[huckabuck]

i am attempting to use GIMP as a processing tool but i don't have any idea what i am doing. will this program help the problem? if so, what steps should i follow? or....is there another FREE program i could use?

here is an example of the problem. the milky way around cygnus. shot with my wide-field suitcase on fuji 400 asa. exposed 3 mins.