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Corel PaintShop Pro

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Corel PaintShop Pro Editor's Review

While a majority of graphic designers, print media professionals and artists have consistently stuck to Adobe’s powerful image editor Photoshop, less demanding users have also tried low cost alternatives. PaintShop Pro, from the stable of Corel, has been in the industry for quite some time and it has also catered to needs of millions of design professionals worldwide. In its latest iteration, PaintShop Pro offers great value or money and sports a number of notable improvements over its predecessor. Corel has made the app 64 bit system compatible, thereby offering users more power to harness its potential.

Corel PaintShop Pro runs on Windows XP SP3 and later versions and you can install it in both 32 and 64 bit systems. The hefty price tag by industry standards is still much lower than Photoshop for Ultimate edition. Like any professional image editor app, it needs a fairly powerful computer and you will need a PC with 4GB RAM or more to get satisfactory performance. It is clear that the app will run smoother on PCs with multi core CPU and 64 bit systems. One gripe with PaintShop Pro is that its installer prompts you to install third party apps.

Corel PaintShop Pro offers broad image format compatibility and you can rely on the app to import image captured through myriads of devices. It supports native RAW format as well. The app offers RAW pictures shot by over 300 cameras, so you need not bother about compatibility. You can also count on the app’s capability to export images for webpage usage.

There are some new features in this version of PaintShop Pro and that include two new tools, namely Auto Selection and Smart Selection. The Auto Selection will remind you of Photoshop’s Magic Wand tool but it works better with uniform backgrounds and objects that have well-defined edges. The Perfectly Clear auto-correction tool in the app is a notable new addition. It is actually a plug-in that relies on combination of sharpening, color adjustments and lighting. You can also fine tune effects before applying on an image and there are presets like noise removal and landscape.

The FaceFilter portrait editor, derived from Reallusion is another USP of PaintShop Pro Ultimate. It is a large download at 245MB, almost as big as the core app. As evident from the name, FaceFilter lets you edit and tweak every inch of faces. While it comes with plenty of makeup provisions, there is no specific blemish removal option.

Corel has given PaintShop Pro a makeover as far as app interface is concerned. The interface looks less cluttered than the earlier version. There are 3 mode selection tabs at top of the interface- namely Adjust, Manage and Edit. Manage tab is for colletion, tagging and working with folders. Adjust tab is meant for images that need light retouch and quick edit. It is only in the edit mode that you can truly explore the features and capabilities of PaintShop Pro. The app’s Learning Center panel is ideal for beginners and they can learn how to accomplish tasks like perspective correction, photo restoration and HDR merging etc.

Corel claims the new version of PaintShop Pro offers improved performance owing to its native 64 bit support and that is quite true. However, there are still some performance issues that the app suffers from, particularly when compared to Photoshop. The lag while opening high-res images is still perceptible. It lets you import images from devices but not all devices get recognized at first attempt. Even Photoshop Elements performs uniformly as far as image importing is concerned.

After selecting images in the app’s Manage Mode, you are taken to Quick Review window, where you can rate, discard or move to subsequent images. The organizing provisions are standard with tags and star rating. You can also use the app’s Smart Collections feature. Zooming in and out on images is smooth. The app also features Face Detection which is not perfect but on par with other apps. You may feel the app lacks a learning algorithm to define and remember faces.

Now, PaintShop Pro comes with location and mapping capability. If you deal with smart phone images, the app can use embedded GPS information in those pictures easily. The app can make collections based on image location, which can be edited later. The Share My Trip provision in PaintShop Pro is also worth a mention and it requires you to have accounts in Dropbox and Facebook to use it. You need to select the photos first and then follow a wizard which logs you in both the aforesaid services online. The result is pretty impressive for most users.  

Basic photo editing can be done in Adjust mode but most users will find One-Step Photo Fix in edit mode even better. The Instant Effects palette in PaintShop Pro Ultimate is another handy addition which lets you apply Instagram-like effects to images fast. For some strange quirk, Instant Effects do not work in Manage mode. Similarly camera raw file modifications done in Adjust mode can vanish when you shift to edit mode. This can be frustrating for some users.

Similar to Photoshop, the app has levels, curves and layers. The Curves tool in particular is useful with 16 control points. However, PaintShop Pro Ultimate’s Chromatic aberration correction may not be easy to handle, compared to rival apps. It takes you through a rather tedious process. The Retro Lab and faux HDR effect however work just fine. While the app is loaded to the brim with assortment of effects, brushes, text tools, masking features and paint tools, it also offers a good amount of vector editing tools and there it outshines the competition.

Both image export and printing options are aplenty in PaintShop Pro with CMYK separations option included. As far as web sharing and output is concerned, the app lets you upload image straight to Facebook and Flickr. You also get plenty of settings for web uploading. However, it lacks the option to enable sync with web based albums, unlike rival apps like Aperture and Photoshop Elements.

The integrated script recorder of PaintShop Pro is a nifty addition. It lets users record and save actions that need to be used later. It reduces the time needed for performing multiple step edits on a batch of images in similar manner. You can also use third-party plug- ins with this app including those for Photoshop. Like many other Corel apps, PaintShop Pro Ultimate ships with adequate amounts of guide s and help files.

Positive Points:
 -   64-bit support speeds up workflow.
 -   Extensive image format support, both for import and export.
 -   Impressive features like Share My Trip and FaceFilter portrait editor.
 -   Support for third party plug-ins.

Negative Points:
 -   Lack of integration between various modes.
 -   Sluggish operation with large files.
 -   Face detection is less than perfect.
 -   Lags in image import and web upload facilities.

Conclusion:
There is no denying Corel has added several new and useful features to an already feature packed image editor. Paint Shop Pro Ultimate does offer loads of features for its price. Its compatibility with third party plug-ins, plethora of effects, online sharing features earn it some brownie points. However, the app still suffers in major performance areas including importing, online publishing and sheer speed. Despite the 64 bit support, working with large and complex files can be painfully slow. Similarly priced apps offer nearly everything you get in Paint Shop Pro but its vector tools, extensive help and tutorials give it slight edge.

Rating: 3.5/5







Corel PaintShop Pro Publisher's Description

Create your best photos ever with new Corel PaintShop Pro. Built with a powerful new 64-bit architecture, this complete photo-editing software offers more speed than ever before. Turn your snapshots into beautiful, gallery-worthy images with easy-to-use editing and design tools. A great fit for all skill levels, PaintShop Pro X6 brings out the best in your photos that matter.

Free download from Shareware Connection - Create your best photos ever with new Corel PaintShop Pro.

Publisher: Corel Corporation | License: Shareware | Price: 69.99
Version: X6 | Size: 288287 KB | Platform: WinOther
Released Date: 15-11-2012 | Rating: 5 | Title: Corel PaintShop Pro

Author Url: http://www.corel.com/
Program Info Url: http://www.corel.com/corel/product/index.jsp?&storKey=a&mapcounter=1&pid=prod5100069
Download Url: http://www.corel.com/corel/product/index.jsp?&storKey=a&mapcounter=1&pid=prod5100069
Screenshot Url: http://www.corel.com/img/content/products/pspx4/en/workspace_screen.jpg

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Shareware Connection periodically updates pricing and software information of 'Corel PaintShop Pro' from company source 'Corel Corporation' , so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it. Software piracy is theft,  Using 'Corel PaintShop Pro' crack, password, serial numbers, registration codes, key generators is illegal and prevent future development of Corel PaintShop Pro.

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