GIMP

Just popping in to ask a question. I'll preface this by saying I'm going through some personal stuff right now, and I'm trying to keep my mind off of it by keeping busy.

I've recently been downloading freebie scrapbooking kits and messing around with making blogger backgrounds. They aren't cute yet, because I'm still learning! I hope, once I get the hang of it, to purchase a cute kit and make my own layout from scratch. Kind of taking it a step further than my last makeover.

Anyway, the question is..


Do any of you use the program GIMP?


I'm slowly, but surely, getting used to the program. I'm figuring out how to manipulate layers, resize things, etc. It is reaaaaally frustrating, but it is starting to get fun! [I don't want to pay for a program, and I heard about this program from A Turn to Learn. I think I've read that you make backgrounds on Powerpoint, but I don't have that, either.]


What I can't figure out is how to get my not cute background to upload to blogger without the file being too large. I merge all the layers together, make sure everything is on the same size image thingy, and export it as a png (and I've tried JPEG). But, no matter what, blogger doesn't let me upload it, and it says the file is too large. Am I missing an easy step here? Or am I in waaaayyy over my head?


Does anyone have any suggestions?

Not much else to chit-chat about. My personal life is sort of imploding on me right now, so the giveaway/monday made-its/everything else is going to be put on hold until my spirits are lifted.