Corel PaintShop Pro X4 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've been using PaintShop Pro in most of its variations since the `90s and was asked to participate in the beta development of PSPX4. There is a lot to like in this latest version, for sure!
Let's start with speed - PSPX4 opens fast, loads images fast, and just overall performs complex tasks much more quickly and without a lot of the lag time found in other programs. The workspace is really streamlined and can easily be customized to your preferences. I use a dual-monitor setup for processing images and creating art and PSPX4 fully supports dual monitor. Set it up once and save it as a preferred workspace and it's always there when you want it. And if you're not using a dual monitor setup - well, try it - you'll see how a dual monitor setup and PSPX4 work seamlessly to further enhance your own particular workflow.
Most all the tools within PSPX4 have been upgraded as well! I like to bring in RAW images (I'm using Nikon's NEF format) and give an overall "fix" for things like brightness and contrast before bringing them into PSPX4's Edit mode. The larger preview area in the RAW Lab certainly helps! And the ability to work on 16-bit files is HUGE given today's cameras.
The HDR tools are also superb - I like to shoot a lot of "auto-bracketed" shots and using exposure merge allows me to find that perfect balance of light and contrast and sharpness - seriously, my images now seem to "pop" with color. I have complete control over the overall tone and mood of my images!
The Manage tab allows me to quickly scan for other images where I may want to use a certain element in the current project. Again - dual monitor support makes it easy to keep my windows where I need them - easy to see and easy to manipulate.
I think PSPX4's performance and speed has probably been the biggest improvement in this version. It helps to have a system that can take advantage of that, of course - but I will say the application is amazingly fast and the tools work without hesitation (none of that painful lag time) as I work on very large and complex images - large file size and multi-layer projects.
From simple tasks such as brightening your P&S camera images to full blown remodeling of large scale RAW images and everything in between - I'm finding PSPX4 handles it all. I can be as simple or as complex as I want and I don't have to worry about the software slowing me down or curtailing my creativity. Perhaps that's what I enjoy the most now with PSPX4 - I can focus on being creative instead of worrying about software constraints!
For me, PSPX4 gives me all of this and at a fraction of the cost of other more expensive programs.
Cheers,
Gino

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