Paint.NET is a free image editing and photo manipulation software.
Created for Windows users, this open source free program has layers, unlimited undo (Undo), special effects and rich feature-rich, useful and powerful tools. This software, which has a similar interface to MS Paint, is one of the simplest and best editors to use.
Paint.Net supports most popular image formats (JPEG, PNG, TIFF and others). It just doesn't support very advanced RAW files yet.
The simplest effects you'll want to find in a Picture editor include red-eye removal, column stamps, mosaic, magic wand and oil paint.
You will not need to hide any panel in the program.
The program is really well designed and very comfortable to use.