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(More customer reviews)I have used Paint Shop Pro in each incarnation from 7.04 Anniversary Edition onwards as well as Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0.
I must say that while the latest version is very user friendly especially to a new user, if you've got Version 8 or 9 on your computer I don't think the upgrade is worth the money. The new browser is particularly horrible if you're used to the older versions of Paint Shop Pro. You have to resort to manual tinkering to get it to look like the earlier versions if you want to which is a fairly involved procedure. Even then it doesn't behave like the earlier version but acts like a permanently docked window. In the default it displays Windows folders as little pictures of folders in a row and I find it quite difficult to use as a navigation mechanism.
The Learning Center is a useful addition especially to begin with when you're figuring out where everything is because even if you've had PSP8 and/or 9 on your computer Corel have changed round the positions of some of the tools in the toolbar and there are quite a few tweaks in the menus and photo tools. I do like the noise removal tool which functions better than it did in PSP9 and I also like the Smart Photo Fix. Overall however I felt that the new edition wasn't really worth shelling out over £40 for when I already had older versions on my computer.
In addition, the Paint Shop Photo Album (which is included for free) has refused to function correctly on my computer and I am still waiting for Corel's programmers to come back to me after working with a technician for over three weeks and not resolving the issue. A free Album Creator program is included which is for ordering photo albums online; I found that this gave me error messages until I went online and then launched it. I don't have a RAW image function on my digital camera so have not used that software which is also included on the disk.
You will need a large amount of RAM - at least 1 GB and preferably more, as well as a big hard drive and a fast computer to run this software. I would also recommend a large monitor because of the over-crowded interface - when you have the browser up and running it refuses to allow the image to overlap it as the older versions did, and behaves like the edge of the workspace.
Corel have essentially concentrated on photo editing in this version of Paint Shop Pro although the graphics tools are still there. If you have PSP 8 or 9 and do graphics rather than photo work I would stay with that software for now but if you're a new user I think you'll find this version of Paint Shop Pro is well worth the money.
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Corel Paint Shop Pro XCorel Paint Shop Pro is the all-in-one solution for photo editing, organizing, sharing, and creativity. You will get tools for making your photos look just the way you want, organizing them so they are always at your fingertips, and making photo postcards, calendars, and more--advanced enough for a pro and easiest enough for a beginner. Version X is the best Paint Shop yet, with run times 50% faster than previous versions, more teaching resources (more than two hours of tutorials) for you to easily get the most out of the program, and 500 special effects.
See the Corel Paint Shop Pro X product tour
Fix brightness, color, and photo flawsNow you can have sharp photos filled with brilliant colors. You don't have to be a photo-editing whiz to get fabulous photos. Paint Shop Pro is filled with easy one-step fixes and advanced ultra-precise controls so no matter what, everyone can have the photos they always dreamed of.
Cover All the BasicsEverything you need to complete the most common photo tasks. Quickly rotate, resize, and crop photos to get the exact composition and size you need.
Fix Any PhotoSmart Photo Fix is the best way to correct color, exposure, and lighting problems. With a single click, Paint Shop Pro analyzes your photo and makes suggested corrections. With this powerful, flexible tool, you can change the corrections to suit your tastes.
Improve Photos in One Step Most digital cameras produce some sort of noise and, in photos of high-contrast, a purple fringe can appear. We know these are common problems that plague everyone, no matter how great a photographer they are. With the One Step Noise Removal and One Step Purple Fringe Removal, Paint Shop Pro quickly gets rid of these pesky problems.
Instant MakeoverLooking great has never been so easy. None of us are perfect, but with Paint Shop Pro X's Makeover Tools everyone can look like they are. With this handy set of tools you can remove blemishes, whiten teeth, brush on a suntan, and remove wrinkles. It's so fun and easy that you'll just have to try it for yourself.
Get the Red OutRed eye is probably the most common problem facing photos. With Paint Shop Pro X you get a One-click Red-Eye Remover that even works on pets, or you can use Advanced Red-Eye Removal for the most accurate corrections.
Remove DistractionsWith the Clone Tool and the Object Remover you can get rid of distractions in your photos by just clicking and dragging.
Adjust in an Instant When the photo you have doesn't look like the photo you thought you took, you can easily Adjust Perspective and Straighten crooked photos to get the look you were after.
Restore Old PhotosTears, holes, and fading are no match for Paint Shop Pro's photo restoration tools. With Scratch Remover, Fade Correction, Hand-tinting brushes, and High-pass Sharpen you can repair and restore any old or damaged photo.
Add a Creative TouchPaint Shop Pro X includes all new Picture Frames and photo Edges for when you want to give your photos a little something extra. Plus, there are NEW Picture Tubes, this popular feature is the easiest way for you to add ready-made art elements to your photo and graphics projects.
Photo albums and moreOnce you've used Paint Shop Pro to make your photos look their best, you can jump to Corel Photo Album 6 - Standard Edition included FREE, to create fun Greeting Cards and E-Cards. With the drag & drop simplicity of Photo Album you can create and send cards for every occasion.
Turn photos into elegant projectsOnce you have fabulous photos, don't let them sit there on your hard drive doing nothing. With Paint Shop Pro you have all the tools you need to create everything from fun greeting cards to breath-taking collages.
Turn Ordinary Photos into Something SpecialCreating beautiful Scrapbook Album Pages and sophisticated multi-picture Collages is a cinch. Now you can just drag your photos into professionally designed templates and have stunning photo keepsakes in moments.
Fun Projects You Can Complete in MinutesEnjoy your photos all year long by using them to create your own Calendars. Or show the people in your life how much they mean to you by featuring them on Magazine Covers or Award Certificates. Plus you can print multiple images on a single sheet of paper using Print Layouts and create your own CD Labels.
Remove BackgroundsYou can cut people out of photos and drop them onto new backgrounds easily with the Background Eraser. This handy tool makes combining multiple photos a breeze.
The Selection is Yours With so many selections to choose from you're sure to find just the tool you need in Paint Shop Pro X. Use Freehand/Smart Edge Selection to find your edge or select it yourself, the Shape Selection to square, rectangle, circle, or elliptical shaped selections, or the Magic Wand Selection to make selections based on color, hue, or more.
See What You're Working OnLayers are the building blocks of any collage and now you can see exactly what you're using in your collage. With just a glance at the All-New Layer Palette you can see all the layers in your image and what each layer contains.
You Get to PickMove and resize elements of your image on the fly. The Pick Tool is the easiest way to make adjustments to layers without having to re-select them.
Give photos a unique, exciting look Your photos can be so much more than just ordinary pictures. Using Paint Shop Pro's graphics and effects tools you can transform photos into paintings, add words, create crazy caricatures, and so much more. With so many effects to use, you can have hours of fun just experimenting.
Say What You Mean Add Vertical or horizontal text to photos or even have text follow a path. With the Text Tool, you can choose how you want your message to appear.
Turn Your Photos into PaintingsWith real-life Art Media Tools you can turn your ordinary photos into masterpieces. With an easy Trace option you can trace your photos using Oil, Chalk, Pastel, and more. Plus, you can choose from different brushes and canvas types.
Draw with PrecisionAdding arrows, talk bubbles, stars, and other interesting shapes to your photos couldn't be easier. With the Symmetric Shape Tool, Pen Tool, and Preset Shapes you can add all kinds of fun to your photos without any work at all.
Create a Classic in an InstantNo darkroom is required to transform your digital photos into black and white masterpieces. With the B&W Infrared Filter and B&W Conversion Filter you get more options than ever before.
Transform Photos in a Few ClicksAdd special lighting effects, color pencil, or emboss your photos. With over 500 Special Effects Filters there is no end to the fun you can have with your photos.
Warp & Twist PhotosGive the people and pets in your photos big bulging eyes and huge goofy smiles with the Warp Brush. Just click and drag your mouse around your photo to create these fun and easy caricatures.
It's All a BlurAdd professional-looking blur effects to your photos. You can choose between Gaussian, Motion, Radial Blur, and more.
Find photos fast & share memories Paint Shop Pro X now includes Corel Photo Album 6 - Standard Edition. With this smart and simple software you can organize and share your photos easier than ever before. And with two applications at your disposal you'll be more productive than ever.
Your Photos Were Meant to be Shared Show off your photos using over 40 Print templates, create Slide Shows you can e-mail, send photos automatically resized for E-mail and Cell Phones, or Burn a CD of your best shots in just two clicks. No additional burning software required.
Photo Album Does the Work for YouAs soon as you plug in your camera, Photo Album's Photo Downloader gets to work downloading and rotating your photos, then asking you what you'd like to do next. If you like, you can jump right to Paint Shop Pro with a couple of keystrokes. The Photo Finder automatically finds and organizes your photo collection by the date you took the picture, and Photo Trays are a virtual photo to-do list - helping you remember to e-mail or print photos.
Find What You NeedYou can organize your photos by Collection, Folder, Favorite Photo, and Keyword to ensure that you can always find your photos fast. Plus, when you use Keywords, you can Search your entire using those keywords.
What's in the box: Photo software on CD-ROM, instruction booklet.
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