Best way to do simple graphics

[Myman]

I am a spaghetti coder from the days of DOS basic and achieved a reasonable standard of competency, but recently I have not done any coding beyond simple HTML mashups for ebay auctions and the like.

I'd like to progress my web skills and would like to be able to do some live graphics. I have two ideas - one involves moving coloured "cards" around on the screen (by the user) then having the site determine their position and do some processing (probably involving database activity from there).

Another involves getting information from the user and producing some live graphics based on the user input (generate some excel like graphs and independent (simple) animation).

As my skills are rudimentary, I was wondering if someone could give me some advice on what is the best language to learn how to do this sort of thing. I would prefer the simplest, general purpose language that would do the job. Maybe PHP? Does PHP do live graphics? I know it pretty much does everything else, so I'm thinking this is the way to go. Could PHP do the tasks I describe? Or do you guys have a better suggestion for me? Please remember simple is best - I want to learn out of a book or two, not a year at uni!

Thanks,

Myman

 

[SiberForum]

I suppose you can start learning PHP.

 

[Myman]

Will it do the grphic jobs?

 

[digital29]

I honestly have to say that PHP is a must.
As far as the graphical jobs...I think JQuery could work.