Photoshop vs. Paint Shop Pro
thebassman
Registered Users Posts: 6 Beginner grinner
I've personally been using PSP for years, and have just become used to using it. I know a lot of people probably prefer PS over PSP, but was curious to see what photographers thought about the two, and see which are preferred (or if you use something else completely). 
What photo editing software do you use? 40 votes
Photoshop
62%
25 votes
Paint Shop Pro
22%
9 votes
Other
2%
1 vote
Several
12%
5 votes
0
Comments
and Elements. PS more than others.
ian
I use photoshop CS and I love it.
In the game design industry, almost all artists have both on their desktops and use them for different things.
Norman Koren talks about contrast masking with Picture Window Pro and compares it to Photoshop here http://www.normankoren.com/PWP_contrast_masking.html
An interesting review by a Canadian author is here http://www.camerahobby.com/Digital_PictureWindowPro.htm
And the Website for PWP is here http://www.dl-c.com/Temp/
For someone who has not yet swallowed Adobe's green pill, I suspect that PWP might fill a lot of people's need for substantilly less than PSCS costs. Especially if you are not interested in shooting in RAW.
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
I still use PSP, though not to it's fullest. I still don't 'get' layers and how to work them to their full potential.
You still can download a trial copy Paint Shop Pro. Keep in mind, the layout is different. But it is supposed to just as powerfull as PhotoShop. Give it try.
I've been wondering the answer to this question myself. Haven't seen any responses lately so thought I'd give it a good ole bump.
PSP Ultimate vs Photoshop CS4? Or, is this not comparing apples to apples?
I'm especially interested in taking the costs of the two into consideration in your evaluation and the fact that I'm pretty much an amateur wanting to move a little higher than PS Elements.
Thanks for your evaluations and responses.
While my primary programs are Lightroom 2.3; CS4 and Canon DPP/ZoomBrowser, I have the latest version of PSP Extreme; There are some tasks you can do in PSP that are one click fixes that required layers/masking in PS. It's great for fixing horizon lines, skin smoothing, and the "Thinify" tool for liquefy are pretty nice.
Flash Frozen Photography, Inc.
http://flashfrozenphotography.com
I'm very interested in photographers' answers to this also. It seems like every gallery I go to, the artist refers to using Photoshop. With that in mind, I tried it (the version before this latest one, I think), but I have had a super hard time figuring it out. Essentially I gave up.
In the meantime, I had been using Corel's Paint Shop Pro Photo (that is what you mean by Paint Shop Pro, isn't it?) and it just seemed to go along really easily and intuitively (most things).
So now I have upgraded to the Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo Ultimate X2 and I really love it. But I admit that I am thinking that with Photoshop being the 'gold standard' that everyone uses, I must be missing something or not doing things that I could be doing with my images. ?
Pleeeeeze, some people give more input on this! Not only is Paint Shop Pro way less expensive, but I find it way easier to use. But is it limiting? Will I ultimately need to learn and own Photoshop?
Also - I've been getting into doing artsy stuff with photos and just got the Corel Painter X and a Wacom tablet! Just opening the box now!!!! EXCIIIIIIITED!!!!! :ivar
But please - info, thoughts on the PS or Corel Paint Shop Pro thing?
about.me/karastewart
Nikon picture it
nikon capture NX
PSP 9 and X2
corel painter essentials 4
PS element 6
Adobe lightroom
CS4 and Bridge
as well as several different 'freeware' products. I am a photographer/graphic artist by trade and need good quality products that can handle big files without crashing. Here is what I have discovered in my years of doing this...
Nikon products are limited to basic photo adjustments and raw data handling but will freeze up too frequently (in my experiences).
Lightroom does about the same things as NX with handling raw images but is a step up with their being able to handle large quantity of images. This is good if you did not get a camera setting right and need to adjust all the images the same way. But I never really used that feature. I am sure there a many other features of lightroom I have not tapped into as I find I can do the same things in Adobe Bridge that came with my CS4.
Which brings me to CS4...I find that I can do some fine tuning to my images when needed such as color adjustments, they are much more easier to handle in CS4 than in PSP. As for graphic art and photo compositions, I find that CS4 to be far more complicated than PSP 9 or X2.
For jpeg handling and for graphic art and photo compositions PSP X2 wins hands down for ease of rendering and simplicity in just a few clicks. I do find that it does tent to bog down when working with large files...such as 11x17 inch graphic posters I make for a particular customer...but its do-able if you save frequently with about a 5% chance of it freezing up if too many layers are applied. To see some of the graphic art that can be done using PSP X2 check out these links.. HERE , for photo compositions: HERE.
As for PS elements 6, and Corel painter essential 4, they are fun to play with but seriously I do not have the time to use them.
So in summery, I prefer PSP X2 over CS4/Bridge for digital art and for photo compositions as well as other many options of cool filters that can be added. Although I still prefer the CS4/Bridge for downloading my photos and orginization as well as basic photo editing options.
PS...I should tell you that I really love using my wacom tablet/pen for working with both of these programs.