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If you plan to create or edit image files for use on a web site, you need to have a good graphics-editing program that will save files in JPEG and GIF formats. Newer versions of Microsoft Paint, a basic editing program included with Windows, do read and write files in both formats, but the program's editing features are strictly bare bones. Here are some programs for PCs and Macs worth considering are:
Photoshop 7.0 from Adobe
Platform: Mac and Windows
Price: $599 new license, $140 upgrade
Windows: Pentium processor, 64 MB RAM, 125 MB hard-disk space, color monitor with 800x600 resolution and 256-color video card
Mac: PowerPC, 64 MB RAM, 125 MB hard-disk space, color monitor with 800x600 resolution and 256-color video card
Publisher: http://www.adobe.com
Photoshop has long been a mainstay for professional graphic designers. It has a rich collection of features that will do just about everything except take out the garbage, but those features come with a steep learning curve and a hefty dent in the pocket book.
Paint Shop Pro 7 from Jasc
Platform: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000
Price: $109 new license, $49 upgrade
Requirements: Pentium processor, 32 MB RAM, 75 MB hard-disk space
Publisher: http://www.jasc.com
Paint Shop Pro is a powerful, yet affordable program with the right set of features to meet the graphic design needs of many business and home computer users at a price considerably lower than Photoshop.
Adobe Photoshop Elements 1.0
Platform: Mac and Windows
Price: $90 new license
Windows: Pentium processor, 64 MB RAM, 150 MB hard-disk space, Windows 98/Me/NT 4.0/2000
Mac: PowerPC, 64 MB RAM, 150 MB hard-disk space, Mac OS 8.6 or 9
Publisher: http://www.adobe.com
Photoshop Elements is Adobe's answer to Paint Shop Pro. It offers the basic image editing features that hobbyists need at a price they can afford.
Graphic Converter 4.4 from Lemke Software
Platform: Macintosh
Price: $35 USD, shareware
Mac: versions available for all Mac OS's and processors
Publisher: http://www.lemkesoft.com/us_index.html
This handy program for the Apple Macintosh can import 160 graphic file formats and can export 45 in graphic file formats. It is available as shareware from the publisher's web site.