Since I tried to upgrade my GIMP program I have been having trouble, as the dialogue part of the program was unavailable.  When I tried to return to the older version there were faults.  Through frustration I decided to treat myself to PSE.  Good old Amazon got it for me at a knock-down price.  It came today and I have spent hours on the computer playing with it.  As it is different from GIMP I also bought 'Photoshop Elements 7 for Dummies'.  I think I must be very slow, as I find it difficult to get to grips with.  Maybe I am too impatient, and have always advocated learning by doing.  I am having trouble with layers and cutting and pasting from one picture to the next.  Maybe I should discipline myself and follow the book bit by bit. I have made a few icons, but a signature has got me stumped, so I won't give up entirely on Gimp yet.

I haven't posted anything since I joined.  I am really enjoying working on some of the challenges.  There are so many I don't seem able to keep up.  I think I am improving a little with GIMP, but much is trial and error and I forget to write things down, so that I cannot remember how I got the effects I wanted.  Have to start from scratch every time.  I have been over the moon winning  two banners.

Spent hours waiting for a validating email, only to find that it had gone straight into my junk mail.  However I am now trying to find my way around.  It is all very confusing and I expect it will take me some time.  Managed to pick up two friends though.

I have begun to use Gimp for  making icons and signatures as well as for editing photos, but am not very proficient.  Would love somehelp and advice.