How do you make cool sigs and avatars like Vickinator and TheBaron because I would like to have a go at making my own.

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OT: They use Photoshop, I believe. But you should probably ask them via PM.

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Erm... yeah, I think PMing them would be best. Personally, I just use Paint.net.

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I use paint.net too, but a little bit of gimp cuz of the pattern options...

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COPY AND PASTE FROM ANOTHER QUESTION I ANSWERED TIEM

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On the topic of creativity, one thing i've used in several of my graphics (including the one I have as my sig right now) used a block of ice, with a colour filtered over it.

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I use Paint Shop Pro for art & graphics. It's like a simpler (and cheaper XD) version of Photoshop. You can pretty much do everything you can do in Photoshop, but you can't download as many brushes or whatever off the net because less people use it. I love it though. :)

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Nadindi's post basically summarized most of what I've been saying to beginners. Graphic design is an art, so it requires at least some level of artistic ability (i.e. knowing about composition, blending colors, etc.) and creativity to achieve success. Here, the definition of "success" can depend on your personal definition.

I started with Photoshop because I got it at a discounted price, but it is merely a tool of the trade. I've seen some great graphics done in Paintshop Pro (like what Maka uses), and I've also seen some neat stuff in GIMP. Both of these programs are cheaper than Photoshop (GIMP is free~), as Nadindi partially pointed out already. Likewise, simply being in possession of Photoshop or another particular program does not automatically make anyone a graphic god. It takes experience and skill, among a few other things.

To get started, just play around with GIMP or some other free program just to get a feel for it. In my personal experience, I learn by doing. I see what effects I can achieve by messing around with a program's features and tools. Eventually, you find something that really works for you and you continue onwards with that. This will lead to an individual style and hopefully, you'll improve as time goes on.

Many beginners use tutorials as well, but my feelings are mixed about them. They're nice if you want to achieve a specific desired effect or if you want to play around with filters/effects, but step-by-step tutorials for making an entire composition are bothersome. They significantly limit one's creativity because you're being held by the hand for each step... it's really about exploration.

I personally love working with textures and contrast (but not the neon/bright kind of contrast). Other people enjoy patterns or simply blending or photo manipulation. It depends on your individual style.

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Thanks a lot everbody for the help. I am going to have a go at GIMP as it is free and just mess around a bit

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I should probably point out that Paint.net is also free.

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Nadindi already pointed that out earlier.

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Well i just found Paint Shop Pro 8 on my P.C so ill give them all a go

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First off - Thanks for the compliment. :D

Second - I use Photoshop Elements 2. It's old, but I like it. ;3
I've being using Photoshop for about a year before I started my thread. When I started, I made really basic things but now, as you know, I moved onto more complex things.
Haven't really used Paint Shop Pro, but I recommend using GIMP as it's free, and it's close to Photoshop.