i am a bit of a odd ball around here so...

with the exception of "Wilbur" ALL the software i use is under the GPL ( or like ) free software license
The software is all opensource ( except for wilbur)

and runs on most Operating systems
Linux
BSD
Apple
Microsoft

the cost of the Operating system on my computer
( OpenSUSE 13.2 and ScientificLinux 6.6) - $0
the cost of Gimp 2.9 DEVELOPMENT - $0
for Inkscape $0
for Nip2/vips - $0
Blender -3d software - $0
for Gmic - $0
For NASA/USGS ISIS3 - $0
For GDAL - $0
and so on ....
see a pattern here

now i am also NOT a average computer user and i LIKE hacking software and have been building programs for years
so for a lot of things i am past the EARLY part of the "learning curve"

basically things just DO TAKE TIME to learn -- so, be patient

The Gimp has a LOT!!! of guides the older ones really will not work with the CURRENT stable version 2.8.14
but there are still A LOT from guides on web sites to youtube vids

this one from 2012 is good
http://www.tutorialgeek.net/2012/11/...otos-from.html
( ps WARNING they are using the "one windows to rule them all - GimpShop look )

this vid using Gmic ( a plugin and stand alone program ) with Gimp to colorize a image
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37h8mlI-NCI


you can take from each something and use it DIFFERENTLY

for example :
colorizing a black and white OLD photo
applies to colorizing a map ALSO


in colorizing a photo you use LAYERS
you also use these in making a map or a texture for a 3d rendering


now Gimp can handle adding text to things -- for small things it is good

but
Inkscape can do it BETTER but for just a few words gimp would be faster