open source alternatives

[Pisgod]

Right, i'd like some image manipulation and publication software (like illustrator and photoshop), but i haven't the extortionate amounts of money for them. I've been looking into open source equivelents and i was wondering if anyone here had any tips on which is best. I know they're all going to be no where near the power of their expensive counterparts, but i dont really mind at the moment.

[LordDefendA]

photoshop=the gimp.
publication? as in DTP? in that case Scribus

[The Dark One]

Illustrator type clone http://www.inkscape.org/

Gimp comes pretty close to photoshop tbh, the real power is in the ability to add filters though, the core tools are very similar, as are the layers

[LordDefendA]

with the win32 version of gimp you can get a plugin which allows gimp to support photoshop/paintshop pro plugins.

[Pisgod]

cool, thanks all for the info.