I have been doing graphic design for years now. I started with PSP back in the day, and mastered it completely. Then I moved to PS and it wasn't hard to master that either afterwards.
I've been using Photoshop since I became interested in graphic design and I still use Photoshop to this day. Photoshop 4 life.
I have been using photoshop for about 12 years and still love it, its defo my favorite by, i have tried other design programs over the time including corel draw, gimp, paint shop pro...etc but photoshop is the best in my eyes
I just tried paintshop pro and found it wasnt that easy to pick up, where as photoshop is quite easy to pick up (and a lot more tutorials for photoshop). Good luck with whatever proggie you try
photoshop is gud.... if u want to take great ideas in designin.... goto: http://graphicdesignblog.org
I would definitely suggest photoshop, I have been using it for the past couple years. I have read a lot and watch a lot of tutorials, but the amount of stuff you can do on it is crazy. I am always learning new stuff from the masters, lol. I remember using GIMP before switching - itsa like night and day difference. Although GIMP is not bad for freeware.
Its amazing how many photoshop , adobe, groupie zombies there are. What would you all do with out it. Yes Adobe makes some nice software but it is so overrated and over priced. You can do the same work in GIMP for free.
I always use the adobe family...it can use to make everything in design..and have a lot of plug in if you want something else that photoshop did not have..
I started design a long time ago... and photoshop was not a program to design with. I think it has come along way since then. I always found paintshop limited in comparison. A great program already mentioned is obviously illustrator, however I am loyal to my faithful old freehand!