Its not a "image" programme like PS, after effects, etc, its a mathermatical tool, ie you give it some data, tell it what to do with it and it will give you a formula based on the data, kinda like what excel can do but a lot more complex solving. So I wouldent really like to compare it. It is a bit trickey but not more so than anything else.
"No pressure, no diamonds" Thomas Carlyle