Is Corel PaintShop Pro a good alternative to Photoshop?
Yes, Corel PaintShop Pro is a solid alternative to Photoshop, especially if you want professional-level features at a much lower price point and prefer buying software once instead of paying monthly subscriptions. It offers many of the same capabilities as Photoshop with some unique advantages.
What is Corel PaintShop Pro?
Corel PaintShop Pro has been around since the 1990s and is made by Corel Corporation, the same company that makes CorelDRAW. It's a full-featured photo editing program that competes directly with Photoshop but costs way less.
While Photoshop costs $20 per month (that's $240 per year), PaintShop Pro costs around $80-100 as a one-time purchase. You buy it once and own it forever, just like buying a video game. For students on a budget, this is a huge advantage.
What Can PaintShop Pro Do?
PaintShop Pro can handle almost everything Photoshop can do. You can remove backgrounds, fix colors, retouch photos, create digital art, design graphics, and work with layers. It even includes some features that Photoshop doesn't have built-in, like HDR photo processing and panorama stitching.
One cool thing about PaintShop Pro is that it includes AI-powered tools for tasks like automatic photo enhancement and object removal. These tools work surprisingly well and can save you a significant amount of time on common editing tasks.
The Learning Experience
PaintShop Pro is generally easier to learn than Photoshop because it's designed with regular people in mind, not just professional designers. The interface is cleaner and less overwhelming, with helpful tooltips and guided tutorials built right into the program.
It also comes with a learning edition that walks you through basic concepts step-by-step. Think of it like a video game tutorial that teaches you the controls before throwing you into the action.
Where It Falls Short
The biggest downside is that PaintShop Pro isn't as widely used as Photoshop, which means fewer online tutorials and resources. Most YouTube photo editing tutorials are made for Photoshop, so you might need to adapt what you learn to work in PaintShop Pro.
It also doesn't integrate with other creative software as smoothly as Photoshop does with Adobe's other programs. If you plan to do video editing or graphic design later, you might find yourself wanting the full Adobe ecosystem.
Performance and Compatibility
PaintShop Pro tends to run well on older computers and doesn't require as much memory as Photoshop. This makes it a good choice if you're working with a laptop that's a few years old or doesn't have top-of-the-line specs.
It can open and save Photoshop files, so you can collaborate with people who use different software. However, some complex Photoshop effects might not translate perfectly.
Who Should Consider PaintShop Pro?
PaintShop Pro is perfect for students, hobby photographers, and anyone who wants professional photo editing capabilities without breaking the bank. It's especially good if you prefer owning your software instead of renting it through subscriptions.
If you're exploring different options, PaintShop Pro stands out among the many best alternative programs to Photoshop for offering a good balance of features, price, and usability.
The Final Word
Corel PaintShop Pro proves that you don't need to pay Adobe's subscription fees to get professional photo editing results. While it might not have Photoshop's brand recognition or massive community, it's a capable program that can help you create amazing photos and graphics. For most high school students and casual users, it offers everything you need at a price that won't drain your savings account.