A Fresh Look at Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 Ultimate

Just as with previous versions of the software, the user interface of the Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 Ultimate package is extremely intuitive and somehow manages to put a ton of tools right at your fingertips without cluttering up the application’s work area too badly.

Of course, each of these tools can easily be hidden with a single keystroke or mouse-click if you do want a larger photo editing workspace. (For more information on how to use these tools and other tips and tricks, check out Bright Hub's set of Paint Shop Pro tutorials.)

I’ll admit that I love all the fun graphical extras, so I was very happy to see the new frames and picture tubes. With over 150 new toys to choose from, I was in digital scrapbooking heaven. The new options give you tons of ways to dress up your photos for all sorts of projects.

The Ultimate package even includes a copy of Corel MediaOne Plus so you can take these fixed-up photos and plop them right into pre-designed scrapbook pages without worrying about how to design your own. However, if you do want to create your own custom designs, you can use the software to do that, too.

The new background remover plug-in found in the Ultimate edition is simply amazing! This fabulous tool has transformed a process that has taken me up to

an hour to complete in the past into one that now only takes minutes. Don’t get me wrong, the background remover doesn’t work perfectly in every situation. However, even for those times that I have to do a little extra editing on top of using the tool, I’m still saving tons of time and eyestrain. My only complaint about this new background remover is that it has made me wonder what I could have done with all those hours I spent in the past doing things the old-fashioned way.

Although the bonus software that comes packaged with the Ultimate Edition is varied enough that each application deserves its own review, I do have to say a few words about Corel Painter Photo Essentials 4. This is one of the most fun programs that I’ve ever used. I found myself sitting for hours just playing around with all the different features like a kid who just discovered crayons.

If all you want to do is quickly turn a photo into a painting, you can use one of the many preset options and let the application do the work for you. On the other hand, if you want to just use your photo as a reference and do all the brushwork and color-choosing on your own, you can.

This software isn’t just for photo transformation either. You’re perfectly welcome to start with a blank canvas and “paint” until your heart’s content. Even if you’re not that artistically inclined, there’s no need to shy away from this option. Accompanying the software are several video tutorials that show you how to get the most out of Corel Painter Photo Essentials 4.

Even though I’ve been a Paint Shop Pro fan for a long time, I just can’t say enough good things about the Ultimate package. The software retails for $99.99, but the standard features along with the new creative content and background remover plug-in alone are worth that much. (Did I mention how cool the background remover is?)

When you throw in all the bonus content, especially Painter Photo Essentials 4 and MediaOne Plus, I can’t imagine how anyone could balk at the price. Even though I haven’t even mentioned much about the media recovery software, raw camera support, and free flash drive, they're great additions, too. You’re not going to find a comparable deal for any other photo editing software on the market.