Corel freshens Paint Shop Pro X2

Update 9/6/07: Okay, I got the version names confused--two years ago the "X" in the product name meant "10," then was switched to mean "X." As a result, I miscalculated the product cycle. Corel actually shipped a new version last year. So please ignore my attempt at a clever lead-in.

It's been three years since Corel acquired Jasc Software, and about two years since its last major release of Paint Shop Pro; that's a couple of lifetimes in the consumer software market. Today Corel finally announced and shipped a new version, Paint Shop Pro Photo X2. It offers a handful of oddly random new features that I suspect won't wow the program's existing fan base, and that doesn't really provide a compelling alternative to competitors such as Adobe Photoshop Elements or even Corel's own PhotoImpact 12.

In addition to the new tools enumerated in the accompanying slideshow--Express Lab, a gray interface skin, HDR Photo Merge and Visible Watermarking--designed for photographers, Corel adds some work-flow tools targeted at the more business-oriented crowd. These include a Save for Office and Copy Special, which allows you to resize images at save and copy; Crop as New Image for dealing with batch scans; and dynamic language switching.

Features aside, however, I found PSPX2's interface annoyingly sluggish. File operations, such as loading and saving, were fine, but screen redraws for operations like effects previews aren't as snappy as I like. (Performance didn't make the list of enhancements for this version.)

Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 is available now for $99 (full version) or $59 (upgrade).

[eharrison3]

This is Corel's 3d update in 3 years

Corel has actually updated Paint Shop Pro Photo annually since acquiring JASC in late 2004; versions X and X1 debuted in 2005 and 2006, respectively.

[Joliet Eddie]

I am a long time user of previous versions of Paint Shop Pro. Currently I have version 9 loaded onto a Vista machine and it runs fine (even though Corel offers no support or claims that it would). BUT I just bought a new DSLR camera and want to start shooting in and working with RAW files. My camera, a Nikon D60, is not yet supported in X2, although the D60 is already supported in competitor's software. I've always liked PSP and would prefer to upgrade for the $49, but no use doing so when my camera's raw NEF format is not supported. I know that new cameras come on the market regularly, but if other companies have added the D60 already, then why not Corel?

[KentuckyRanger]

I really like some of the features of Paint Shop pro XI but it runs horribly slow in Vista.
I have read that it has problems with some nVidia Cards but I have 2 8800 Ultras in SLI with the latest drivers and 4 Gig of Ram with a Quad Core Intel Processor, so I know it's not a lack of system resources.
Adobe and Nova developments Photo Impact Pro 13 run fine and respond very fast when working with very large Jpeg Files (9mb+)
It must be in the programing, they just didn't get it right somehow and I can't put my Finger on it.
It's sad because there are some really nice features that with the older versions really worked better than Adobe and Nova products.

[goldenoldie2]

I too have used PSP for years. Version X1 by Coral is (imo) rubbish by comparison with my old and still serviceable V7. Certainly some of the newr feature of X1 are great - if only one could rely on the program not hanging, crashing or not opening at all! When it does work properly (a rare occurance) it is frustrating slow to open. V7 can be called up instantly during an editing session. No way would I recommend PSP X1 to anyone and I suspect the few glowing comment I've read are added by Coral themselves! Farewell Coral - if I want a more advanced editor I will dig deep and use Photoshop.