New Joomla users often do not have access to graphics editors for tasks like making banners, changing logo graphics, and so on.   While I have quite happily used Paint Shop Pro for many years, it is a commercial program.  Others are fans of Photoshop (or Photoshop Elements) or Fireworks.

 

I need a free solution 

But, what if you are looking for a free solution?  What do you do?

As far as free graphics programs, the one that I hear recommended by many people is GIMP.

Give GIMP a try

 

GIMP is a free, Open Source program that can be downloaded for Windows from here.  gimp-win.sourceforge.net/.   The main website for GIMP is www.gimp.org .

I tried it once and found it very powerful, but a bit difficult to use (no doubt due to the power).

 

But how do you use GIMP? 

There are many GIMP tutorials on the internet as well which you should probably take a look at.

Help for GIMP is here:  http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html#help

The documentation is here:   http://docs.gimp.org/en/  (or if you need other languages:  http://www.gimp.org/docs/)

GIMP tutorials are here:  http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/   

And a GIMP Lite for quick things is here:  http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Lite_Quickies/  and another "Gimp Basics Video" here:  http://gimp-tutorials.net/node/143

Some other tutorials

Some other tutorials can be found here: www.pixel2life.com/tutorials/gimp  (recommended)

And there are a bunch more index on about.com here:  http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/gimptutorials/GIMP_Tutorials_Learning_The_GIMP.htm

That ought to get you started!