If you are using it for purely images, I wouldn't buy it. Buy firework or photoshop. But if you want a pretty easy way to do anamation. Flash is it. I personally love it. I am still learning but it is so cool. My latest project is a valentine I made for today. If you want to check it out you can. It takes a while to load but I think it is still cool. Not for guys they will think it is cheezy. You can always e-mail the link to your wives or girlfriends.
www.michaelsworld.us/valentine
good. luck
michael