I would like to learn something about computer graphics and design. I was looking for good software to start with but everyone is recommending Photoshop and Illustrator. These programs are too expensive for me and I am just learning. Besides, I do not have intention to become professional in this field so they are too impractical to me. Can you recommend good graphics software that will suit my needs?
Photoshop and Illustrator are the best programs in the graphics industry. But, you are right that they are for professionals and if you need graphics software just for hobby and seldom picture editing you will need something less complicated and free. You can find GIMP for Windows (this is a port form Linux) which is very good program with many options and it is free. Also, it is buggy sometimes. You can try Paint.NET, too. It is an advanced version of MSPaint and has some very good options.