If you are dealing with CAPTCHA or some graphics stuff you have definitely come across with Imagick.. it is a nice library that you should check out..
to install.. it is much really easy with pecl
here is the step by step process to install it..
pecl download imagick tar -zxvf imagick-VERSION.NUMBER.GOES.HERE.tgz cd imagick-VERSION.NUMBER.GOES.HERE phpize ./configure --with-imagick=/opt/local make make install
Then, on successful make, you will see the path where the “dot so” is saved..
go to you php.ini file and add
extension=imagick.so
then restart you apache and check if the imagic is available on phpinfo()..
DONe!