PSP Question

[Lady of the Lake]

I have PSP 9.....would like to know if any of you have upgraded to X...and if so, do you like it???

Lyla

[Robert_S]

Hi,

I've tried the X-Version of PSP but I prefer photoshop - the new version is similar to photoshop and imo the best alternative for the price!

[AnnaKirsten]

Hi Lyla, I have been using version 8 which came with Jasc's Paintshop Power Suite, for quite a long time now (since it came out). At one stage I bought version X, and found a lot of incompatibilities that I didn't want, and also because the Power Suite has lots of added extras in any case, X gave me nothing to go for! It had less than I already have! (It was also taken over by Corel, and as Corel do, they changed lots of things and hence the incompatibilities!)

However, if you haven't got the Power suite, then I would go ahead and perhaps download the demo to start with. That's always a good way of determining whether you like it! I honestly don't know what it has over Version 9, as I never went for that one. I do think the creators of this program seem to focus in on digital photo-imaging rather, when in fact it is a complete paint program in itself (see some of the stuff I've done with it) and I also find it very user-friendly.

On the other hand.. If you feel so inclined, try out CS2 (Adobe Photoshop 9). It's much more expensive, of course, but I've seen it "in action" and also have version 8, and do use that quite a bit for various things - loads of extra facilities in it for adjustments in all areas, and lots of filters well worth looking at. It's also the Industry Standard, and therefore most plug-ins and filters are totally compatible with it.

But as I say, try out the demos to see what you think, and then assess which is most worth spending your money on!

[LadyGreyWolf]

I have been using version X since it came out and love it. since Corel took it over, I personally think it is better than ever. They also added digital painting tools to X. Oil brush, pastels, etc. I am in the process of writing tutorials for these new tools as I play with them, and learn how to use them. A couple of them are verra comparable to some of the brushes in Corel Paint IX. (which I also have and use)...

The interface is close to what Photoshop looks like (layers panel wise)..

I agree, you should download the demo and try it out. It DOES NOT come with Animation Shop though, but I kept mine from PSP 9. And another bonus to X is it is stand alone. You do not have to have 9 installed to install X.

I'll be happy to answer any other questions you might have!!

Cheers!

[LadyGreyWolf]

OH, sorry for posting back to back, but just thought of something else...

I own a graphics business, and I convert .psp files to .psd for the printers and such that use Photoshop. I get tickled when they find out I did all the layout in PSP and could convert to .psd files for them. I can layout Alpha channels, layers, locks, links etc. just like Photoshop.

I realize Photoshop is the Industry Standard, but the new X can do just about anything that CS can... with a few exceptions.. not to mention, you can use Photoshop filters in PSP...

Cheers!

[wile1]

I'm very old school.. I love my PSP6 LOL but I did upgrade my Photoshop to PScs2 and its very confuzzling.. Its taken me 6 years to figure out PSP6 and I can do a lot with it so Im sticking with it. I tend to use several programs anyway to get the effects I want.

[AnnaKirsten]

I get tickled when they find out I did all the layout in PSP and could convert to .psd files for them. I can layout Alpha channels, layers, locks, links etc. just like Photoshop.

Hehehe!!! Love it!!! Onwards and upwards with PSP!!! It's a great progam that has been highly underrated!! Why people are so keen to spend out all that extra money when as far as I can tell there's no need, I cannot quite understand.....

[AnnaKirsten]

I have been using version X since it came out and love it. since Corel took it over, I personally think it is better than ever. They also added digital painting tools to X. Oil brush, pastels, etc. I am in the process of writing tutorials for these new tools as I play with them, and learn how to use them. A couple of them are verra comparable to some of the brushes in Corel Paint IX. (which I also have and use)...

The interface is close to what Photoshop looks like (layers panel wise)..

I agree, you should download the demo and try it out. It DOES NOT come with Animation Shop though, but I kept mine from PSP 9. And another bonus to X is it is stand alone. You do not have to have 9 installed to install X.

I'll be happy to answer any other questions you might have!!

Cheers!

You persuaded me!! I bought PSP X yesterday and have had just a short time in which to play with it. The interface is more-or less that of PSP8 with a couple of differences, and as you say, the layers pallette is very similar to the one in Photoshop.

One thing that really strikes me as excellent, and that is the response of the Wacom Intuos 3 art-pen in it! WOW!!!! So much improved over PSP8!

It will take me a little while to get used to using it of course, because also, on uploading all my custom brushes, I found that all their variances are now changed.

I cannot see a trash bin inside that area where I can deleted unwanted custom brushes though (there's one in v8, but this isn't apparent in v X.) Maybe if there is a means of deleting these unwanted brushes, you could point me to it?

EDIT!! Answer: I've found that there is a Manager at the top of the brush box; click on that and you can select all the brushes you want to remove (use control and click in order to only select those you wish to) and then delete them!
Thanks...

P.S. a TUT from you about the use of the new brushes similar to Painter IX would be very welcome just as soon as you are able to post one up????

[LadyGreyWolf]

LOL ;)
no problem, it may be a week or so though... I have some research papers coming due soon for my BAS degree, and two .ppt presentations next week..:shooting:

[AnnaKirsten]

Excellent, LGW, no rush, and I hope your research goes well! Meanwhile, I'm thoroughly enjoying the program and have already taken PSP8 off, but now I have a slight hiccough with getting Mystical Lighting to go in there! Never mind, it's also a stand-alone so not a huge problem really, although I liked being able to just select one of the layers to put into it within the PSP program... Just on my way to see if there are some updates for Mystical!

EDIT! I uninstalled Mystical and then re-installed it and the second time around it went in there ok! Don't know what happened first time round!

[judee3d]

What is Mystical Lighting? A filter? A plugin? (Actually I'mnot even sure I know the difference between filter and plugin)

Sounds intriguing whatever it is.

[AnnaKirsten]

Hehe Judee, I think most filters are in fact plug-ins in the sense that they become part of the plug-in section of the program you're using, but they are filters in the sense that they make interesting changes to your image when you apply them.

Take a look HERE (http://www.autofx.com/homepage.html) to see more about Mystical Lighting etc. - they do loads of different types of filters and bundles, but I warn you, they are not cheap!!