Software Query

[lyricospinto.livejournal.com]

I'm currently fooling around with the idea of downloading the GIMP (a software imaging program) in order for use in making stencils and such, and I was just wondering how many of you use that, and are there any tips you can give me?

All in all, I'm wondering if it's worth the time to download, or should I hold out until I save up enough to snag an old version of photoshop off of eBay (I have a thing against file sharing programs such as Kazaa and Morpheus and such... That's what I get for being raised by a full time musician.)

Any advice would be super appreciated!

(oh, and x-posted... sorry...)