Recommendations Requested for Software to Design PC Wallpapers

[Davemetalhead]

I'm looking for some recommendations for software to use to design wallpaper for PC usage. It'll be taking already existing photos and/or game screenshots and manipulating them to create 1920x1080 wallpapers. I'm a complete novice and will be using a mouse and keyboard, although if I enjoy doing it enough then I'll look at a stylus and board setup.

I've been looking at the usual commercial products - PaintShop Pro, Photoshop etc. Anyone with experience care to share? I don't want illegal downloads, I don't want abandonware, and I'm prepared to spend around the £70 to £80 mark.

[Deleted]

Start out with GIMP, free and is basically an open PS.

[Blueobelisk]

I'll second GIMP. I use Paint for the easy stuff, GIMP for the heavy hitting Layers and other high end stuff.

[Davemetalhead]

Marvellous, thanks for that, I'll check out GIMP tonight after work.

[Deleted]

Not sure how the latest versions are, but when I dabbled with it some years ago, compared to Photoshop, GIMP was true to it's name. But, then again, you get what you pay for, and if you get it for free...