Help us review the latest version of Corel Paint Shop Pro

[Ian]

I think it would be very useful for a seasoned user of Paint Shop Pro to try out the latest Corel [FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 Ultimate and give their considered opinion on the changes and improvements of the latest version.[/font]

If you would like to offer your experience for this task, please get in touch!

A modest fee for your time and effort will be offered as well.

Ian

[HENK]

Re: Help us review the latest version of Corel Paint Shop Pro

This is not a review.

As user of Paint Shop Pro XI I can advise you not to upgrade to version X2 ultimate just because of raw support of Olympus E-series cameras. I tested raw conversion of E-3 and E-510 files.

The raw conversion is useless as the converter clips the highlights of properly exposed images let alone giving some headroom with slightly overexposed images. So there is no advantage IQ-wise in developing raw in PSP X2 ultimate which for me is unacceptable.

When comparing development of .orf and to .dng converted raw of an image in PSP X2 ultimate you will see a distinct difference in the developed images in white balance and colour.

PSP XI is a very good program for post processing your images when you want to work on them in 16 bit per channel so you have the best image quality available for printing. Levels adjustment, curves, USM, adjustment layers, layer masks are all possible on 16bit images. That and the great (easy) scripting utility make PSP XI for me the best package for the money. If you have the choice between getting X2 or X2 ultimate just save the extra money and get X2 sic.

Just my humble opinion.
Henk

Edit: Layers reduce bitdepth to 8 per channel, you can change this to 16 bit/ch after the layer adjustment. Levels adjustment, curves, USM can be done directly to the original 16 bit/ch image.

[Pops]

Re: Help us review the latest version of Corel Paint Shop Pro

I have used PSP since version 5 and progressed through up to version X1.
I will have the version in question (X2 Ultimate) shortly and, based on comments I have read, I'm looking forward to working with it.
The new raw support options have no influence in this whatsoever but I am grateful for the comments by HENK relating to the bitdepth options.

[HENK]

Re: Help us review the latest version of Corel Paint Shop Pro

The raw conversion is useless as the converter clips the highlights of properly exposed images let alone giving some headroom with slightly overexposed images.

To illustrate this I prepared the following images of an Olympus E-3 raw file developed in PSP X2 ultimate, Olympus Studio 2 and Silky Pix (free version):

PSP X2 ultimate:


Olympus Studio 2:


Silky Pix (free version):


These images are to illustrate the difference in raw development only, they are cropped and not sharpened and I know they are OOF.

Adjusting contrast or levels does not bring back the data in the highlights with PSP X2 ultimate, it is clipped and lost forever.
Olympus Studio is no champion in recovering highlights either but does clearly a much better job than PSP X2 ultimate.
Silky Pix is used here to demonstrate how a developer should handle the information that is there in the raw file.

Henk

[Ian]

Re: Help us review the latest version of Corel Paint Shop Pro

That's very interesting, Henk.

Have you thought about making your findings known to Corel?

Ian

[HENK]

Re: Help us review the latest version of Corel Paint Shop Pro

That's very interesting, Henk.

Have you thought about making your findings known to Corel?

Ian

I did. The answer was: "Het is spijtig om te horen dat u niet tevreden bent met de Ultimate versie. Wij kunnen u niet vertellen of dit wordt "verbeterd" of veranderd."

Translated: We are sorry to hear that you are not satisfied with the Ultimate version. We cannot tell you if it will be "improved" or changed.

I wrote them that they could have a prime product which could blow Lightroom out of the water if they get the converter right. Imagine you can do all your PP work on raw level, even layers! They just don't get it at Corel.

Oh well, I'm patiently waiting for Bibble 5 to arrive.

[Stephen]

Re: Help us review the latest version of Corel Paint Shop Pro

This must be worrying for any PSP users who want to upgrade. I went on the site and was disappointed to find they do not support Mac. I also went on the Bibble site and learnt that they supply their raw engine to both Corel and Extensis.

I have to say that Bibble 5 looks as though it will be great and does support Mac. It looks to be blindingly fast too

Your comment about PSP Ultimate and Lightroom surprised me, as I see LR as a different type of program to PSP, which probably should be compared more with Elements7

[HENK]

Re: Help us review the latest version of Corel Paint Shop Pro

Your comment about PSP Ultimate and Lightroom surprised me, as I see LR as a different type of program to PSP, which probably should be compared more with Elements7

I was talking of PSP X2 Ultimate with proper working raw developer, PSP is more powerful than Elements as it has a wider 16bit/channel support, curves adjustment and powerful scripting (and maybe more).

Cheers,
Henk