Customer Reviews

Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 for Photographers

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have been a JASC PaintShopPro fan since almost the beginning. I started with PSP4 and graduated to PSP8 where I stalled out when versions 9, 10 and 11 came out too quickly for me to absorb (even though I upgraded to all new versions) -- plus at the time I was very happy with PSP8 for my particular applications. However, I really wanted to get into more sophisticated techniques like advanced selection techniques, use of histograms, advanced layers & masks, etc. Ken McMahon's PSP Photo X2 For Photographers was just what I needed to get me up to speed on the latest version of PSP, plus sharpen my skills in the previously mentioned techniques. Note that this book is rated Intermediate, so it is not for those who are new to basic photo editing techniques. The book is clear, well organized, has lots of good illustrations, and with easy to use index and tabs. It is a pleasure to read and use.

David R Carlson
Fresno CA
carlsondr@gmail.com

I have been into digital photography for the past couple of years and have been using both PSP Photo X2 and Photoshop Elements 5. Through experimentation, I had figured out how to brighten, sharpen, soften, clone, straighten, crop, etc. I had tried using masks and layers but failed miserably. I was looking for a book that would walk me through the creation and application of masks and layers and hopefully guide me through the more sophisticated tools such as curves. What a disappointment. The first chapter takes roughly 30 pages to list the tools, e.g., "Red-Eye tool" duh! It finally gets down to an example at the end of the chapter, taking 2 full pages to show how STRAIGHTEN AN IMAGE!

Chapter 2 nicely covers "Simple Picture Manipulation", with a thorough explanation of the "Smart Photo Fix". It also covers the use of Histogram Adjustment and tools like "High Pass Sharpen". Unfortunately, it only touches on "Soft Focus", which is actually quite complicated, i.e., requires a lot of playing around, and skims past Curves with 9 short sentences and nary an example.

Chapter 3 "Moving Past the Basics" is an understatement. Suddenly I was seeing "tips" like, "For an interesting effect use a Hue/Saturation/Lightness Adjustment layer in colorize mode to apply a tint, then reduce the layer opacity to blend it with the original color." Right. It reminds me of the proverbial ski trip where the "expert" skier lets everyone take one warm-up run down the bunny hill and then takes them to the top of an "easy" black diamond trail. At that point, he drops over the edge and vanishes from sight, expecting his novice charges to follow - forgetting that it took him years to perfect his technique.

How many times have you thought you took the perfect picture only to discover that there were flaws in the photo I recently tried out Corel's Paint Shop Pro X2 software which retails for $ 99.99. One disclaimer, I have used the various earlier Paint Shop versions in the past. This software is economical to purchase and fairly easy to use. The learning curve is too not difficult to grasp.

The included Photo X2 printed manual provided is complete, but has no illustrations. Photo editing is very color intensive and in some ways your finished photo is artwork. Fortunately, I had assistance learning Paint Shop Pro X2. Two excellent books are Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 by Ken McMahon published by Focal Press and Picture Yourself Learning Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 by Diane Koers published by Cengage Learning. These both retail for $29.99 each. Ken McMahon's book is very complete and a great tool for a beginner to intermediate photo edit. Ken's book has numerous graphics and is an easy read and lays out different options a photo editor can implement. Diane Koers book's is 392 Pages and written as a text book for a classroom, it is for more intensive learning and it comes with a sample CD. Both books bring added information to the Pro X2 software and a different point of view on how to use it.

There are multiple things you can do to enhance your photo with Photo X2.
The number one reason is a one step photo fixer which is like taking your photo to a lab. I was somewhat skeptical of this until I used the photo fixer. I tried this option on a group photo, where the lighting was all wrong. There were dark areas and areas with too much ambient light. I clicked on one step photo fixer and corrected the lighting of the photo and the result was spectacular. The other problem I had was the group of people were in a semi-circle in the photo not in a straight line. I used a tool called a perspective tool and adjusted the group to a straight line. I now had the perfect photo with a lot of help from Paint Shop Pro Photo X2.


The hardest concept to understand with Photo X2 photo software is the use of layers. The first layer is the background and then additional layers are placed on top of the first. The photo editor has the option to change layers around and make them more transparent or opaque. A good visualization of this is a group of transparent plastic sheets with designs on them. They layers are all stacked on top of one another for a finished photo. A use of this if you want to add text to a photo, another person to the photo or item. The photo editor will allow you move the layers around much like shuffling a deck of cards.
For a Cub Scout function, I needed to print out some special photos. I didn't have a matt for the photos but X2 has a photo frame option which became my matt. The next step I used was adding the names of the Scouts in color. The finished photo was a big hit with the parents and the Scouts. Parents complimented me and asked me how I was able to make the photo.
My last project was one of field expediency. I needed wrapping paper for my wife's Valentine Day gift. I opened X2 and selected a red background for the paper. I typed in Happy Valentines in different font sizes and type faces. I used the picture tube options for added effect. . There are different designs of tubes. I used the flower tube and laid down different flowers on the paper and printed it out. By the way, my wife liked the paper and thought I bought it at the store.

There are more things that X2 can do like coloring black and white photos, removing red eye, scratches in photographs, 3D effects, and painting your own photograph than I have space to write about.
If you are the market for fairly reasonable and easy to use photo software Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 is well worth the investment. To get the most out the software I would recommend Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 by Ken McMahon and Picture Yourself Learning Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 by Diane Koers.


MAJ (ret) Eric Shuler NJARNG

I know many people who have read this book and found it to be an absolute joy that taught them the basics and introduced them to some nice concepts and topics. Especially topics they wanted to hear. Actual people who enjoy this book. Which is bound to happen, it does have good information and in some cases you can even learn something. But that depends.

I struggled with giving this a two or a three star rating. I don't think it's so bad as to give it a one. But the problems I did encounter were enough to make me want to chuck it after I had gleaned any unknown information.

First, as it has been announced by others, he tends to get way into depth about easy topics, and glides over more complicated ones. Curves for example, an awesome, amazing, powerful tool that Adobe felt was too professional for Elements. He barely touches on it, how it can be used, and why it should be used.

He does give some nice tips. But then turns around and gives the same worn out depth of field "tip" we've all heard before. "Select the background, then use Gaussian Blur." Which, I don't know about you but even for me as someone who isn't a photographer knows, doesn't work properly. His example is atrocious.

A lot of the time the pictures don't match the version he's talking about. And more than once PSPP X2 is referred to as version XI. In the scripting section he clearly states "maybe they'll fix this in version XII" the very version the book is about. Apparently didn't feel the need to update the text at all where it wasn't needed.

I loved the section that gave an explanation of layer blend ranges. I've been trying to use them properly for a while. But he does so because Corel changed the Color Balance system and you can't do the old method of a special technique. Despite the fact that the technique he's referring to can be done using the Color Balance Adjustment layer. Now on this point, and in his defense he had not gone over Adjustment layers yet. But he could have saved this tip for adjustment layers as it fits there.

He has a number of explanations that are all over the place. And many times it's hard to follow what he's talking about. If Corel reviewed this book like the cover says, then I wonder what standards Corel is employing. And does this mean that PSPP will only get worse from here because it's owned by a Company that is already removing just as much as it's putting in and allows books like this to be written and published?

Now again, there is useful information in this book. It's not a complete waste. But if you're going to buy it. Then go somewhere else and buy it used. You stand a better chance at a better price. Right now, here on Amazon, the used price is higher than the new price.

Small warning though, even the website spoken of in the book is old and outdated. So that won't be of any use to you at all.

Youtube, they've got stuff. Photoshop tutorials even. They can often be changed over to Paint Shop Pro. And they're free.

A book that tells me what the various controls do is interesting, but not particularly worthwhile. I was looking for a practical, hands on guide, and this IS NOT IT. There are occasional "tips" but they are literally one or two sentences, not the sort of in depth help this book says it will provide.

I have to say that I was disappointed with this book - the title is misleading. It is well written and very useful - as a basic introduction to how to operate the software. Essentially, it fills the role of a manual on how to use the software admirably. But as for going beyond the basics to make full use of the software, from the vantage point of a serious photographer - forget it!

This has pretty pictures, but does not give the step by step detail that I thought it would. If you are new to this program like I was try getting it from a library before dropping 20 on it.

This book is a wonderful source of information for Corel. My only complaint was in the actual procedure for layering which produces the same affects as 35mm multi-exposures. It just needs an example and a step by step method (on combining two images)which I later found on the internet. This and other manuals never assume that you don't know you have to right click on certain layers to make them work. This is a simple thing that can leave you totally perplexed since a wrong click can really mess you up. If this had just been there I would have rated it a 5 star.

I've been following Paint Shop since its Jasc days, and was worried when Corel bought the company, because Corel already offers Photo-Paint, Painter, and PhotoImpact. However, the latest version of PSP is as good as it ever was, and this book is the easiest way to learn all the new features, or, if you haven't owned Paint Shop Pro before, to get up to speed with the image editor. Everything is organized into easy to follow lessons and can help you learn the function of every tool and feature. Recommended.

It is nice to find a book that is NOT about Photoshop. Paint Shop Pro is a very capable photo editing application and just the ticket for the digital camera masses. When you take into account it's price (under $100) it is a real bargan. This book offers some quite useful tips and tricks.Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2