Alternative to Photoshop ( preferably free)

Can anyone recommend an alternative to Photoshop that is free? I've only just discovered that I can scan photos and want to upload bag loads of the things to my pc. The trouble is, they all come out rather small so I want to enlarge them a little. My Photoshop Trial Edition ran out years ago and they have stopped sending out unlock codes since 2009 ( I know, I know, I'm still in the dark ages). Anyone got any suggestions?

Never used Photoshop, think that is one of LRs babies I use Flickr when I can be bothered, normally just download to my PC and then tart up with Picasa3 Fotoflexer is supposed to be quite good but I've never used it.

Thanks Gypsy, I'm looking at the Picasa website at the moment

I downloaded it free as I use Google Chrome as my browser.

Hang fire 3rd, its not your editing software thats the issue about the file sizes it will make no difference once its been scanned.

Its the scanning that's the vitally important bit, regardless of what software you use once its scanned you'll never improve the pixel ratio (quality) once it's scanned unless you have specialist software like we use at work (if i haven't mentioned it before I'm a graphic designer by the way).

Have a few practises scanning firstly, your scanner software will have a 'advanced' button and that's what you'll need to use.

Change the quality, which will either be listed as size/ratio or pixels/quality, you need it to be at highest settting possibly, it will make the end scanned images a larger file size but once you have a large file size/best quality you can than reduce it without losing any pixels (quality).

If your scanning older photographs you'll defo need to do this as the older film processes to produce the prints (actual photograph) were less advanced as in th elater years before digital took over so will not have the quality.

If you use one of these Torrent download sites for 'acquiring' films etc try looking for programmes you can get the pro Photoshop with the crack file (code), mate at works gets all the programmes we use on our macs for my laptop.

Giz a shout mate, if you need any help scanning.

I'll have a chat with you later Blyth. Got to go to another job now. Thanks for the advice