Corel Paint Shop
Pro Photo X2
Rating: 
out of 5.
Based on features, easy-of-use
and value for the money. |
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Pros: Affordable,
powerful editing tools, new HDR photo merge is fun,
selective color replacement, fast editing with Express
Lab, non-distracting graphite workspace. Easy to use.
Cons:
Limited RAW file capability, slower on older computers,
Express Lab could have more features.
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Recommended System
requirements:
1.0-GHz or faster processor
Windows® XP (SP2) or Vista
512 MB RAM (768 MB required if using Windows Vista
1 GHz processor (2 GHz recommended)
500 MB hard disk space
24-bit color display, 1024x768 resolution
Microsoft DirectX® 9.0c or higher (included in Windows
Vista and XP) |
|
Buy
Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 
Up to $10 off Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 + FREE DVD Movie Factory 6! From only $59.99 USD BUY NOW
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Buy Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 get FREE Corel MediaOne Plus, Special Effects Filters by Nik Software & 2 hours of video training.
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This fall 2007 Corel released Paint Shop Pro Photo
X2 featuring a new non-distracting graphite gray workspace
that lets your photos pop out. A number of fun new features
join the already-powerful editing tools in this latest upgrade.
The new X2 remains an exciting, easy-to-use photo editor and
manager with near-Photoshop quality tools at under $100.
New Features
Express Lab
In addition to the helpful graphite interface, the new Express
Lab greatly speeds up common editing tasks. You can quickly
make edits without waiting to open each file individually.
It works sort of like a slide show. You select a series of
images to edit and the first one appears. You make your edits
such as crop and rotate, blemish removal, hit the forward
arrow and the next one instantly appears. The only downside
is that not all tools available in X2 are included in the
Express Lab. For instance to batch resize a series of photos
you have to go to another part of the interface.
HDR Photo Merge
HDR Photo Merge is a unique tool that lets you combine two
or several bracketed images into one image. For example, if
you take two photos of the same subject and one is overexposed
and the other underexposed, HDR Photo Merge will take the
shadows from one image and the highlights from another and
automatically combine them into the best possible exposure.
Auto-Preserve Originals
We've all goofed up and accidentally edited and saved an
image without making a copy of the original, and then realize
we don't like the edited image. With Auto-Preserve Originals
your original image will automatically be preserved when you
save an edited image. The only glitch is that if you open
the edited image and use the Restore Original command, you
lose your edited version.
Makeover Tools
New/improved makeover tools include an eyedropper for making
the whites of eyes whiter and a Thinify tool to make subjects
appear a few pounds lighter. They are fun but basic tools
without a lot of adjustment options. There are also blemish
removal, suntan, teeth whitener and red-eye removal tools.
These are all included in the Express Lab.
Layer Styles
The new Layer Styles feature lets you apply effects like
drop shadows, embossing and glows.
Other Features
There is a RAW image editing feature, but unfortunately it
only supports raw image formats for a small number of cameras
and it does not have the functionality you may need.
Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 is one of the few programs outside
of Photoshop that is capable of importing or exporting CMYK
images, which is what is used in four-color printing for publication.
The Depth of Field tool softens the background focus
so you can emphasize an object or person in the foreground.
The Color Changer tool is a super tool for recoloring
objects in an image with only one click. For instance, you
can quickly change the color of a shirt from green to blue
and preserve all the nuance of highlights, shadows and texture.
The Skin Smoother softens wrinkles for a more youthful
appearance, however it is slow.
Time Machine,
under the Effects menu converts
your photos into representations of what they would look like
if they were taken in another age. The Time Machine starts
in the early days of photography with the Daguerreotype, used
in the 1840's, then Albumen (mid-1950's to 1890), Cyanotype,
Platinum (1873 to 1920), Early Color, Box Cameras and then
Cross Process (1960 and on).
Although the excellent Corel
Paint Shop Album is no longer bundled with Paint Shop
Pro Photo XI, there is a capable Photo Organizer integrated
into the program. You can view scalable thumbnails of your
stored images and video clips or search based on filename,
date, file type and size, folder location, keyword tags and
ratings. The new Quick Review slide show lets you view images
or video clips in full screen mode, make basic adjustments
or add text.
Should You Buy It?
Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 is a great option for
beginning to advanced photo enthusiasts looking for a strong
editing program at a competitive price. The Learning Center
is great for novices.
Click here to buy Corel
Paint Shop Pro Photo XI
from Amazon
Click here to download Corel
Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 directly
from Corel.
Find
all current special offers on Corel products. 
Up to $10 off Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 + FREE DVD Movie Factory 6! From only $59.99 USD BUY NOW
Recommended Books About Paint Shop Pro X2:
Paint
Shop Pro Photo X2 for Photographers (Paperback)
Digital
Photography All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies
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