GIMP is a great program ... very powerful.

I do a lot of modding for Skyrim.  I have found GIMP (with the free addon for NIF files) to be more than adequate for all my needs.  Occasionally, MS Paint gets used.  Agree with Doc, unless you are a professional, or have lots of discretionary cash (and time to learn) PS is not necessary.

I used Paintshop pro for years and loved it. Joined the WC family a bit over 6 years ago. When I decided to skin here there was help available but the only thing that was always sent to me to view were PSD files. Hence the switch to PS.

At this point I have more than I need now with PS so see no reason to need any upgrades and need not to worry about Cloud.

I have always used PSP....up to and still including 6.

I am now also doing a lot with a ver of Photoshop.... it came free with a graphic card or printer or something....and it's prime advantage over PSP6 is it seems to handle significantly larger images [layer numbers] without falling over.  A current open image being added to and revised is just on 364meg.... 4096x4096 res....and god knows how many layers....

....and it's not the latest whiz thing on the block...it's "just"  Photoshop Elements 2.0

People don't NEED expensive programs.....what will serve them far better is actual competence with whatever program they happen to have....

GIMP layers are also worth a mention, and I have never had to do that many Undo's to see if it is unlimited, but it is a lot.
 

Here is a Sins of a Solar Empire planets Gimp project for modders I made. Show the use of labeling the layers with the brush name and grouping layers.

Great post, Doc. I'll have to show this to the wife. I've been teaching her photoshop for her photography but she's said multiple times now she wants to learn something simpler. I'll have to check these out and see if she likes any of them.

@RavenX: Maybe the absolute best thing for her to start with is camera RAW - if your version of Ps has it.

It can handle jpeg as well as RAW files, if her camera exports only in jpeg format.

That's really the best to start working on a photo with. Then open with Ps to adjust curves/hue-saturation, etc. I've found. Not a law, and I promise not to call the Photoshop Police if she doesn't like doing it that way. If she does, let me know as I have a few tips as to work flow and White and Black balance. Also, nice seeing you...hope all's well with your health. 

I'll be using photoshop CS6 till it will not run on what ever OS I'm using. That means I have many many years before I have to worry about finding some other program for editing my graphics. My wife still uses photoshop 7 and she's using windows 7 I've tried to get her to upgrade but she says it's working she knows everything about it so why upgrade just for the sake of upgradeing.

LoL, thanks Doc . I'll have to check out this camera RAW. I'm still using the old photoshop CS4. I'm not sure what camera plug-ins it has as I've never used it exclusively with photography in mind until my wife wanted to learn it for doing photo edits on her work. I use it from an artists perspective, not a photographers, so I'll definitely have to check that out. When it comes to various art programs the wife isn't nearly as technical minded. Her photography is just a hobby for her so she just wants simple stuff mostly. She's using some pic program now that works over the web (not even sure what it's called) because she doesn't want to learn abuot layers and glow effects and everything else PS does.

The health's not too bad right now aside from my gallbladder going septic. I have to go get that out, which normally isn't a big deal.....unless you suffer from crohn's. For crohn's patients not having a gallbladder can ratchet up the pain level you constantly feel by ten fold. So right now it's a matter of getting the gallbladder out and then hoping I have some kind of decent quality of life afterward and won't be stuck in bed in agonizing pain 24/7.  

I appreciate the kind words brother, thank you.

It has camera RAW, but CS6 has a far better one. To get to it, browse in Bridge or minibridge, navigate to the image you want and right click (or File>Open with) and choose Camera RAW, I believe. Never had CS4, so I can't tell.

Best of luck with the gall bladder thing, mate. I hope you luck out.

This is what camera RAW looks like (CS6). I think you'll agree that she might use those sliders a lot more easily than other programs. The histogram shows some saturation clipping, I believe.

I'll give that a shot, Doc, thanks . Not doing much with actual photos I never tried many of the specific photo plug-ins and honestly haven't used bridge for much of anything even though it came with my copy of CS4. I got the license for the copy from a company I worked for in the past and I sure as hell can't afford one on my own now. I imagine CS6 is probably what, $400-$500 still? Definitely out of my price range. I could drop that on hardware but spending that on just software (especially with no guarantee of making money with it) isn't something I'll be able to justify any time soon. If I ever get back to doing actual work with it then maybe, but at that point just as before most likely the company I'd do work for would provide me with a new license. I don't see my-self getting any breaks like that again though unless I seriously luck out. Most people who freelance like I do end up having to buy our own software and licenses.

A great source for software that requires no more than a flashdrive, is totally free and portable is PortableApps.com  Much of what is there also has installed versions, so PA can be a great way to "Try it before you buy it" or see if a program does what you need before you install it.Here is what they have in the Graphics and Pictures section. LINK.

I have the PortableApps platform software on both a flashdrive, and also installed on my main rig so that I always have the portable versions at my fingertips.

I have CS2, but much prefer Paintshop Pro 7 for creating graphics. It's much easier to use and, it's already been said, it's how you use it that counts

I also have Paintshop Pro X2. That's more useful for editing photos for the togs amongst you.

If I'm mostly doing an editting job that won't need more than your basic filters, I prefer to use Paint.net because I find it quicker and more responsive. If I'm doing something where I'll be needed to do more drawing or advanced filters, I'll use GIMP. Also while not really a photoshop tool, if I ever need to make fancy text I use Inkscape to make a Vector Image and export that to bitmap because I don't like either Paint.net or GIMP's text tools (you can apply any Inkscape filter or gradients directly to text objects).

 Great post, Doc!!