Okay I'll wade in here :)

I use Photoshop for all my texturing but I also use PhotoImpact, although not for texturing. I use it for my promo images and for most images that I put in my gallery.

What can I say, I'm a software crossdresser LOL.

I've been a PhotoImpact user for years and have been a beta tester on several versions and it is indeed a very versatile and powerful piece of software.

Unfortunately, most users have been screaming for better brushes for a long time now and for some reason, the voices have not been heard which is what drove me to get my head around Photoshop a few years ago and I haven't looked back.

However any Photoshop tutorial can be done in PhotoImpact without having to twist your brain inside out and there is a wonderful e-book available for advanced users that extends the possibilities even further.

I cut my teeth on PhotoImpact and nooooooo, I am no longer involved in the beta testing and I don't work for Ulead either but the learning curve for me was way easier than PSP.

But the bottom line is...Photoshop is the industry standard and unfortunately and even "stupidly" there is a misconception that if you don't use Photoshop, you're not a professional...to which I say bunkum ...use what you're comfortable with and if you produce an equal or better mousetrap, the world will come :)

Here endeth the lesson LOL.

STORE:
http://market.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/index.php?vendor=KymJ
GALLERY:
www.renderosity.com/gallery.ez?ByArtist=Yes&Artist=KymJ