As you saw by the name of the topic, I have a little question. I hope I'm aloud to put this up here, but does anyone know of a free to use image editing program? One that a lot of people know of, or at least enough people have gone on to know it's not a scam. I don't want to be downloading anything that will give me a virus so instead of just googling something, I'm going to ask you. The people who have actually downloaded and used it.

I appreciate you telling me this, this way I'll be able to make my art look a lot better then all pixely and boring on my simple microsoft paint.

Also, I did just recently find something called 'Inkscape." I'm wondering if that's any good if anyone has tried it. If not, that's fine too. I just want to know this stuff before I get it :]

Again, I really appreciate it!

I've heard of a program called The Gimp but haven't used it myself. I know plenty of people use it, though, so it's not a scam or anything.

On the other hand, you could try torrenting Photoshop and a keygen... unless you're really afraid of viruses and/or have moral qualms with that. I didn't have to pay a cent for Photoshop, but then again, I'm using a Mac so I don't have to worry about viruses nearly as much as Windows users do.

GIMP takes a bit of time to get used to in my opinion buts it's pretty good. As long as you download it from the website there shouldn't be any viruses.

As well, there's online ones like Oekaki BBS and Splashup I believe.

Or...you can ask around for OpenCanvas version you can download from a site for free. (Not sure about this one because I bought mine)

I've heard of gimp and tried it, but it doesn't seem to be to my liking for some strange reason.

But isn't getting free photoshop illegal? Doing illegal things is even worse then viruses =P

But thanks anyways for telling me what those other options are, I'll check them out.

I like to think of it as... borrowing! As soon as I can afford it, I'll buy a legit version and wipe all my guilt away. XD

I'll never be able to buy it. =P

I'll give it a shot then ^.^!

i'd probably try gimp, though i've never used it myself. you can also download opencanvas1.1 for free, it's an executable file, so if you wanted i could send it to you directly - you don't have to install anything, it's small so it's already there.

Gimp is slow a lot, but it has some potential if you're REALLY patient. Downloading Photoshop for free isn't Illegal as long as it's an outdated version, like CS3 or 9. They don't catch you unless you make a profit by selling the program.

I know a lot of people are saying Gimp, but I don't really like it. o.o" Try Paint.NET? It's a free program created by collage students, and is actually pretty nice.

Gimp is... okay. I don't prefer it.

My HIGH HIGH recommendation for a free art program is an OEKAKI. The one I go to is pretty popular, and there are many many artists willling to help with anything (including me haha.) Pichus World Oekaki There's not even a download required, you just click Draw>Your application>submit and start drawing.. But you do have to have java.

Oekaki has 4 separate applications for you to draw in. Shipainter is a smooth program, sort of like photoshop. Shipainter Pro is just... like Shipainter with more stuff. PaintBBS is a basic program, most artists like to use this application. Just because of it's versatility with pixels and watercolors. Chibi Paint is really new... but I love it. It's just like photoshop without all the fancy effects. It's a real beauuuuty.

Go check it out, I have so many complicated and expensive programs (Photoshop, Flash) but I still love to draw with Oekaki just because the ending quality is fantastic.

Alright! I'll give it a shot. It might just be what I was looking for. Sense my comp IS having problems with space, it'd also help this comp out so it won't just get slower :]

eeek gimp D: I couldn't never use it to make anything

I would suggest sai (by systemax) it's a really popular program on deviantart. The first 30 days of it are free c: after the trial session, all it does is not let you save directly or open files, but you can still work on things on it. (just need to screen cap and save on paint or something). it's a very nice program, makes up for having to run out of your way to save things. (or you could just buy it for $50)

Thank you for your input.

I don't know so many people say gimp, it's just good for special effects, not very nice for actual drawing art. If this Oekaki things doesn't turn out as I planned, I'll try onto some of your other suggestions. But I'm afraid that Splashup isn't what I'm looking for. Thank you anyways for telling me about it!

I've used GIMP and it's confusing. Especially when alternating w/ the windows :[

But my friend has used it to draw chibis and another has used it to make really really really good realistic pictures C:

I also use Paint.NET which is pretty much MS Paint + layers + effects... but nothing really Photoshoppy. :|

There was a link for OpenCanvas to download from but I forgot >.>

I like open canvas- for me, it's smooth (smoother than photoshop or macromedia's fireworks, which I have tried and found very... choppy for drawing at least when I played around with them), and pretty simple to use. It can be pretty bare-bones (it doesn't have all sorts of filters and things that you can slap on and what not, as far as I know), but that works for me because I don't need a billion different things. A free (and legal) version of it can be downloaded here.

If you just want something online that you don't have to download, the oekaki boards like everyone has been mentioning are great. There is also tegaki E, which I guess is also like an oekaki, but a little different. They don't have layers (but I actually like that it doesn't have layers because it forces you to find new ways to approach your art), but it is a very smooth program, and it is nice that people can comment back on your stuff by drawing their responses. It's pretty spiff, I think, and what I like to use if I'm doing online digital art. :3