What do you use to create banners/edit images?

I've been going through a revolving door of image editing programs (all free of course, I'm cheap over here). I need something that allows me to be pretty flexible in what I do, but most important is that I be able to create an image or shape of a specific size for banner design.

I have a Macbook Pro I work on, and have been using Paint 2, because it has that particular feature ,but I feel like my work is coming out fuzzy, like the dimensions it's listing are somehow inaccurate compared to what I actually see on my screen.

So what do you guys like for this sort of thing? Do I need to just bite the bullet and purchase some kind of fancy graphic design software? Or is there something free, or even an online tool I can use?

In terms of free, paint.net does most things and what it doesn't do "stock" you can usually find a plugin for.

My husband recommends Pixelmator (approx $30) or Infinity Designer ($50), both for purchase, not subscription. There might be free trials available for these.

I don't do anything as sophisticated as what you are suggesting but I've been using gimp.

Destiny, I reccomend Canva.com.

I think you'd like it. Lots of great fonts and headings. You can do a lot for free.

Cassie Langstraat wrote:Destiny, I reccomend Canva.com.

I think you'd like it. Lots of great fonts and headings. You can do a lot for free.

I actually tried Canva yesterday, but I didn't see any way to customize the size - or am I just missing that feature?

Yeah, there is an option to do your own dimensions, or just choose "Instagram post" or "facebook cover photo" or "poster" but there is a way to choose your own dimensions too, maybe you have to sign up? but it's all free.

Cassie Langstraat wrote:Yeah, there is an option to do your own dimensions, or just choose "Instagram post" or "facebook cover photo" or "poster" but there is a way to choose your own dimensions too, maybe you have to sign up? but it's all free.

Ahhh, I see now, I was a few steps too deep to see the option.