Any free image editors with these features?

Oh, one more:

-keeps imported images separate so they can be manipulated later

Thanks for your response. I've tried both of these before, and I swear for the life of me, I can't figure out how to use GIMP. I've used GraphicConverter before also, and I do believe I remember images staying separate so I could manipulate them separately later, but I can't figure out how I did it.

For GIMP, I would import each of the separate images into different layers, right?

Are you sure there isn't a more intuitive and also more powerful application, something that works like the iWork apps?

Thanks for your response. I only tried the free ones and I kicked out Xee because it's not a usable free solution because it's a free trial that will expire in 30 days.

I've tried GIMP before, and I swear I can't understand how to use it. In theory, I would import each separate image as a new layer, right?

I've used Seashore before also, but it doesn't seem to keep the images separate like I want them to... again, layers?

Are you sure there isn't a more intuitive and also more powerful application, something that works like the iWork apps? I'm a big fan of the way, say, Pages handles image manipulation.

Actually, the link you gave me gives me a "deprecated" version of Xee... Do they happen to think "old" means "deprecated"? Or does the file actually have a bad checksum or something?