downloadable (for free?) graphic design programs

[PhillyB]

the short of it is i'm trying to design some cover prototypes for a side project supplementary to my book, as well as for promotional stuff for the book itself. it will serve as a fill-in until such time as i actually get published by a major house or publish myself (at which point i'll pay someone to put together something a little nicer.)

 

until then - any thoughts? i just need to be able to do some basic editing, coloration, fonts, etc. without a lot of frills.

[bigpoppa]

There is something called paint.net which is pretty good for the free price tag.

 

Also, Photoshop effects has most if not all of what you would need in full blown photoshop for about $99

[Mr. Scot]

GIMP is pretty good. Inkscape for vector graphics.

[Mother Grabber]

GIMP is the open source answer to Pshoppe.

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

Came in to keep the gimp train rolling

[KSpan]

I have GIMPed in the past and will one day GIMP again.

[PhillyB]

gimp seems to be one of the better rated options… giving it a shot now

[Donald LaFell]

there are also plugins/skins for GIMP to make it feel like photoshop too. 

[PhillyB]

this is the least intuitive program i've ever used in my life and i'm about to shoot myself in the head

[frash.exe]

lol

[Arroz con Panther]

You might want to check out sumopaint.com. I can't remember all it does, but it looks like photoshop