Paintshop Pro Users??

[jslice]

I saw an ad in our Sunday paper for Paintshop Pro 11 for $29.00. Who uses it and how does it compare to Photoshop 7 & CS? Also does it support Canon raw files? I currently use Photoshop 7 and downloaded the Paintshop Pro Demo last night.

[Rense]

jslice,
I use paintshop pro on a regular basis. CS is the defacto standard. I like the way masking is setup in CS, I still have to think when I use Paintshop.

I have both the X and XI version, if you want a flexible integrated browser, please go for the X version.

Both X and XI can read Canon raw files. I don't like XI in that respect because if gives you little control while opening files. I you want to unlock the real power of RAW please start out with a good raw converter and then import to paintshop for the final tweaks.

[jslice]

Thanks for the response. I ust DPP and Raw Shooter for RAW conversion and then complete the psot-processing in Photoshop 7. I just wondered how much use I would get out of Paintshop Pro. Also the latest verison is the version that is on sale. How do you purchse the older version? Even with version 11 being a third the price you would still opt for version 10?

[Rense]

jslice,

I don't know how you can purchase the X version, but maybe there are some 'leftovers' in the store.
Then the hardest bit of your post: for $29 you have a really good editing program, (only the gimp will be cheaper I think)., so no argument about that.

Since you develop RAW outside Paintshop, that leaves only the point about the file browser. For me thats an important issue, but maybe your working habits are different.

If you go for the XI version, be sure to get the Easy filter plugin for handling curves: it is much better than the integrated XI version, and it is free!

[jslice]

Thanks again for your input. I will go to the store and see if they have version 10. If not, I will probally purchase version 11.

[Rense]

Please keep us updated.

[drichi]

for $30 it can't be bad. I paid $110 equivalent in Japan. It is better than PE5 because it has more tools and fewer idiot boxes---it's not dumbed down like PE5.
That said, it has some bugs, several of which they claim to be working on now. As mentioned, the RAW converter is not very good, so I use RSE. You also have to close and reopen an image to change from RGB to sRGB and visa versa---a real nuisance.
All-in-all it is a good program for the price. I wouldn't use it if I had Photoshop though.

[dougsmit]

For PSP owners:
To what extent do X and XI support 16 bit operations? Elements grays out several tools until you downgrade to 8 bit. I want a program with 16 bit capability, curves and operations on selected parts of an image. I liked the interface for PSP 7 (last I owned).

By the way, last I heard Rawshooter Elements did not support the 30D. Premium did (I have it) but I abandoned it to get the better colors (orange free reds) offered by DPP. I don't know if PSP is still bundling RSE since Adobe bought it but that is not a full answer to RAW needs for us all. Still, DPP comes with the camera and is very capable of good work exporting files to another editor for finishing so lack of RAW capability in a program is not a big thing to Canon owners who already have it free from the manufacturer.