What Graphics package to learn?

Looking for opensource suggestions

[Acekicker]

Hello everyone, I am just starting out in learning web design and I would like some suggestions on a good (and preferably opensource) graphics package to learn. I can't afford photoshop so I am looking for something cheap or open source. Right now I am studying HTML and would like to learn how to manipulate and create graphics while I am doing this. Would it be worthwile to learn how to operate linux or is there good opensource stuff for XP?

Thanks

[graeme_p]

GIMP is the best known and most sophisticated of the open source graphics packages.

You can get it for windows.

I would still consider trying Linux because:

1) It is easier to discover,install, and update open source software if you use Linux. This is assuming you use a version of Linux (like Ubuntu) that has a good package manager.
2) If you are going to use unix/linux hosting it is a better test envirnment.

[MrWumpus]

I've been quite happy with PhotoImpact for years. I call it the poor man's PhotoShop. You can download a free trial and the full version costs $89.00. They recently changed the interface a little and I can't say I like it better but it still does everything I need at this point.

Definitely give the trial a shot and compare it to products like Gimp. I never liked Gimp's interface much.

[mack]

The GIMP is a great tool, although it does take quite a lot of time to get to grips with.

Mack.

[gstick]

I have been able to do a lot of useful things with Paint Shop Pro. This program is now owned and backed by Corel. There is a lot of support including a forum and free tutorials.

[limbo]

Pixel is looking quite tasty - it's not free but a cheaper adversary to PShop