But when I need drawing tools and other advanced capabilities, nothing beats . Don't let the Web-oriented name fool you: this is a powerful image-editing program, one stuffed with -quality features like layers, special effects, and plug-ins. Best of all, it's absolutely free.

Consequently, I think it's a no-brainer for any user looking to edit, enhance, and otherwise modify images without spending crazy bucks on Photoshop.

The just-released 3.5 version of Paint.NET adds an updated user interface, new effects, improved startup performance, and a long list of tweaks and fixes. To use it, you'll need Windows XP, Vista, or 7, and .

I'm perpetually amazed that you can get software this powerful that doesn't cost a dime. Bottom line: If you want to edit images, get Paint.NET.