Photoshop is one of the best graphic design tools now days and i recommend you buying it. ( I'm using Adobe CS3 it works great)
Firstly i have tried coreldraw, then flash, photoshop. From these i think photoshop is better for web creation, but coreldraw is more comfortable (that is only my opinion). But now I'm using gimp, because I'm on ubuntu and It's not a bad choise. Also gimp is free
Adobe Fireworks!!!! I use this for all my graphic design and I wouldn't change it for anything.. Photoshop I couldn't get my head round.. but yeah, Fireworks FTW
dreamweaver is for web designing... Photoshop is advance for graphic designers.. Adobe Fireworks / Macromedia Fireworks is good for begineer graphic designers.
Admobe Creative Suite will be the best combination of softwares for web designers. I will recommend you start with advanced softwares rather than beginners. This way you will not face difficulty in your advance level.
Photoshop is powerfull but very expensive tool. GIMP just sucked when I tried to use it, but that may be because I\'m accustomed to using PS. Lately I tried Paint.NET and I find it usefull - you should check it out. It\'s free too.
What do I need to create cool graphics for websites, like mascots and crap.... I would like to know what programs are used for drawing these characters...
For drawing characters, you're going to want something like Illustrator, CorelDraw, or InkScape. Illustrator is what I use and it's the best but it's expensive. InkScape is free.
You would have him learn CAD software just to produce web graphics? Vector drawing programs are the standard in this area.
If you want 3d, check out Maya, Aside from that, Again i'll say, Get the adobe premium web CS3 pack and be done. if you dont know how to use it, pick up a total training for the specific programs (not the suite, thats a generalized watered down gotta cover them all in a short time-training disc) and learn it. No need to waste alot of time on other stuff
Dreamweaver and Firworks for starters. If you can only get one app I would say Fireworks and code by hand (fireworks generates some, albiet sloppy, html for you to get a start)
I use Adobe.. but the file size and memory needed is quite large. Its more suitable for higher processors
I have been using Ulead's PhotoImpact since version 4. This year Corel bought out Ulead so right now you can get PhotoImpact X3 for only $69 and it comes bundled with Corel Painter Essentials as well other stuff. All Photoshop plugins work with PhotoImpact and I cannot say enough good things about the software. I'm not just saying this to make a buck or anything, though I'm going to be completely honest and tell you, yes, I'm a Corel affiliate, and proud of it. I stand by this product 100% as I use it daily. I've just upgraded about an hour ago, in fact. See my blog posts: http://karenblundell.com/web-design/graphics/its-time-for-a-photoimpact-upgrade http://karenblundell.com/web-design/graphics/free-presets-for-photoimpact-users http://karenblundell.com/web-design/graphics/more-presets-for-photoimpact