Computers, in the right hands, can do impressive work - keep track of personal finances, act as a library at your fingertips, organize and edit photographs. Movie studios use computers to edit the feature films shown in theaters across the country. And with computers now widely accessible to people (in homes, offices, and libraries), just about everyone can take advantage of computers' capabilities.

Knowledge of computer programs - from the most basic to the complex - doesn't have to be a barrier, either. Numerous area institutions and businesses offer a variety of classes - at widely varying costs.

RIT, which begins its fall quarter September 1, offers four-credit classes that cost $2,456 for non-matriculated students. RIT's "Intro to New Media Interactive Development," for example, teaches the basics of animation and gives you hands-on practice in making a website interactive. In "Intro to Programming for New Media," you can learn how to control and manipulate graphics, text, audio, and video on a webpage.

Several local businesses offer training if you need to learn or brush up on programs such as Excel (for budget spreadsheets), PowerPoint (for designing presentations), Dreamweaver (for building websites), or Photoshop (for editing pictures). And Net Results (netresultsusa.com), an in-home computer training business, gives one-on-one training on creating spreadsheets and formulas in Excel. The company also offers private and small-group training on Dreamweaver, PowerPoint, and Photoshop. Classes cost $50 to $65 per hour.

Among the classes offered at the Genesee Center for the Arts and Education, 713 Monroe Avenue, are "Photoshop Tips, Tools, and Tricks" (a one-night class, Thursday, September 16, 7 to 9:30 p.m.; $45 to $55) and "Web Design for Photographers" (Tuesdays, September 23 to October 28, $155 to $170).

And if you're still trying to learn the basics of computers? The Central Library of Rochester, 115 South Avenue, offers classes to get you up and moving in no time. These free, 1 1/2-hour classes cover everything from using a mouse to surfing the web.

There's a class in one of the most commonly used computer programs, Microsoft Word. There are courses specifically on the Internet: basic (which covers basic terminology, scrolling through web pages, and finding information in search engines) and more advanced (which teaches you how to search the Internet for specific information - getting driving directions and phone numbers, for instance, and finding and checking out a library book). You can learn how to send and receive e-mail and set up your own e-mail account. And "Job Hunting on the Internet" helps you find and apply for jobs in the local market.

The classes are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on a rotating basis. Each class is limited to eight people to give plenty of time for individual questions for beginners. To register for the classes, call 428-7300.

Many school districts offer evening and weekend classes on computers and computer programs. You can get a catalog of current classes from those districts.