I highly recommend GIMP. It's free and open source. My viewpoint on GIMP is that it has/will have every feature other paid programs like Photoshop have, except you'll have to wait a little longer. A great trade-off in my opinion, since it doesn't cost anything.
I hear Paint Tool Sai is also good, and it's much cheaper than Photoshop (I believe Sai is only around forty dollars, but I may be wrong), but it only works on PCs, and I have a mac so I don't have firsthand experience.
If I were you, I would download some free programs, and possibly free trials of paid programs, and test them out. Figure out which one you like best, and if it's a paid program, try to find a free/cheaper program with similar features. For example, GIMP recently introduced a Smooth Stroke option, similar to Sai's Stabilizer. Best of luck!
I hear Paint Tool Sai is also good, and it's much cheaper than Photoshop (I believe Sai is only around forty dollars, but I may be wrong), but it only works on PCs, and I have a mac so I don't have firsthand experience.
If I were you, I would download some free programs, and possibly free trials of paid programs, and test them out. Figure out which one you like best, and if it's a paid program, try to find a free/cheaper program with similar features. For example, GIMP recently introduced a Smooth Stroke option, similar to Sai's Stabilizer. Best of luck!
BEFORE the most recent GIMP update, I wouldn't have recommended GIMP to anyone. I found the use of the non-native terminal very aggravating, as well as the clumsy interface. Maybe it was because I was used to PS, but anyway- the new updated GIMP is MUCH better.
Our school's digital art teacher used to use GIMP, and dumped it because of the issues I mentioned. I am going to mention Mypaint and GIMP for her to use again.
Our school's digital art teacher used to use GIMP, and dumped it because of the issues I mentioned. I am going to mention Mypaint and GIMP for her to use again.
Yeah, GIMP is much better now. n__n
That's awesome that you have a digital art teacher. My school only has one digital art class, and we don't really learn any techniques, we just get simple project assignments that we have to complete in Photoshop. x__x It's good practice, I guess, but I'd really like to actually learn something instead of just using skills I've had for years.
That's awesome that you have a digital art teacher. My school only has one digital art class, and we don't really learn any techniques, we just get simple project assignments that we have to complete in Photoshop. x__x It's good practice, I guess, but I'd really like to actually learn something instead of just using skills I've had for years.
Well, I am the 'other' art teacher at our school. She just teaches one digital art class- it is more of a "here's a packet with instructions, do this project". The kids keep bugging me to teach a digital photography class, but I don't have room for it in my schedule. TBH, I've learned more using the internet and youtube than I did in my digital art class in college.
Seems to be the norm unfortunately.
Seems to be the norm unfortunately.
Oh, that's neat! 
Yeah, I've definitely learned a lot from the internet. I'm a tutorial junkie. xD
Yeah, I've definitely learned a lot from the internet. I'm a tutorial junkie. xD
Thanks. I even use Youtube tutorials in the classroom.
Neat! I'm not a big youtube fan, as video format just doesn't work well with my brain, but I'm sure your students enjoy that. My ceramics teacher used Youtube videos often last year.