All of the fractal generators have different - sometimes VERY different - user interfaces and I don't believe that choosing one or the other will help much when you decide to move to a more complex or different program. I would suggest that, if UF is your ultimate goal, that you go straight to it without "passing go" and get started asap up the learning curve. I'm not sure that starting with FE or something will give you much experience that crosses over to UF other than you'll know what a Mandelbrot or Julia formula is. For example, I'm somewhat knowlegable in UF and hope to get to the point where I use it well enough to actually convey my emotional state at the moment when I make somthing but when I open Xenodream, I can't even make a shape and I'm sure when I try Fractal Explorer I will be just as baffled. Apophysis is a very easy program to get started with but the controls for it are unlike anything in any other fractal program. It is useful for UF in that it was originally meant as a plug-in for Ultrafractal and you can layer multiple Apo flames in compositions with straight fractal layers by exporting them to UF. Experience with the graphic editing capabilities in UF will then transfer over and enhance your skills in professional graphic software like Photoshop and you will understand the basic principles of layering/merging/masking. It will help with Paintshop Pro, too. And UF has some capabilities that even PS doesn't have. A steal at only like $40, IMO - PS is around $1,000. Rick