I've long been a proponent of Paint Shop Pro. Cast in the
role of the little guy against Adobe's Photoshop, David routinely beat
Goliath, at least insofar as what I needed out of a paint program. It
was easy to use yet contained a wealth of options for veteran users and
consistently produced good, quality artwork.
Having since lost
its underdog status (Jasc, Paint Shop Pro's parent company, was
purchased by graphics giant Corel) it is still a top contender in the
world of graphics programs, and version X, the second revision since
Jasc's sale, further cements the program as the low-cost,
high-performance alternative to Photoshop.
And for their 10th
edition of the graphics suite, they've really pulled out all the stops.
Focusing on photography rather than graphics in general ("The
intelligent choice for people who want great photos"), Corel has added
true black and white and infrared conversion support, one-click red-eye
removal, advanced retouch tools, and more. They've also improved what
was already good to begin with--the help files are more accessible than
ever before--and added more effects and options such as the ability to
turn your photos into greeting cards and calendars.
The learning
center, which is docked to the left side of the screen by default, has
been totally revamped into something invaluable for even the most
experienced of Paint Shop Pro users. The program gives you simple,
step-by-step instructions for accomplishing even the most complicated
operations, and once you get the hang of it, you can close the
instructions with a single click of your mouse.
The menu is also
more accessible and easier on the eyes. There are some cons to this
(more on that later) but for the most part, you're now able to find the
tools, filters, and options much easier than you were able to before.
PSP can also now open up images in 16-bit mode, which means adjustments
can be made without any compromise in quality. Of course, several tools
(clone, for example) only work in 8-bit mode, so you'll have to convert
to 8-bit if you want to use those. Still, it's nice to have the option
of keeping images in their native, raw format.
And, while not as
comprehensive as the Learning Center, the printed user guide that comes
bundled in the package is a huge improvement over any that came before
it. Installation, of course, in covered in detail, but the guide doesn't
stop there. It also offers up easy-to-understand instructions for
performing tasks such as cloning and cropping images, using the picture
tubes, and adding picture frames. All basic stuff, but potentially very
useful for novices or someone only vaguely familiar with the
program.
PSP X now comes bundled with the standard version of
Corel Photo Album 6, a program that easily rivals--if not
surpasses--Adobe Photoshop Elements in terms of ease-of-use and
image-editing power. It does, however, lack many of Elements
higher-level features, such as Video CD and Web gallery creation and
support for RAW formats. But it's a definite start.
The most
important upgrade, however, at least for me, is that this version loads
in about half the time that the previous version did. No longer is
deciding to boot up Paint Shop Pro a serious commitment. If you just
need to alter a photo, for example, you can open the program, run
red-eye removal, and be done with the fix in no time flat.
And
now, the caveats. Some of the tool commands you might be familiar with
have disappeared. Well, they're still there, but now you have to look
harder to find them. For example, the tool used to set black and white
points in an image can now only be found via View>Customize>Unused
Tools. You then have to drag that tool onto one of the other existing
menu bars if you want to use it with any regularity. This isn't the end
of the world--in fact, several of the seemingly-missing tools can now be
found as part of other toolset menus--but it's frustrating if you're
used to working with PSP 9 and suddenly find yourself lacking for the
right tools to do the job.
Another complaint is that Animation
Shop, long a part of Paint Shop Pro, has been annexed from the suite.
(You can purchase the program separately from Corel for $40.)
Photographers won't miss the tool, but Web designers and other folks who
routinely work with clip art and Web graphics might--and won't
appreciate being forced to pony up 40 bucks for something that used to
be a part of the program.
Despite those drawbacks, PSP is still
well worth the $99 MSRP (or $59 if you're upgrading). Compared to
Photoshop, which costs upwards of $500, Paint Shop Pro is a bargain.
Easy to use for novices yet offering advanced tools for veterans, PSP X
definitely deserves a spot on your PC. You can purchase the program or
download a fully-functional, 30-day trial version at www.corel.com.
Contributing Editor Joe DeRouen writes Windows Advisor
monthly for ComputerUser.
