Not quite free but you can't do better than an old version of Corel Draw.
Fully licensed versions are common at computer shows for about
10 UK pounds for version 10. The package includes PhotoPaint which
has about 98% of the functionality of PS CS for 1.5% of the cost. Oh
and the rh mouse control works correctly unlike the mouse control
on Adobe products. This improves workflow, navigation etc.

Graham

"Dave" wrote in message
...
Greetings!
Recently my wife and I have begun to take 50 -100 pictures each weekend
with
our Olympus D-550. As amateurs we are trying to learn more about our
camera
so that we are starting with better photos.
In the mean time we are also looking at software to manipulate the images
and improve the end result, either for onscreen enlargement and / or for
printing.
We would like to use and compare different packages.
Does anyone have suggestions on the best places to download free
photo-editing software? We have the SW that came with the camera, but it
is
so basic as to not be much value, other than to enlarge and crop.
Any / all suggestions are welcome!

TIA!

-- Dave