Free Paint Shop Pro

[kenw]

Originally Posted by zebulus

Really? Huh.

zebulus added 3 Minutes and 41 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Wow, no kidding. Wish I had known that when I bought PSE7

seriously: for example:
http://www.frys.com/product/5392378

[ggeen]

On the Corel web site PSP X2 is 59.99 for the full version and 49.99 for the upgrade version.

http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satelli...1&tabview=tab0

[cooltouch]

Originally Posted by ggeen

Thanks for the info. I may just eat the cost as well. I went from 4 to 8 which was an improvement. Looks like X2 is worth the expense.

I did the same thing, then sprung for X2. It was definitely worth the added expense. Still have 4 and 8 on the machine, but I don't use them much anymore.

[photonewb]

I was looking at Amazon and X2 is less than 40 bucks, however there's now an "ultimate" version that's still 80+.

The drawback is that from reading reviews neither software package works with NEF files. This is STILL a major issue, not only to myself but also to millions of others, as it requires the photographer to shoot either NOT in RAW or to add a step to the processing by opening yet ANOTHER program to convert to something such as a tiff.

PSP can be a very nice program, but until they address that issue I still they're taking a backseat to many other programs out there.

[cooltouch]

Originally Posted by photonewb

I was looking at Amazon and X2 is less than 40 bucks, however there's now an "ultimate" version that's still 80+.

The drawback is that from reading reviews neither software package works with NEF files. This is STILL a major issue, not only to myself but also to millions of others, as it requires the photographer to shoot either NOT in RAW or to add a step to the processing by opening yet ANOTHER program to convert to something such as a tiff.

It is my understanding that the difference between X2 and X2 Ultimate is that X2U handles raw images, among other things, like doing HDR.

I just booted my copy of X2U and took a look at the types of file formats that it recognizes, and .nef is one of them. Now, I don't have any way to verify that it will actually load a .nef file, but I have verified that it will load a .cr2 file (raw Canon format), and it seems to me that if X2U will load .cr2's, it should load .nef's as well. If you want to PM me a link to a .nef file, I'll d/l it and see if it'll load, if you want.

[kenw]

my version (can't tell if "ultimate" or the plebian version) shows .nef under file association. I use mine with .crw daily.

if yours can't load .nef, that's a good enough reason to switch to .crw......;)

[photonewb]

Originally Posted by cooltouch

It is my understanding that the difference between X2 and X2 Ultimate is that X2U handles raw images, among other things, like doing HDR.

I just booted my copy of X2U and took a look at the types of file formats that it recognizes, and .nef is one of them. Now, I don't have any way to verify that it will actually load a .nef file, but I have verified that it will load a .cr2 file (raw Canon format), and it seems to me that if X2U will load .cr2's, it should load .nef's as well. If you want to PM me a link to a .nef file, I'll d/l it and see if it'll load, if you want.

Originally Posted by kenw

my version (can't tell if "ultimate" or the plebian version) shows .nef under file association. I use mine with .crw daily.

if yours can't load .nef, that's a good enough reason to switch to .crw......;)

yep, it says that it recognizes the NEF files, however there's hundreds of reviews on Amazon that show that owners of say the D300 cannot process their RAW files, and that Corel recognizes this.

and Ken, we've gone over this before...I liked PSP, but after learning some great tricks in Photoshop I don't think I could go back...that and the apparently problem with Nikon's RAW files, specifically the D300 since that's what I shoot

[David Whatley]

Is the X2 version that much better than X?
Also, still cant get a Portraiture plug in for X, and I dont think for X2.
david

[photonewb]

Originally Posted by David Whatley

Is the X2 version that much better than X?
Also, still cant get a Portraiture plug in for X, and I dont think for X2.
david

Portraiture is a Photoshop plug in, it won't work.

However I know that XII and X2 had their own "skin smoothing" option that really wasn't bad. Once you figured out how to use it, it's actually pretty good...and built in.

[cooltouch]

I've noticed that X2 has a few obvious bugs, but they're nothing I can't work around. However, if it has a problem reading .nef files, the Corel folks really should see about releasing a patch for it. That's kind of a big deal.

You can d/l a trial copy from corel -- full version of X2U, it just expires in 30 days -- and try it yourself. Won't cost you nuthin to find out that way.

[LSCSN.com]

I have X2U and worked on some NEF files yesterday. Works fine. I have been using this program for as long as I can remember. The only thing that I don't like about it is that you can't do CMYK work in it :(.

The company that I use for photo products want CMYK and it works in RGB.

[cooltouch]

Originally Posted by LSCSN.com

I have X2U and worked on some NEF files yesterday. Works fine. I have been using this program for as long as I can remember. The only thing that I don't like about it is that you can't do CMYK work in it :(.

The company that I use for photo products want CMYK and it works in RGB.

I found this interesting, so I booted X2U and looked up CMYK in the Help Index. Found this:

Although you cannot create images in Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo using the CMYK model, you can produce color separations that can be printed on CMYK printers. There are two ways to do this: You can split the images into CMYK channels, or you can print color separation pages.

It then goes on to give directions on how to accomplish this. So, all may not be lost.

[LSCSN.com]

Yeah I've looked into that a little bit, but got lost pretty quickly. Everything that I've sent to them has turned out fine except one item, which they re-did on their dime. So until we have a major breakdown it looks like I'll be fine.