Recently I've really been messing around with Adobe Photoshop and learning lots of new shit...
I remember when I first started out doing graphics, using Jasc's Paint Shop Pro to get acquainted with making computer graphics. My favorite effect tools at the time using that program were hue / saturation change, hot wax, and of course the many a n00b filter for download to do all your dirty work for you :D
Then I heard of a beast of a program called Adobe Photoshop, and so I had to give it a try. Well, to put it lightly, Photoshop was VERY daunting at first. Layers? WTF are those?! They are useless! This selection tool sucks! Paths?! - useless!