CNET Editors' note: This is a very large (350MB) file and may take several hours to download via slow Internet connection.
CNET Editors' review
PaintShop Pro X4 is the latest release in Corel's popular line of photo management and editing software. This newest version brings with it a more polished interface, GPU optimizations, and a significant boost in terms of professional editing power.
The interface is fairly simple to navigate, with all of the program's functionality falling under three main tabs at the top of the screen: Manage, Adjust, and Edit.
The Manage tab is, of course, the hub for organizing all of your photos. In addition to all of the expected browsing and preview utilities, it includes a nifty Info palette along the right side of the screen, which lists all of the metadata contained in your photo file. With this metadata, you can always see what settings were used to take the picture in the field, which provides a huge learning opportunity for budding photographers and a great reference for experienced ones. We also like that the Organizer palette along the bottom of the screen lets you further organize photos into Trays, making it easier to work with several projects simultaneously. And, of course, there's a rich system for tagging, adding captions to, and rating your photos, which helps when sifting through an unwieldy number of files. Finally, there's built-in sharing on Facebook and Flickr, which is nice, but a bit thin considering how many other sites we would love to share photos on.
The Adjust tab is for speedy editing functions. Think of it as a shortcut panel with all of the most common editing tools like Cropping, Straightening, and Red Eye Removal, as well as basic Brightness, Contrast, and Color adjustments. This is really the bread and butter of the program.
Finally, the Edit tab is where you find the more powerful photo-manipulation tools such as layers, selections, and effects. While it can't get into the nitty-gritty details like an Adobe Photoshop, it does have most of the tools one would need when working with photographic images. And of course, PaintShop Pro can handle raw files from all major camera brands and includes free updates when it adds support for more brands.
Shutterbugs should also appreciate that PaintShop Pro X4 has simplified some of the more complex photo manipulations. For instance, it can now handle HDR processing with ease, and can even Batch Merge so you can process several HDR photos at once. Photo Blend, Selective Focus, and Vignette Effect are also relatively simple yet powerful functions. Also, PaintShop Pro X4 makes it much easier to manipulate fill light and clarity while preserving the rest of the image.
If you're looking to get really granular with your graphics editing, a powerhouse like Adobe Photoshop might be a better choice, albeit a more expensive one. Otherwise, we think Corel PaintShop Pro X4 is a solid end-to-end option for all the simplest photography-related operations and many of the more complicated ones. It's great for managing, adjusting, and editing photos, and even has built-in sharing on Facebook and Flickr. Overall, we give this photo-editing workhorse our stamp of approval.
Publisher's Description
From Corel:
Corel PaintShop Pro X4 gives passionate photographers more to love with hundreds of photo-editing features, a streamlined workspace, new pro-level effects and one-click sharing. Retouch photos faster. Create the perfectly exposed image or achieve a surreal, artistic effect with the HDR module. Remove distractions and combine the best elements from a series of shots with Photo Blend. Plus, have fun with the new Selective Focus feature and mimic expensive tilt-shift lenses to turn a scene into a miniature world. Managing and editing all your photos is easier with redesigned workspaces and dual monitor support. When you're ready to show your best photos, sharing to sites like Facebook and Flickr is just a click away!
What's new in this version:
- New: HDR Batch Merge
- New: HDR presets and custom settings
- New: Photo Blend - combine photos of the same scene to include the best details and remove unwanted elements
- New: Selective Focus - mimic the effect of expensive tilt-shift lenses and turn a scene into a miniature world
- New: Vignette Effect - apply a classic faded border to the edge of a photo to emphasize the focal point of your image
- New: Fill light and clarity - brighten shadowy ar... See all new features
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All versions:
3.6 starsout of 473 votes
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Current version:
2.4 starsout of 18 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"An Infuriating, Unstable and Erratic Product"
Version: Corel PaintShop Pro X4
Pros
Very Good Special Effects / Graphics and Choice of Menus
Cons
1. Terrible Chapter Points Management:- When I name the chapter points with specific content-based names in the Disk-authoring stage - and I then delete ONE chapter point either in the timeline or in the disk menu, then ALL this information, including ALL the specific chapter names are obliterated and AS WELL the background images, music and Title Chapter names disappear and everything reverts to the Generic, information-free menu. ALL of a customer's work (hours) is wiped out by a simple action which in itself does not affect the timeline-locked elements - CRAZY
2. The interactivity (and stability) between Timeline management/Editing and Disk- Authoring is very immature (about 2003 standard).
3.It FREEZES for no apparent reason when the CPU and RAM have a huge amount of resources free.Summary
A totally primitive piece of software which fails at the disk-authoring stage (and is not so hot at exporting in various viseo formats. Amazingly it has gorgeous extras and frills.
But they are all undermined by the program's failure at the most elementary level after almost a decade in the business - SHAME.
I understand X5 is now out - I would notimagine that 12 months would have seen these basic flaws overcome. A Disaster. -
"Inexpensive"
Version: Corel PaintShop Pro X4
Pros
I has a feature that lets you do the same edit to like 1000 diff photos if you want. If Adobe does that, someone e-mail me aolbunny@yahoo.com but until then, this program is essential for my blog.
Cons
I need Liquify (is that in Corel?) and better brush options.
Summary
Its a good buy if you really need it. Cheaper than CS6 that's for sure.
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"Garbage software! Stick with Serif or Adobe!"
Version: Corel PaintShop Pro X4
Pros
None. It doesn't work with AMD processors. Thanks Corel!
Cons
Corel makes the version 4 with SSE2 instructions! What morons! What about us AMD users?? Guess Corel doesn't care.
Summary
Don't waste your money! Stick with Serif products!
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"I AM SO MAD!"
Version: Corel PaintShop Pro X4
Pros
I have tried to download from here and Corel 6 times. 3 times I asked for help from Corel -- I only get to the Wizard and then it completely stops and goes no further. I then BOUGHT IT direct for Corel - and still the SAME! I AM SO PISSED OFF!
Cons
I have YET to be able to use it from either the download OR the cd!
Corel is NO HELP!Summary
I can't review it when I can't USE IT and nobody gives a darn if I get it downloaded correctly or not! I have windows 7, I turned off the virus protection, I downloaded what Corel idiots asked me to, I even open another Administrator as a new person on Windows 7. WHY is this happening!
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"Great program"
Version: Corel PaintShop Pro X4
Pros
the image edition is amazing
Cons
no cons it is just amazing
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"I should have learned my lesson from Painshop Pro X"
Version: Corel PaintShop Pro X4
Pros
Powerful software at a resonable price (when it works)
Cons
Buggy software
HORRIBLE supportSummary
After using Paintshop Pro X for several years and was quite happy with it, suddenly it would not load after a reformat of my machine. It got no error during install just got failures during load. I tried to contact Corel to get help with the issue and they told me they no longer supported the product that I paid for. After alot of experimenting I figured out the proper order to get it to install correctly but if I did one thing out of sequence it did not work. I reformat both my desktop and my laptop every 3-6 months because I am an anal-retentive power user who like a lean and clean machine.
Recently, I decided it was time to upgrade and not deal with the hassles any more, so I did. Begrudgingly, I plunked down my $80 or $90 and bought Paintshop Pro X4.
Things seemed ok until tonight. I had been working on a project for about 18 hours in PaintShop Pro X4 and a manufacturer asked me to make a minor size change to the image. So I opened the .TIF file originally created with PSP X4, made the adjustment and saved it. After submitting it, I decided to make a print-out for my records. I tried to open the file (again originally created and last saved with PSP X4 and it told me it did not recognize the image format!!! I went back to an earlier version (about 8 hours earlier) and it opens fine. I then went to another project and tried to open the final version, same error and same story (created and edited exclusively with PSP X4).
Interesting thing I noticed was that the images both previewed in Windows Explorer, so for yuck-yucks I right-clicked and said open with Paint...it opened fine!!!! So while I had the image open, I saved it under a new name. The colors were a tad off but I figured I could fix that later in PSP X4...WRONG.
A file that can be opened in Windows Paint could not be recognized by PSP X4...go figure. I opened the file in 3-4 other graphics programs, no problem. I tried the 2nd project and same results.
So I go to Corel's website and there is no support phone number anywhere. The only options are to post a message and wait for a call back the next day, chat online or pay for support. I click on chat online...it tells me they are closed, the funny thing is it's more than 1/2 hour before the time they say they close. Sigh.
Next I post a call back request while sitting on hold on their sales support number. They are pretty much no help either but when I demand to talk to someone about getting a refund on the product they tell me and I quote: in order to get a refund you will have to open a priority support case for $19.99.
I will be contacting the better business bureau tomorrow. -
"great product"
Version: Corel PaintShop Pro X4
Pros
Just like any software it takes a while to understand it all, but it's much better than PhotoShop Elements. I've used 2 versions of each, and I keep coming back to Corel.
Cons
there might be a few, but what software is perfect?
Summary
Buy it, use it, and really look at all the options. You'll love it.
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"Steep learning curve!"
Version: Corel PaintShop Pro X4
Pros
Does a good job of editing
Cons
Very difficult to learn. It may be all in what one is used to using.
Summary
Many more bells and whistles than needed for minor edits, resizing, etc.
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"Huge programming blunder in X4"
Version: Corel PaintShop Pro X4
Pros
N/A no testing done.
Cons
In one of the most inexplicable programming decisions of the computer age Corel decided to make the X4 interface an unchangeable "Graphite" theme which is grey on black. I cannot see grey on black. I installed X4, uninstalled it 4 hrs later. How can you test a program you can't see?
Summary
Corel must have a death wish else why would they do such a stupid thing as making their workspace invisible. A check of forums showed numerous complaints about this but I found only two people that liked it. Fine! But why make it unchangeable. There is no skin, no nothing. Fie on Corel, a relic of the DOS age.
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"Not been tested properly prior to release"
Version: Corel PaintShop Pro X4
Pros
not able to use it well enough to assess these - due to bugs
Cons
There are a lot of bugs in this release as others have said. As a software tester by trade myself, I an only assume that this release has only been united tested, as the softs of defects I am emcountering I would not expect to see in production/commercial release software - even if the test phase had been 'quick and dirty' there are defects (such as the inability to paste an item without the edges being cut off) that should have been caught. This feels like softwrae which has not yet been system tested. Why has it been released in this state?
Summary
Please system, integration, end to end/uat/usability/performance/compatability test this software, rather than trying to save a few $ on testing, and costing your company many times that on the negative PR releasing untested software gets you
PS: Having a paid poster place what is very obviously a 'paid' review and not a geniune or unbiased one, is not going to fix the negative feedback above it - would suggest you spend that $ on taking this back into test. its a pity i have used this software before and like it - but this version is simply not useable due to the bugs. And I dont have the time or interest to follow through the support process and wait for a fix, I get paid to do that at work, when i get home I expect my software to, for the most part, work....
Updated on Oct 28, 2011
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