How to Choose a Paint Program

It can take a little work to find the right paint (graphics) program. Some are very complicated, while others are simple. Some are optimized for working with specific kinds of images, such as photographs. And some are very expensive, while others are free.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet Access
• Adobe Photoshop
• Paint Shop Pro
• Search Engines
• Paint Shop Pro

1. Determine what you need in a paint program. Beginners can use a free paint program to learn and then move on to a more sophisticated program, while midlevel and expert users may find they need to spend more money to get the features they want.

2. Use a Web search engine to locate different paint programs. Narrow your choices down to three programs or fewer.

3. Compare the program's features to your needs. Does the program work with different formats? Does it have specific scanner capabilities? Is it optimized for working with Web images or print images? Does it have many more features than you need?

4. Consider any accessories the program comes with, such as add-ons, filters, CD-ROMs, free tutorials or clip art archives.

5. Check the program's cost. Some paint programs can run as much as $600 new.

6. Ask about upgrades. Many programs offer upgrades at a reduced rate.

Tips & Warnings

• Some beginner programs come pre-loaded on your computer, such as Microsoft Image Composer. The most popular midlevel paint program is Paint Shop Pro, while Adobe Photoshop appeals to more experienced users.
• You can purchase and download some programs online. This saves postage and handling fees and shipping time. Many companies also have free trial versions that you can download.
• Some paint programs come packaged with other programs made by the same company. For example, Adobe Photoshop Limited Edition is bundled with the Adobe Pagemaker program.
• A draw program, such as CorelDraw, is different from a paint program. Paint programs use "raster" images, or images made up of tiny dots called pixels. Draw program images are stored as mathematical information about a shape's lines and curves (as vectors). Draw programs are usually better for line drawings, but Web pages can use only three paint formats: GIF, JPEG and sometimes BMP.
• It's illegal to use "pirated," or illegally copied, software. If you'd like to test a program, look for a trial or shareware option.

[Limpidy]

on 10/20/2008 i dont need a paint program to se it, the drawing stuff, but just to use my activation code. can you help me?

[Limpidy]

on 10/9/2008 i have an activation code for my mobile game. it's still not used yet, because i need a paint program to do so. what do i have to do in mobile?

on 6/30/2006 I am a total beginner and have no art training at all. But I love the free download of this program. It is great for a beginner like me.