Diadem Graphics

Not matter what graphical work you do, from 3D modeling to making website banners, you will need a good bitmap image editor. Most graphic designers want a program with a lot of features and options. The long time standard in the graphics industry is Adobe Photoshop, which is popular with both professionals and amateurs. It's a great program, but the one problem with Photoshop is that it will set you back over $600. Some people (like me) cannot afford it, and others might not want to pay that much if they're just starting out. Luckily, there is a very good, free alternative in a program called the Gimp.

Weird name, huh? Look past that and you will find a great image editor. The Gimp is an example of open source software: programs made by talented individuals with the intent of freely distributing their work to everyone free of charge. Open source software is distinguished from freeware and other forms by the ability of anyone to modify the source code. The Gimp may lack a few of the features of Photoshop, but when you get down to it the two programs are basically the same. Most of Gimp's tools correspond with those in Photoshop, just with different names (for example, the stamp in PS is called the clone tool in Gimp). This means that Photoshop tutorials (which make up the vast majority of graphics tutorials on the web and in books) can quite easily be used with Gimp. In you already have another image editor or plan to buy Photoshop (or whatever), great. If not, then check out gimp.org for the free download.