Open Source and Mid-$$$ Software for Creating Graphics and Editing JPG

I'm such a noob

[Webwork]

I'm seeking suggestions for software that will allow me to create or edit graphic images for logos, stuff like swooshes, loops, "hand drawn" type stuff. I need quite a few logos . . . as I've got a few too many domains . ;) . . so I'm looking for an app that works well for creating decent logos.

I'm also confused. (It's a self-inflicted "wound".) Do most/all "graphics software" also enable a user to "work with photo images", i.e., edit them, add text, etc?

I'm only slightly familiar with photo/image editors - the kind that come with digital cameras. I haven't played around me, so I'm pretty clueless.

This is me starting a serious effort to be less clueless about creating and working with graphics and photo editing. Forgive me if, at my advanced age, I should know better. ;)

[Demaestro]

I prefer Photoshop, the good thing about it is there are millions of free online tutorials, brushes and effects.

If you want a free version that is comparable there is GIMP. Linux based but can perform most of the same effects.

When you get into logo design you are going to find physical print shops (not sure if this applies) when doing banners or brochures are going to want a vector based graphic in which case Illustrator is what you want. It might be because I knew about Photoshop first but I had a steeper learning curve with Illustrator then with Photoshop.

If you have questions keep asking.

At no age should someone 'know' these things. It would seem that you simply haven't had to know. There is always time to learn.

Ask a question you are a fool for a moment.
Never ask a question you are a fool for life.

[brotherhood of LAN]

A 2nd suggestion for gimp... which is also available for Windows.

There are a lot of tutorials and walk-throughs online for GIMP... meaning it's easy enough to 'do something' without trial and error working through the myriad of options that most graphics software packages have.

[Lapizuli]

I use and love GIMP but believe there's a bit of a learning curve if you're not already familiar with photo editing software. And if you are, they've upped and changed all the names of the functions and effects on you, so you will have fun figuring out which is which (it's not really hard though). But it's amazingly powerful. I do not illustrate much on the computer, however.

[Webwork]

bit of a learning curve

Does anyone know of any "well loved, well worn" gimp tutorials?

I'm also considering buying the student edition of PhotoShop for my daughter since she may need to work with it upon graduating.

Is the student edition "less than" the real thing?

Also, does anyone have any "best in class" Photoshop tutorials or learning sites to recommend?

In asking for site/resource suggestions I'm subscribing to the new/emerging WebmasterWorld outbound link policy, the one that says (or is soon to say?) that it's okay to post OBLs so long as they're links to ~worthy(?) educational references.

Thanks . . and thanks Demaestro for the encouraging words.

[Demaestro]

I don't know of any good GIMP ones but there are 2 sites I learned Photoshop on.

#1 was [Lynda.com,...] although most of their tutorials need a paid membership they are amazing and they are designed like classes. For example there is a class on creating a certain effect, within that class there will be 10-20 5 minute videos walking you through steps, concepts and pitfalls... as well as shortcuts, which you learn to love.

I think Lynda have some free tuts and my copy of CS3 came with a disk of lessons and a free trial from them. I have no idea if the student copy is slimmed down or not. I would assume that it is. Also it seems that Lynda is some sort of 'official' tutor of the all the Adobe Creative Suite programs.

The second site which is 100% free is [psd.tutsplus.com...]

They are user submitted tuts and they get voted up.. there are some really good ones and going through them you learn little tricks and gather cool brushes along the way.... the down side is there is very little help along the way except in the comment section which can be flooded with stuff that doesn't help... often the steps assume you know something, like they will sometimes just say "add noise to the background" and if you don't know what that is you can be stuck searching elsewhere to figure it out.... not that it is bad but it isn't as formal as lesson as you would get on Lynda.com

Lots of Youtube videos to follow too.

[willybfriendly]

Gimp is great for working with images. It is, in my opinion, not so great for creating images.

Inkscape is an open source vector graphics program. Kind of clunky in my limited experience.

Xara makes some reasonably priced vector graphics programs - below $100 I believe - and relatively easy for those of us lacking time or commitment to become expert graphic designers.