You’ve tried the rest, but they just don’t satisfy. You want a nice downloadable or Web-based graphics program that won’t cost an arm or a leg. Where do you turn? Try these on for size:

Picnik – This is a fun-looking Web-based graphics manipulator that includes both free and paid versions.

• Pros: Picnik has all your usual useful tasks, including re-size, crop, auto-correct, red eye, contrast, text, and more. It has a slick interface reminiscent of a more user-friendly Picasa. It’s fairly versatile. There’s also a small picture archive you can use to save photos, with more on the paid version.
• Cons: Being an online program, it takes a few seconds for the meat of the program to load, as well as each graphic. It only allows a handful of saved photos with the free version, but that’s more than some of the others on this list. Nice program if you don’t have access to the top of the line.

Gimp– The open-source grandaddy of all graphics-manipulators, the GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) has a dizzying array of options for your design needs.

• Pros: Tons of options, probably on par with Photoshop. A powerful image-editing program with layers, magic wand, and everything else you’d expect from a top-of-the-line graphics app. I’ve barely scratched the surface.
• Cons: Tons of options, not terribly intuitive. It’s hard to figure out what feature is where, and how to use it once you find it. The learning curve is high and totally separate from Photoshop, Fireworks, and similar programs, even if you use the GIMPShop hack. Other than that, I’m sure it’s a great program once you take the time to learn it.

[This is part three of a three-part series. Check out Part I: Specialized Apps and Part II: Basic Editors.]

There you have it. Got a favorite open-source or cheap graphics program you’d like to share? Comment here! Your suggestion just might end up in a future Resources section. Happy drawing!