Try The Gimp ( gimp.org ). It's pretty much the best features 8-bit free image processing software you'll get..

You don't say what camera you're using, by the way..

I assume you're not shooting RAW, as you're a beginner. If you do folks will need to know the camera..

StephenG.

Fuji S9600Fuji S5200Fuji F30Fuji E900Canon A710ISPCLinuxOS..

Thank You for the answer.I'm useing a Nikon D80.Make that trying to use a Nikon D80..

There are so many options..

Adobe's Photoshop Elements is a step up from Picassa, as it allows more control over your photo manipulation and allows you to work with NEF files from your camera. Whether you think this an advantage or not remains to be seen, but it gives you a chance to experiment and see what all the fuss is/isn't about..

I also think Elements browser is an excellent device. Perhaps not as intuitive as Picassa's interface, but ultimately like Bridge-lite and is consequently extremely powerful and not too difficult to learn (Scott Kelby's books are usually good for filling in the blanks)..

Picassa is extremely good, especially at the (no) price, but the amount of control you have over your image manipulation is limited compared to Elements..

There's another option in Capture NX, but I feel this is relatively daunting as a step up from Picassa. Although it's arguably the best NEF processor around, it's not an image editor (like Photoshop/PS Elements/GIMP et al) and you will probably find that a limit..

You name it, I've broken it...

Well, here's my extremelly subjective opinions on photo/images software I use or used..

1) Albums..

Mainly oriented to organizing photos. I have natural dislike to them, because they pretend that they know what I want to do better than me.  They're wrong..

Picasa vs Adobe Album, - Ok, Picasa looks nicier and probably does better job at photo organizing, but it's photo fixing capabilities are not that great actually. Album has superb red-eye reducer, other tools more or less like Picasa..

2)Viewers.

IrfanView rules them all. Does most things you normally want to do to photos, does them well, does not second-guess you, and is free. It's red eye reducer is a bad joke thou, so I keep Album for these..

3)Editors, - unfortunately, I have less expirience here, but I use The GIMP when everything else fails, though I liked Photoshop and Paintshop pro 7 better when I had access to them at work. But, hey, what do they say about gift horses?.

Can't say anything about PS Elements or Paintshop XI..

Also, although it probable is of little interest to you, Samsung does include pretty good editor program with their cams, the only (but huge) drawback is that there are no layers...

I've got to second the Photoshop Elements V5 suggestion..

It's got an OK Organizer, an excellent mid level editor, an excellent RAW developer, a basic slide show generator, basic scrapbooking, basic panorama stitching, AND it provides some of the best hand holding for beginners you are going to find anywhere. Plus, many of the third party add-on programs for Photoshop CS3 will work with it as well!.

It's a pretty good deal even if you pay full price (around $110 USD). But if you shop around on the internet, I've seen it for sale as low as $50 USD). If you can find one at those prices, it is a truely spectacular deal. And considering it functions a lot like the professional versions of Photoshop CS3, much of what you learn in it will transfer to CS3 should you ever get to that point..

STOP Global Stasis! Change is good!.

Now that you've judged the quality of my typing, take a look at my photos..http://www.photo.net/photos/GlenBarrington..