Paint Shop Pro

~terry Wed, Jul 24, 1996 (11:36) seed

Conference Categories | Apps Conference | Graphics Viewers Topics http://www.jasc.com/psp.html 76225.2253@compuserve.com ftp://ftp.jasc.com/pub/psp32bit.zip Paint Shop Pro -- Jasc, Inc. recently released a massively revised version of their very popular Paint Shop Pro client. The new release is dramatically different from previous releases, incorporating tons of new features into a very graphically appealing layout. This holds true even for the on-line help system, which implements tabbed folders and quick navigation in addition to its already extensive documentation. Extremely useful features include quick and painless batch conversion, screen capture (I prefer Jasc's Professional Capturing System client JasCapture, though), a built-in browser for viewing an entire directory of images, color replacer, masking, interlaced graphics support (for 87a and 89a gifs), advanced image filtering (with many, many options), and almost every other image manipulation tool imaginable. At $69, Paint Shop Pro is a great deal, especially when compared to higher priced applications like Photoshop. The only real tool missing that I would like to see added is a gradient tool (as in Photoshop). Overall, though, you'd be extremely hard-pressed to find a better graphics program, especially for under $75. There is also a 32-bit commercial version (v3.12) now available to registered users of the 16-bit release. Pros: Amazing array of features, beautiful interface, extensive on-line help Cons: Needs a gradient tool like Adobe Photoshop New: Transparent gifs, support for PNG - Portable Network Graphics, bug fixes Version Reviewed: 16-bit - 3.11. 32-bit - 3.12 Date of Review: 1/2/96 Reviewer: Forrest Stroud

~beaugrandc Tue, Aug 27, 1996 (09:22) #1

Having used Photoshop for a while now, I have to refute the notion that Paint Shop Pro is even comparable to Photoshop. Just the Layers functionality alone makes photoshop head and shoulders above anything else. Add in all of the various filters that come with it, like the lighting effects and the various blur and sharpen, and the difference becomes even clearer.

~lbores Wed, Sep 18, 1996 (01:44) #2

I've used both PhotoShop and PSP since practically day 1. For the average user who requires an occasional level of sophistication (such as transparent backgrounds) PSP is the nuts and you can't beat the price. I find myself using it exclusively for preparing figures for the Web (along with PhotoImpact SmartSaver). For publishing - PhotoShop is better. My only beef with the recent version is that I can't seem to be able to adjust the selection rectangle like I used to. As for gradiants, that's done with the paint can and the option dialog.

~Joco Sat, Sep 28, 1996 (19:14) #3

The new PaintShop Pro (v4.1) is arrived!!! That's GREAT! (Joco)

~RogueWizard Mon, Feb 17, 1997 (21:12) #4

The new PaintShop Pro (v4.12) has arrived!!! It is indeed the best short of PhotoShop. PSP v4.0 had problems with PRINTING The PRINT PREVIEW was correct. The magic wand is very different in the 4.x vers. It use to surround the area using the selected color as the border and when copied it captured everything WITHIN the selection...now it just seems captures the border and leaves everything else behind. (Anyone know how to get it to include ...short of using the laso to freehand select an area?) It could use a vector type select tool... freehand with the laso can be taxing. Handling selections is very different...maybe I haven't spent enough time with them but when I'm in a hurry I still perfer V3.12 for that reason only.

~perg Thu, Jun 19, 1997 (16:06) #5

I have just started using Paint Shop Pro and I have been trying to use the transparency option, but it doesn't seem to be working. This is what I have been doing: pull up the graphic, make the background colore the active color, select all, modify, transparent color, select background and set tolerance, then ok. So, up to that point I think I am on the right track, but once I try to save the selected part of the graphic, which is the part I want to keep, the background always ends up a yellowish color. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks so much.

~kota Sun, Aug 3, 1997 (08:45) #6

PSP 4.12's main failing is its single undo. This makes the program practically useless for any image editing. PSP 4.12 feels more like a plastic toy compared the industrial strength tool of PS 4. You get what you pay for; an tired adage, but true nonetheless.

~jdmorris Tue, Mar 3, 1998 (11:35) #7

I just tried PSP 5.0 beta2.1. It's obvious that there are lots of wonderful new features. But the performance stinks. Use simple brush actions, like smudge for example, and you can wait forever to see IF it works at all, and whether it works as expected -- which it often does not. It's good PSP5 has an improved undo feature -- I needed it after about 80% of the things I tried to do. I'm using a P150 with 64mb ram, so I really don't think I should have this problem. I'd like to play around with the ne features but's back to 4.14 for me, for now. I'll kee trying the updates. I hope they get it right.

~terry Wed, Mar 4, 1998 (06:40) #8

What's the procedure to do a transparent gif?

~Nimue Tue, Apr 28, 1998 (22:38) #9

To make a transparent gif you need to first of all... set the background color to the color you'd like to be transparent. Save it as a gif, but before you do... when you do the "save as" .. scroll to gif and click on options. Set the transparency value to the background color. If that same color appears anywhere else in the gif be aware that it will also be transparent. I use PSP and PhotoShop both. They each have their fine points, but for transparent gifs with complex backgrounds, Photo is the only choi e.

~terry Tue, Apr 28, 1998 (23:09) #10

Wait a minute, *nimue*, weren't you on the tv show "Merlin" last night? Thanks for the transparent gif instructions!