I have been using Paint Shop Pro for several years now. Version 7 seemed to have everything I ever needed. However, I recently bought myself a new digital camera and having read a few reviews of Version 8 I decided perhaps I should upgrade.
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The package arrived on Monday (from Amazon) ... Read review
An introduction to Jasc Paint Shop Pro 8, this book shows you how to take this popular ... more
graphics and photo-editor program to different heights. It includes a wide variety of real-life examples demonstrating how to broaden your image-making skills.
Published in conjunction with the release of Paintshop Pro, this book walks readers ... more
through image-editing fundamentals as well as more advanced graphics and animation tools. It shows photography and animation hobbyists how to create quality, professional-looking graphics.
Advantages: Excellent editor, cheaper than Photoshop Disadvantages: Needs a good computer to run well
I have been using Paint Shop Pro for several years now. Version 7 seemed to have everything I ever needed. However, I recently bought myself a new digital camera and having read a few reviews of Version 8 I decided perhaps I should upgrade.
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The package arrived on Monday (from Amazon) There are two packs you can buy, one which comes with just Paint Shop Pro and the "power suite photo edition", which also ... ...Jasc Paint Shop Xtras - Creative Editions 1 and 2. It was this latter pack which I purchased.
My first impression was that the pack was quite heavy for software. I was very impressed to find inside a manual for Paint Shop Pro, a manual for the Paint Shop Photo Album 4 and a bonus book called Paint Shop Creations, which is a book giving you advice on how to take good photos and edit them in Paint Shop Pro.
I have been using Paint Shop Pro for several years now. Version 7 seemed to have everything I ever needed. However, I recently bought myself a new digital camera and having read a few reviews of Version 8 I decided perhaps I should upgrade.
--
The package arrived on Monday (from Amazon) There are two packs you can buy, one which comes with just Paint Shop Pro and the "power suite photo edition", which also includes Paint Shop Photo Album 4, Jasc Animation Shop, and Jasc Paint Shop Xtras - Creative Editions 1 and 2. It was this latter pack which I purchased.
My first impression was that the pack was quite heavy for software. I was very impressed to find inside a manual for Paint Shop Pro, a manual for the Paint Shop Photo Album 4 and a bonus book called Paint Shop Creations, which is a book giving you advice on how to take good photos and edit them in Paint Shop Pro.
I am used to receiving software in a big box, but with the manual on the CD which you have to print, so the inculsion of the manuals was a big bonus for me (although where I'm going to put them is a different matter!).
Having uninstalled version 7 I then moved on to install the new version. The installation makes you install each option individually, which some people have complained about, but I have to say it doesn't bother me that much. One thing that I don't like about some installers which was true with the Paint Shop Photo Album, but strangely not with the other 3, is when you have to select the custom option in order to install the software anywhere other than where it wants to install by default. However, that is a minor grumble.
A slightly larger problem is that, having installed the main program in the wrong place (because I'm stupid) it failed to uninstall. I tried several times, but to no avail. This may be a problem with my computer, so I am currently not making any judgements. As it was it runs fine from where it is, so I have left it there for now.
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So, to the program. From the moment the program started to load it was obvious that there have been several alterations made. It took quite a while to load on my PC (which in fairness is quite old and only just meets the minimum 128M RAM requirement), taking probably twice as long as version 7. However, once loaded I could recognise most of my old tool friends. The main window has been altered, although most of you who have used version 7 shouldn't have any problems finding anything.
I tried out all the old tools, and they all seem to work as well, if not better than the old ones. There have been some additions to the tools, such as Erase-to-background, a tool which enables you to paint away any part of a photo and leave just the unpainted parts as a foreground image. This isn't simply the rubber tool as it is more intelligent and allows you to remove parts of the same colour whilst leaving other bits (helping, for example, to remove background from within long hair).
There were also two free extra pugins, allowing you to turn your pictures into various types of artwork, and a number of additional demos of this (which they are presumably trying to get you to buy).
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The Paint Shop Photo Album loaded somewhat faster than the main program. It doesn't seem to be the easiest program to use, but I managed to make my first slide-show to share with other people. It allows you to add music, etc and also includes a helper-program which you can include with the slide-shows to allow people who do not have the program to view them.
I have tried a number of ways of displaying photos in an album to distribute to other people and this is one of the best I have seen so far. The addition of the viewer is a definite bonus as it avoids having to make web pages which several of the other programs forced me to do if I wanted anyone else to be able to see them.
I have read reports of difficulties in getting this program to create slide shows to share, but it seems to work okay so far.
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The program has a massive number of options, and it will probably take me years to learn (and certainly not master) all of them. If you are after something to do a quick bit of work on a photo or to play around with, perhaps version 7 would be better for you (which has been on the covers of some magazines for free recently apparently), or even Photoshop Elements.
However, if you want to learn to do some powerful editing, but don't want to splash out the several hundred pounds for Photoshop then this is the software for you. If you are going to buy it I would recommend getting the bundle as the small difference in price is worth if for all the extras you get with it.
Advantages: Makes Novices into Experts in no time Disadvantages: None
...8 extremely user friendly.
Paint Shop Pro 8`s new painting engine has been rewritten to give smoother control over brush strokes. It is now much easier to use a mouse for fine detail painting and editing when before a graphics tablet may have been required.
Perspective problems in photos are no longer a problem with the Perspective options tool. Distorted photos can be aligned by a unique handle placing system to sort out your image.
It is also ... ...A line is positioned along an item that should be straight in the picture, the horizon for example. The image is then corrected.
If the £85 price is a little high for you, I have noticed Earlier versions of Paintshop Pro being given away on Computer Magazine Cover CD`s. Although they will not have all of the features described above they will give you a general feel for the software and may just wet your appetite enough to treat yourself to a well ...
stuleg 24.05.2003 (10.09.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Paint Shop Pro 8 Complete package
...now for a few months. Paint Shop Pro (psp) is used by many people for different reasons, I use psp for the following things, making email signature tags, graphics, stationary, and also websets for my webpage. Psp is a addictive program that once you start there is no stopping you.
*WHAT IS PAINT SHOP PRO?*
Paint shop pro is a software program for imaging. It is excellent for doing the following things: colorizing images, editing and resizing images, ... ...is no need to use paint program that you can get with windows, although I have not yet use this tool as I am no good at drawing.
Psp is like a toolkit for artists, there are so many tools you can use for getting the effects you want to create. There is also many free downloads for you to get such things as plugins, gradients, tubes, brushes, etc for your collection for psp. Psp is very enjoyable and hours of fun here within this little program.
...
Unicorn76 31.07.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Paint Shop Pro 8 Complete package
Advantages: Easy to use, lots of features Disadvantages: Might take a while to get used to
...around and decided to buy Paint Shop Pro 8 instead. This is also fairly pricey to buy, however I searched around the Amazon Market Place and picked up a brand new copy for about £7! For that amount of money, I couldn't go wrong.
When the CDROM arrived, I turned the case over and read the information on the back which was very useful. It explained how you could use the software for editing digital photos, creating graphics, resizing images and web ... ...It had instructions on how to install and register the software. It also gave basic editing tips to get you started. It explained that there were tutorials online which you could access if you wanted further help.
The installation was simple, I just followed the onscreen instructions and it was done. It didn't take very long either.
I wanted to get started straight away so I began with some of the basic editing stuff like resizing and cropping ...
Natanna 21.02.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Paint Shop Pro 8 Complete package
Advantages: Paintshop Pro gets better and better. Disadvantages: Why haven't JASC added a choice of shapes in the cropping tools.
As a teacher of digital imaging I felt I had to go out and buy the latest version of Paintshop Pro 8 in order to keep up to date. I was pleasantly surprised by the latest incarnation. As a PSP user since version 8, I know that this software is not the easiest to master, but the new version has many advantages. I particularly like the new one step photo fix for enhancing your photos in just two clicks. This feature will be appreciated by both existing ... ...interesting. I'm not a great one for gimics, but did like the Painted Carved Wood effect and Pontillist effects in particular. The Product Tour has been enhanced, so that users can see features demonstrated in videos. There are many programmes for digital imaging and Photoshop is the one favoured by professionals. Paintshop Pro costs a fraction of the price and has many useful features. In my experience these two programmes are the ones which have ...
suedebottom 26.02.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Paint Shop Pro 8 Complete package
Advantages: a powerful, versatile graphics programme Disadvantages: no major disadvantages
Jasc is a well-known and respected manufacturer of graphics software. PSP compares very well with other programmes of its genre. I had been using PSP7 for about two years, and hesitated before changing. I am however, pleased I took the plunge.
All graphics programmes need to be learned, tutorials for PaintShopPro are freely available, both from the Jasc site, and many graphics enthusiasts sites online.
For anyone purchasing their first graphic ... ...It is a very versatile programme, useful for a variety of tasks, including web design, digital painting, photo enhancement and manipulation. The screenshot facility makes it ideal for creating tutorials too.
Experienced users will find some new features in PSP8:
Improved browse facility - which now lets you preview effects
Seamless tiling - previously to acquire seamless tiles I used an outside programme, now this facility is included
Magnifying ...
ruby_toosday 11.10.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Paint Shop Pro 8 Complete package
Product Information for "Paint Shop Pro 8 Complete package" »
System requirements
OS Required
Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6a, Microsoft Windows XP
Min Processor Type
Intel Pentium
Min RAM Size
128 MB
Min Hard Drive Space
200 MB
Peripheral / Interface Devices
CD-ROM, SVGA monitor
Manufacturer's product description
Paint Shop Pro 8, a part of the Paint Shop family of digital imaging and photography products, is the most complete, easy-to-use software for creating professional digital imaging results. By combining automatic and precision tools with an integrated learning system, Paint Shop Pro helps you produce professional results with power and ease. In an exploding digital imaging market, Paint Shop Pro 8 rises above the rest. With the unparalleled power of Automated Productivity Scripts and Dynamic Personalization, Paint Shop Pro increases productivity and enhances workflow like no other digital imaging software on the market. Paint Shop Pro is your complete solution for print and Web. Paint Shop Pro's new effects make creating breath-taking graphics a breeze. Now, novice and advanced users can produce professional results with power and ease.
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