Corel PaintShop Pro Review: All features and details

The Corel PaintShop Pro version supplies a variety of impressive features that will be useful to both professional and amateur image editors. This version adds up to the specific tools with features like Focus Stacking, AfterShot Lab, and Snap to Objects, which take the user experience to a whole new level. Despite its user interface and low price, it is clear that PaintShop Pro has a real contender in the world of photo editing software.

After you delve into this program, you will uncover a lot of tools, brushes, palettes, and textures, which are abundant. As well as this, now 360° images can be edited in PaintShop Pro with the use of AfterShot Lab, a feature for RAW editing. The draw is such an addition, especially to the program work; it frames tools that make users create amazing designs.

The aim of this article is a detailed inspection of Corel PaintShop Pro. Along the way, different aspects of the program will be considered. We will look closely at this topic and its elements. Find out how you can augment your snaps using them. The AI software is designed in such a way as to have professional-level functionality, be AI-based in approach, and have an intuitive interface, which allows beginners and experienced users to edit the documents the way they want.

Overview of Corel PaintShop Pro

The Corel PaintShop Pro 23 digital photo editing software provides you with a bundle of tools and features for working with digital photos. While interacting with this version as a user, you are expected to take advantage of the added features.

It is a great feature that Corel PaintShop Pro applications provide, which is called focus stacking, which enables you to combine images with different focus distances. In this way, the resulting image has a picture rich in layers, ideal for portraying subjects in close-up detail or landscapes in a wide-scale view.

However, the presence of AfterShot Lab is also worth mentioning, as it supplies editing capacities for the raw pictures. This tool lets you play with elements such as exposure and white balance in order to have the best picture settings before finally getting the format, like JPEG.

Notably, as Corel’s Snap to Objects tool offers a direct alignment of objects within a composition, the distribution of elements becomes straightforward. As it recognizes and outlines objects via their edges, it turns out to be very easy to place them.

Moreover, PaintShop Pro is equipped with numerous frame instruments for the designing process. They allow the use of a variety of customizable options. Through the use of these devices, you can elevate the status of your pictures through the incorporation of bright borders and frames.

The latest version of Corel PaintShop Pro not only includes the improved features but also has a community of professionals that are fully engaged in image editing. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, this software has been created with your requirements in mind, as it offers all kinds of adjustments and detailed effects that have been elaborated.

In a nutshell, Corel PaintShop Pro 6.0 is a budget-friendly photo editing program. Through the functionality it gives you, you will get the best photo masterpieces.

User Interface Experience

The Corel PaintShop Pro version is designed for accessibility to all users of Windows on the Paint Shop Pro processing side. You have the freedom to personalize the interface to get it your way and create a workspace that is according to your preferences.

You will be able to see these tabs as soon as you enter the program, which will lead you to the navigation of the program’s features. This feature is especially useful in case you need to change your text from one editing mode to another. You may accomplish it quickly and without any issues with the help of the used sections. The Manage, Adjust, Edit, and Essentials tabs do all the legwork of smoothing workflows and processes.

You will know that the interface of PaintShop Pro has been created not only to be amazingly easy to use but also to be truly intuitive after familiarizing yourself with the tools and functions of this program. The menus and toolbars are arranged coherently, so one can very quickly become familiar with working with the different functionalities. Moreover, the use of icons and tips allows users to touch the necessary functions with a single click.

The outstanding factor in the user interaction is the control user interface. The software gives you an opportunity to arrange your workspace by simply dragging palettes around, altering the positions, and even adjusting the color theme that you may prefer. This gives you the freedom to create an editing atmosphere under specification that fulfills all your wishes and purposes.

To sum up, Corel PaintShop Pro is developed for the Windows user interface, which can be customized for user satisfaction. The logical order and the convenient grouping of the photo tabs and tools enable us to process the photos using a simple and harmless method.

Key Features

Photo Editing Capabilities

Along with a pack of photo editing options, Corel PaintShop Pro allows you to work on brightness, white balance, and other issues and fixes. The software comes equipped with editing abilities like focus stacking, live blend mode preview, and snap-to-objects functions that help ensure the best professional results for your projects.

In PaintShop Pro, one can expect to enjoy a variety of AI-driven highlights that will improve the quality of your images. These include:

• AI Portrait Mode: Amends portraits with touch-ups for a generalized perspective.
• AI Denoise: Removes the grain effect and keeps the overall detail of your photos.
• AI Background Replacement: It gets rid of the background in your images with one touch.
• AI Upsampling: Improves image quality without sacrificing visual resolution.
• AI Artifact Removal: It removes unwanted things from your pictures.
• AI Style Transfer: Implement some styles that were discovered from machine learning models and change your images.

Various Templates and Textures

Corel PaintShop Pro, in addition to this, offers you a library of templates, textures, color palettes, patterns, and gradients you could play with to expand your possibilities and add a creative touch to your works.

Batch Processing and Speed

The software has an impressive batch processing capacity, which enables you to change the size, rename, or apply effects automatically to more photos at the same time. This boosts workflow efficiency. Saves time. Besides, PaintShop Pro has been equipped with the speed and responsiveness enhancement feature in order to be able to edit images regardless of the image resolution being high.

Artistic Effects and Brushes

Go ahead and unleash your creativity with PaintShop Pro, and you’ll find out that it contains an array of effects and brushes. Be it brushstroke or vector-based tools, you will love the way you can improve your skills and sculpt your own style of art with this software.

Advanced Tools and Workspaces

You will find in Corel’s PaintShop Pro a number of tools and workspaces whose perimeters are designed so that you have an easier time when you are editing your photos and creating images. For instance, you are free to add multiple layers, masks, and customized workspaces.

PaintShop Pro benefits from a fully layered editing method. It permits you to separately manipulate the sections and preserve the rest of the image. These non-destructive methods give you control over the changes you want and let you try out unnecessary effects. The Layer palette has features to add a layer and also for reordering, while blend modes are for the combination of layers for a creative one.

Moreover, the software contains an editing option for advanced tasks. For example, with the help of masks, you can conceal or expose areas of a particular layer, making masks an instrument for creating complex compositions and corrections and introducing exact adjustments. Notwithstanding, the palette of selection instruments lays at your disposal, including brushes, textures, and vector tools, which provide the ability to expand yourself.

The case of the workplace is fully handled by PaintShop Pro, with the various alternatives fitting each stage of the editing process. There are three modes: MAE: Manage, Adjust, and Edit. The Manage Mode helps in the swift arrangement and location of your photos, while the Adjust Mode has some editing tools to correct your photos. During the editing phase, you’ll have an array of photo editing and design tools at your disposal to help you unleash your creativity.

The versatile design of the software makes it possible for you to customize your environment depending on your needs and personal tastes. You can easily. Reduce palettes, toggle between toolbars, and even save preset preferences, which help you work quicker and more smoothly.

Corel PaintShop Pro is one of those photo editors that strikes a balance between being efficient and easy to use. One of its features is the mixture of tools; it makes sure that you have everything you need to take on any project that you want to do.

Support and Learning Resources

As a user of Corel PaintShop Pro, you are entitled to the technical support and didactic materials made available to you in order to optimize your use of this tool. These resources are designed for different styles of learners in the ways students like. An effective resource that you can use is the COREL Discovery Center.

Open our collection of tutorials and guides for PaintShop Pro, and you will begin your journey to mastery! Regardless of whether you are new to the practice or a pro looking for some tricks, we got your back. Take as much time as you need to dip deeper into all of the topics that you like.

The Discovery Center includes everything, starting with detailed information about all the fresh features and all the enhancements contained in the new version. Come to know the things you have to do with Focus Stacking, AfterShot Lab, and other tools, included.

Besides this, we organize the video tutorials that guide the students through different post-production methods. These are the lessons aimed at assisting you in the understanding of the concepts and, at the same time, the enhancement of your skill set.

In case of any queries or when faced with situations that need assistance, customer service is always there to handle your issues. Reach out via email. More live chat for support with installation, troubleshooting, or anything else, PaintShop Pro does not work out well.

We also remind you about the PaintShop Pro community. Sway users by sharing hints, asking questions, offering counsel, and gathering feedback from the social media platforms and forums. Becoming a part of the gang is no doubt going to give you knowledge, experience, and confidence in using Corel PaintShop Pro.

In brief, Corel PaintShop Pro contains numerous support and learning features, including but not limited to tutorials, the Learning Center, video tutorials, and the user community. Leverage these assets to boost your craft, remain up-to-date on the latest developments, and get the help you need to have full software recourse.

In short, Corel PaintShop Pro offers a whole range of support and learning tools, including the learning center, forum tutorials, video tutorials, and an online community for the users. Using these tools will assist you in developing your skills and keep you posted about any changes or patches. Additionally, these resources will provide you with support whenever it is needed.

Compatibility and System Requirements

Corel PaintShop Pro is developed for work on Windows platforms, mainly for the Windows 11 and 10 operating systems (recommended from version 1903 with the service pack). It is compatible with the 64-bit versions of the systems. Unluckily, users of macOS are going to face the mission of finding photo editors other than PaintShop Pro, which is not available for macOS.

To ensure an experience with PaintShop Pro it’s important that your system meets the requirements:

• Processor: Intel Core i5 or its equivalent or more, with at least speeds of 2.0 GHz.
• RAM: 4 GB (8 GB serves as a better choice for performance).
• Graphics card requirements: It is recommendable to have a graphics card with DirectX 12 support and at least 2 GB of VRAM.
• Display resolution: What’s advised is to have a resolution of 1280 x 768 or higher, and if possible, go for a 1920 x 1080 resolution.
• Storage space: Be sure you have the capacity of 3 GB of storage to store the software and any additional content you may need somewhere.

However, the level of performance can vary with specific Furthermore, don’t forget to refresh the Windows operating system as well as the graphic drivers’ versions to guarantee the program’s maximum functionality.

Comparison with Adobe Products

The comparison between Corel PaintShop Pro and Adobe products, such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Photoshop Elements, requires taking into account the points on the basis of the number of features, the usability, and the pricing.

Paintshop Pro and Photoshop have many editing tools. Though the latest additions in 2024—such as Focus Stacking, AfterShot Lab, and Snap to Objects—aimed to increase the user experience, However, Photoshop by Adobe is known for its editing functionalities, for example, photo manipulation, graphic design, digital painting, etc.

Usability, in turn, is another important factor. Although both programs have their share of learning curves related to them, Photoshop is known to have a steeper learning curve due to its complex interface and commands. In this case, PaintShop Pro is different from the others as it offers an interface as well as platform knowledge materials that suit beginners or intermediate users perfectly.

Adobe Photoshop Elements is an intuitive workaround for the haymarketed version, featuring editing tools and features outright. It comes with guidance and advice built-in, making it a wonderful choice for beginners who want to start their journey in the field of photo editing without all the complexities included in Photoshop. Besides Corel PaintShop Pro’s educational resources, which have created ease of use for the software too,.

Both Paint Shop and Photoshop by Adobe provide a variety of cropping tools and controls. In both of these apps, you can crop a photo that is already cropped according to a given length, width, or custom size with just a click of a button. Cropping tools in Photoshop are helpful, but the functions of PaintShop Pro are sufficient for the majority of users.

In sum, when you apply to software like Corel PaintShop Pro and Adobe products, for example, Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, you need to figure out your needs, what your skill level is, and how much money you can spend on the product.

Additional Features

Integration, with Social Media and Email

Now, with Corel PaintShop Pro, you have the convenience of sharing your efforts on social media platforms like Facebook or with ease through email. This integration saves time. It serves as a single platform for you to display all your art without needing to install different programs.

Options for Cloud Storage

With regard to the management of your projects and their accessibility, everything becomes much easier today. Corel PaintShop Pro makes sure there is an option that you will use the cloud storage solutions, hence allowing you to save and access your work from everywhere. It is by means of this that you are assured that you can access your files any time you want them.

Diverse Graphic Design Features

Corel PaintShop Pro provides a range of design tools enabling you to create designs using both vector and raster based images. These advanced creative tools include:

• Vector editing: transform the basic shapes and then get design graphics for your job.
• Raster editing: edit pixel-based images appropriately, and the results will always be guaranteed when it comes to photo editing and the creation of designs.

Benefits for Photographers

Photographers will appreciate the enhanced features of PaintShop Pro such as:

• Support for RAW files: Experience raw images and develop and process them with AfterShot Lab to get the same results as the original negatives.
• Focus Stacking: Lift the level of your own photography workspace through highlighting focus stacking, which makes it possible to combine different images to achieve the desired effects of depth of field.

Additional Features for Painters and Artists

Artists will appreciate the expanded possibilities provided by PaintShop Pro:

• Painting and drawing tools: a range of media tools that would let you paint and draw in a worthwhile way digitally.
• Enhanced retouching capabilities: Use the retouching function to polish your original photos or drawings, rendering details imperceptibly smooth and the image top-notch.

Tutorials and User Guides

When you just want to start using Corel PaintShop Pro or get deeper inside this software, there are materials where you can learn this program properly. In this segment, let’s look into the tutorials and user guides available for you to step forward to becoming an expert in PaintShop Pro.

It is worthwhile to begin with the manual, as it will help you understand the basic operations of the program. Corel has a knowledge base that can be browsed by users to get tutorials on PaintShop Pro as well as the previous version. Inside these guides, you will learn how to use this software.

These materials are designed to guide you through the different steps of this research. The Corel Discovery Center offers many video tutorials to guide you through the basic steps of the PaintShop Pro program and empower you to perform all the necessary tasks. The videos deal with issues such as focus stacking, the border tool, and AfterShot for RAW editing, among others. These videos can be viewed on our online tutorials page on Discovery Center.

In case you want to analyze The Corel’s learning center is guaranteed to provide you with step-by-step tutorials that go deeply into topics, including such. Some of these tutorials include:

• Mastering Focus Stacking: Find out how to distill the right images with the right distances to get a sharp and fine final image.
• Introduction to AfterShot Lab: Interact with Raw plug-in to Corel Photo Editor that is now a built-in part of PaintShop Pro so that you will be able to process raw images quicker and more adequately.

Do not forget to consider finding such tutorials and support materials as you need and your approach to learning. Through the utilization of these media resources, you will be able to boost your performance as a user of Corel PaintShop Pro, as well as gain irresistible confidence in using this media.

Smart Technology Features

In PaintShop Pro, the design tools are woven into the fabric of this wonderful canvas, making it an effortless playground where one can create a compelling image. In this section, we’ll delve into some tech features: Smart Photo Fix (SPF), SmartClone, and One Step Photo Fix.

Smart Photo Fix: Intelligent Photo Fix is a piece of software that automatically corrects the photo’s darkening, shadows, highlights, and color saturation levels. This service uses algorithms to scan your picture. Surge forward by suggesting perfect corrections to change its overall standard. Now you can even make your photos pop just like a pro without any skills whatsoever related to color correction or exposure adjustments.

SmartClone: Smart defragment enables you to copy pieces in the picture to a photo or to duplicate an item inside the same image effortlessly. With content cloning technology, this gadget is effortless to use and gives incredible results that are attractive, so it is almost effortless to remove what is unneeded or add new elements. No matter what kind of area you are dealing with, whether it be picture manipulation or the retouching of portraits, SmartCopy takes away time and still provides high-quality results for all.

One Step Photo Fix: One Step Photo Fix is an exquisite tool provided for photographers, and it is marked for efficiency. With a single click, PaintShop Pro applies the whole set of corrections and enhancements, including the color adjustments, brightness level correction, contrast enhancement, noise reduction, and sharpening processes that allow greatly improving the overall appearance of the photo. In some way, it`s weak to say that this feature provides great results for both amateur users and professionals that want a quick editor.

To draw this conclusion, PaintShop Pro comprises tech-added smart features for editing and enhancement of pictures, even with very little technical knowledge. Smart Photo Fix, SmartClone, and One Step Photo Fix—each of these design tools is found in this software and helps users create inspiring images without so many advanced steps.

In-Depth Tool Exploration

As you step into the reality of Corel Paint Shop Pro, you’ll learn a basket full of tools that will help you take your photo editing to another level. What distinguishes this software from the competition is its standout features. Therefore, let’s take a look at these distinctive functionalities.

Selection Tools: Familiarize yourself with the available selection tools in PaintShop Pro for effective photo editing. Keep in mind that efficient photo editing is impossible without a good command of the tools at your disposal. Employ the Magic Wand, Lasso, and Smart Selection Brush tools. They will make it easy for you to choose the most specific areas of your photos.

Snap to Objects: Snap to Objects is a new feature introduced in the generation of PaintShop Pro. Such a tool, object, layer, or text manipulation is offered at your disposal with accuracy, as a result of which your graphics will appear very well.

Refine Brush: A refine brush that works selections and makes them your best partner is your trusted companion. It can be rigorously tailor-made selections around objects like hair or fur, which helps your compositions with ease.

Frame Tool: When you are trying to bring an interesting dimension to your pictures, The Frame Tool enables you to, with the click of a mouse button, insert designed frames from the library. Resize them, adjust colors, and turn them around in the direction you need so they will fit perfectly into your photos.

PaintShop Pro offers photographers and amateur users a less expensive alternative to the other expensive image editing software. It focuses on user friendliness and usability, which assures that both beginners and experienced users manipulate its tools, completing various tasks and producing a fascinating result.

Frequently Asked Questions