i want to make layouts for my site, and i was wondering what is the best program (paint shop pro, etc...) to get to use?

There really isn't a "best." It's all just a matter of preference. The most popular are Paint Shop Pro (http://jasc.com) and Paint Shop (http://adobe.com). PSP is a lot cheaper than PS... you can download trials at both sites and see which one you like better.

From what I remember though, for the trial that comes with Photoshop, you can't save your images. Most people from what I've found start out with PSP and then move on to Photoshop which is what I did.

yeah..before it wouldn't let you save, but now it just gives you a 30 day trial.. great though cause now you can save your artwork. :) but download.com still says that the print and save features are disabled, but I guess they just never updated it.......

It's all a matter of opinion. I always liked Photoshop, but then it stopped running on my computer, so I went back to PSP7, then PSP8, and now I'm so used to PSP that Photoshop seems odd to me. I think more people prefer Photoshop, but it's more expensive.

I've only tried Photoshop once, and really...it was awful...It reminded me of the $10.99 Picture It!...but that is just my opinion...

I love PSP8...I can go on there every day and make something different EVERY time!!!

wow really? I love Photoshop... personally, I perfer Photoshop over Paint Shop Pro, but I guess it all depends on what you like .. when I first started out on making websites, I tried PSP7 (practically a year), then downloaded the trial version of PSP8 which just recently came out..and then a month or two ago my friend told me she just downloaded PS, and I've always heard it was good,and about a couple weeks ago I tried to DL PS@download.com but the download was corrupt, so when my friend told me she downloaded PS I went to download.com yet again..and my download wasn't corrupt..I love PS and the layers..and it's so good for saving images that are going to be uploaded on the net.. lol what version of PS did you try?

It was probably an earlier version of PS...Maybe I'll give it a second chance ;)!

I use Photoshop 7, It makes top quality layouts. Im a photoshop guru, lol ^_^

I forgot to mention...What is ultimately more important than which program you choose is that you be able to use it well, and I would advise choosing the one that is the most understandable to you.

Yes, thats very important. When I got photoshop I had absolutely no idea! Now I know about 90% of it :)