Corel’s photo-editing flagship comes in two versions
(Image credit: Corel)
Corel has released its annual update to the ever-popular Paint Shop Pro, which is designed for photo enthusiasts, graphic designers, creative consumers and business users.
PaintShop Pro could be ideal if you’re looking for mid-range photo editing software which packs in a lot of value and extra features, especially in the ‘Ultimate’ bundle. And, as Corel points out, it’s sold at a fixed price, not on subscription (unlike the Adobe Photography Plan). It is a Windows-only product, though, so Mac users will have to look elsewhere.
The new features in PaintShop Pro 2020 include additional tools for more advanced users, enhancements to existing tools and a new Photography workspace for beginners and newcomers, which offers an easy introduction to the full program. PaintShop Pro 2020 also has Essential and Complete workspaces.
The new SmartClone feature is designed to help you blend objects and backgrounds from different images naturally and seamlessly. (Image credit: Corel)
What’s new in Corel PaintShop Pro 2020
Paintshop Pro’s new SmartClone feature can be used for both object removal, using surrounding image detail, or for adding objects other pictures. It’s designed to produce natural blends between objects and their backgrounds, and if you find yourself using the same object repeatedly you can create a SmartClone ‘preset’.
Also new is a Refine Brush feature for refining selections around awkward outlines like hair or animal fur. You can use the Refine Brush on selections you’ve already created with any other selection tool, and it’s designed not just for finesse, but speed too.
PaintShop Pro 2020’s Text tool is now claimed to be 30% faster to use and renders text 3,000% faster. This will be particularly useful if you use PaintShop Pro for illustrations or business graphics.
PaintShop Pro 2020 offers extensive support for layers and masks – including layer styles. It’s now possible to copy layer styles from one document to another.
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Corel has improved the software’s depth of field simulation tool to offer more precision and, as ever with Corel products, you get a lot of extra bonus content – this time including new brushes, color palettes, gradients, patterns and Picture Tubes (image brushes, basically).
PaintShop Pro 2020 isn't just a photo-editing program. It also has designed tools and content for creating illustrations, artwork and business graphics. (Image credit: Corel)
What’s included with the Ultimate edition?
The standard edition of Paint Shop Pro 2020 is pretty powerful, but the Ultimate editing brings a whole lot more.
It includes GRFX Studio, with thousands of photo effects, Parallels Toolbox for optimizing your computer and its space, and PhotoMirage Express for turning still images into animations with movement-based effects in different parts of the picture. You also get Painter Essentials 6 to transform your digital photos into natural-looking ‘paintings’, Corel AfterShot 3 for image organisation, raw photo editing and batch processing, plus a collection of dozens of brushes, textures and over 100 royalty-free backgrounds
PaintShop Pro's new Photography workspace is designed to be an easy introduction to the program for newcomers. (Image credit: Corel)
Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews editor. Before that he has been technique editor on N-Photo, Head of Testing for the photography division and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications. He has been writing about photography technique, photo editing and digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras, together with lenses, tripods, gimbals, light meters, camera bags and more. Rod has his own camera gear blog at fotovolo.com but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at lifeafterphotoshop.com
