best value photo software

[gothicmama]

I am after some software similar to photoshop but need it to be more affordable than photoshop cs2.
is photoshop elements any good
are there any cheaper / better software programmes out there

Picassa does a fair bit, and is free. And by google.

I don't think it's got as wide a range of features as photoshop, but hey! free! and good!

Photoshop elements is fine if you don't want to do anything too complicated. Cheapest way of getting it actually is often when you buy a camera it comes bundled.

What do you need to do?

I've found Gimp is pretty good for the basic stuff - and it's free too.

I need to touch up photo's and have something that allows for some creative arty effects

frannyannie not to sure what results I'd get if I googled Gimp

what will you be using it for?

if just mucking about with photos then you can't go far wrong. whatever old versions they're giving away free with this months web mags really.

But if you want to learn it for work then it is a good idea to go with photoshop just because it is by far the most common one used in the industry. any version will do though - photoshop 6?

don't worry Gothic - the entire first page of results are all about GIMP photo software LOL.

Thank you all will have alook at all teh suggestions,