Originally Posted by SilentKnight

Before Photoshop even existed - some of us learned the basics of our craft using shareware/freeware versions of photo editors such as Aldus PhotoStyler (which I still use daily - despite owning paid-for copies both Pshop Elements and Photoshop7).

One needn't shell out the $600-700 clams for the cadillac Photoshop to develop their skills.