Good Image Editing Program

[Rockonmetal]

I am going to upgrade from Paint.net to something else. I am especially excited for the new adobe series with the fireworks. I though want something I can just open up and have a library of shapes and stuff. I like how fireworks has the styles that you can apply to text and stuff. Though I didn't like how it didn't have many effect options like tiling... I could never get very far into photoshop because it was really "strict" and you weren't forming free form lines and stuff.
Now I am searching in the range from free to $600 :P vector editing is also a good thing to have since I seem to be downloading more vectors...

What are you guys using and what do you like/dislike about them?

Thanks :P

[TheJoshMan]

Thank for making this valuable information available to the public. ------Crystal (Link Removed).

Not only are you spamming, but the site you're trying to "promote" looks terrible.

Geez

[jr_yeo]

try GIMP.

[Rockonmetal]

k thanks... i'll check out GIMP jr_yeo, btw Nyne i wasn't spamming or promoting...

[TheJoshMan]

I didn't say you were, I had actually quoted someone who was attempting to promote a crappy site by making a minimal post which wasn't even relevant, then shoving a link to that crappy site in our face.

(the post was soon after moderated/deleted)

[Master_script_maker]

i think he was referring to a recently removed post by imana86

Edit: sorry nyne, posted at the same time

[Rockonmetal]

ok didn't know that... i apologize nyne... i tried out GIMP i sorta like how it has patterns and angle measuring but i'm gonna have to get used to it :P

[Twey]

I usually use Inkscape for the initial design and then the GIMP for tweaking/effects/&c.

[Rockonmetal]

ok... I've tried inkscape... but it was way to odd. I guess that I'll stay with Paint.net :P

[Twey]

The 'oddness' is probably caused by it being a vector-based app, while you're used to pixel-based apps. Run through a tutorial, you'll get used to it.