Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 Ultimate bargain

HankScorpio · 23 June 2009, 11:51

32 quid from amazon

Serious product at a serious price.
I've used PSP since ver 3.12 (thru to I think 9) and it's always done everything I've wanted and if you want an inexpensive legit way to get into photo editing, this would do great.
Yes, it's not photoshop and there's not as many tutorials on the web but there are plenty and pretty much anything PS can be done in PSP.
Yes, it's not free and there are free tools but not quite as polished as this.

This is also the Ultimate bundle with media recovery software, additional plug ins (PS plugins also work) and a 2Gb memory stick thrown in. (And... oooooh, HDR... aaaahhh)

No I don't work for Amazon or Corel, yes I have just bought at this price

rickya · 23 June 2009, 14:35

Seems like a deal, especially with the memorey stick thrown in.

Im have been using Picassa 3 (free google software) for a few months now but want to move on to something a better & was considering using Elements. I was thinking of borrowing a copy from my friend & see how I like it, how does this compare? I dont think I really need to use a huge package like Photoshop etc for the pics I take?

HankScorpio · 23 June 2009, 14:58

Both PS Elements and Paint Shop Pro offer trials, get them both, play with both, see which you get on with best or suits you.

I wouldn't pay full price for either of them but at this price, handy to have in the arsenal and you never know, might spark something creative

Luther · 23 June 2009, 18:17

Totally agree.... I've had a play with Elements and it seems a lot easier to use than the 'dodgy' copy of Photoshop 2 I had from a few years ago.

For £32 though PSP is a steal.....

rickya · 23 June 2009, 19:20

Im just downloading the two trial versions now.

But after reading some reviews/comparisons, a few issues raised with Paint Shop Pro is:

-Delay waiting for preview after doing adjustments
-Not as good support of Raw files as Elements

The other thing is I have recently got subscription for Digital SLR Photography & in there Iv seen the odd tutorial based on full Photoshop & Elememts. Do they ever do such tutorials for Paint Shop Pro?

Also everyone raves on about Lightroom, can't I just use that instead?

Or do I have to use Elements; then Lightroom; then Noise Ninja & then ......drop dead with exhaustion !!! lolololol

HankScorpio · 23 June 2009, 19:38

Lightroom is a fantastic tool to manage your collection, make adjustments (I don't want to say "basic" adjustments, it's far from basic, "straightforward" is probably better), generate output and get the most out of what you've got without touching the original.
But if you want to be a bit more creative, make fancy selections, work with layers and generally be more artistic, you'll need a photo editor.
LR and a photo editor aren't exclusive, they're very much complimentary but what you get first depends on what you're doing. Based on what I've seen of yours, I'd be moving towards photo editor.

I tried elements, didn't get on with it, I like PSP historically and at half the price of elements, this is for me and I can overlook apparent shortcomings for the number of times I'll use it (because I'm happy with what LR does for me mostly).

rickya · 23 June 2009, 21:10

WOW!!!
Just been playing around with PaintShop Pro trial version, it is amazing what it can do to a photo! Its the first time Iv ever used a proper photo editing package & Im astounded. When they say Sharpen, they mean Sharpen! The colours/brightness/hues etc can be so finely changed & all those Effects are mind bogling, where to start!! (I especially liked the Illumination effects & most things can be adjusted numerically & it remembers your last adjustments).

I wouldn't need to take any more photos, I could just spend the rest of the year editing old ones in Paint Shop Pro

HankScorpio · 23 June 2009, 21:36

lol - kid in a sweet shop, can we now expect stacks of hdr, spot colour, fake dof, pseudo tilt-shift, motion blur, corrected perspective all in funky frames...?

Tip of the day - unless your VERY good at it, less is more

Here's my favourite tutorial I like to use when the subject isn't as prominent in the frame as I'd hoped.

The Photo Within - Page 1
Few more on that site, might give you some inspiration.

Would be interested in your untainted comparison between the two progs.

HankScorpio · 23 June 2009, 22:27

Bad photoshop

And this is what I meant by being very good at it. (has bikini, no filth)

Some of those in the first link need a second look but always entertaining, you can spend hours on there.
I've posted the second one on here a few times but always worth a look.