I heard from a lot artist that Photoshop is really good if you want to make some neat BGs and post processing like sparkles, effects etc. So maybe give it a try? ^^

I always use photoshop for backgrounds. It's so much faster and it just makes it so easy and fun to make wonderful backgrounds!

Yeah, SAI and backgrounds is a bit of a struggle for me, I find GIMP a whole lot easier to make backgrounds as it has more tools to work with, as well as brushes, blending and effects. I'm pretty sure that Photoshop has even more tools than GIMP does, and you can use a graphics tablet with it rather than GIMP (GIMP doesn't register pressure).

A part of me wants to struggle and figure out SAI and backgrounds, but I have been debating about drawing them with GIMP. I will have to find some medium to transfer files between the two programs. However, I think both programs can save and open Photoshop files, so that might work for me. I just need to test it out once I get my new computer. :-P

I talked with Morrigan the Marwari about art programs, and she used to exclusively use Photoshop for her art work, but she has recently transferred to using SAI for drawing and photoshop for backgrounds and effects.

Thats exactly what im think8ng of doing.. the backgrounds just feel not realisting or fitting to me when i do them in sai.