have fun more quickly.

So if you want to get a good “Graphics Program”, ask yourself a few simple questions. Do I want to create a new picture? Do I want to edit my photographs? Do I want to edit an existing picture? Do I want to actually draw, as if I had a pencil and paper?
These questions will help you and others who help you, decide which program is best to start with.

I suggest you start with the “free” ones and work through trial and error for awhile until you can better decide if you have the money to pay for a program that will do what you expect.

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