PaintShop Pro is a professional photo editing and graphic design software developed by Corel. Known for its affordability, versatility, and feature-rich environment, PaintShop Pro offers users a powerful alternative to Adobe Photoshop without the burden of a subscription. It combines traditional editing tools with AI-powered features, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced creatives.
Originally released in the 1990s, PaintShop Pro has evolved into one of the most trusted photo editing applications on the market. Whether you’re retouching photos, creating digital art, or designing marketing materials, PaintShop Pro provides the flexibility and tools needed to bring your vision to life.
Features
AI-Powered Tools
PaintShop Pro includes a range of artificial intelligence features, such as AI Denoise, AI Artifact Removal, AI Style Transfer, and AI Upsampling. These tools automate complex editing tasks and help users enhance photos with minimal effort.
Photo Editing Essentials
The software offers all the standard editing tools: crop, resize, brightness, contrast, and color correction. Users can also perform advanced adjustments like curves, levels, selective color changes, and RAW editing.
Graphic Design Capabilities
With vector drawing tools, templates, brushes, and layers, PaintShop Pro is not just for photo editing. It enables users to create composite images, social media graphics, advertisements, and more.
Content-Aware Features
The software offers smart tools like Content-Aware Fill and Object Remover, which allow users to intelligently remove unwanted elements from photos and fill the space naturally.
Support for Layers and Masks
Like other professional-grade editors, PaintShop Pro supports multi-layer editing, layer styles, blending modes, and masking for precise control over image composition.
Batch Processing
Users can apply the same edits or effects to multiple images simultaneously using the batch processing feature, saving time when handling large image collections.
RAW Image Support
Photographers can open, edit, and export RAW files from a wide variety of camera brands, with powerful tools for exposure, sharpening, and white balance adjustments.
Text Tools and Typography
Create text overlays, graphic logos, and image captions with extensive font and formatting options.
How It Works
PaintShop Pro is a desktop application available for Windows. After purchasing and downloading the software from the official website, users install it like any traditional program.
Once launched, the user interface offers two main workspaces:
Photography Workspace
A simplified, touch-friendly interface ideal for quick edits, applying filters, or enhancing images with AI tools.
Complete Workspace
Designed for advanced users, this workspace includes all editing tools, layer management, vector graphics, scripting, and more.
Users can switch between workspaces as needed. PaintShop Pro also allows extensive customization of the toolbar and layout, so users can tailor the software to their workflow preferences.
Use Cases
Professional Photo Editing
Photographers use PaintShop Pro to perform detailed retouching, color correction, and image enhancement, especially with RAW files.
Graphic Design Projects
Small business owners and marketers use the tool to create banners, flyers, social media posts, and visual content without needing additional graphic design software.
Social Media Content Creation
Content creators use the AI filters, creative templates, and text tools to design eye-catching visuals for platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
Digital Art and Illustration
Artists can use drawing tools, brushes, and layer-based editing to create digital paintings or concept art.
Batch Editing for Event Photography
Event and wedding photographers often edit hundreds of photos at once. PaintShop Pro’s batch processing capabilities streamline this task.
Pricing
PaintShop Pro is available through a one-time purchase model, making it an affordable alternative to Adobe’s subscription-based tools. As of the latest release:
PaintShop Pro 2024
Price: $79.99 USD (one-time payment)
PaintShop Pro 2024 Ultimate
Price: $99.99 USD (one-time payment)
Includes bonus software like Highlight Reel, MultiCam Capture Lite, Sea-to-Sky Workspace, and PhotoMirage Express.
Upgrade Pricing
Returning customers can often upgrade to the latest version at a reduced cost. Upgrade eligibility requires a previous licensed version.
Free Trial
A fully functional 30-day free trial is available for users who want to test the software before purchasing.
For current pricing and offers, visit the official PaintShop Pro website.
Strengths
One-Time Payment
Unlike many competitors, PaintShop Pro does not require a subscription. Users pay once and own the software outright.
AI Features for Enhanced Productivity
AI tools simplify complex edits, enabling even beginners to achieve professional-looking results.
Powerful Editing Tools
Advanced layer support, masking, RAW editing, and content-aware tools provide all the functionality needed by professional editors.
Versatility
Useful for photography, design, digital art, and social media content—all in one platform.
Customizable Interface
Users can modify workspaces and toolbars to suit personal workflow preferences.
Regular Updates and Add-ons
Corel consistently releases updates and new content, especially for the Ultimate edition.
Drawbacks
Windows-Only
PaintShop Pro is not available for macOS, which limits its accessibility to Mac users.
Steeper Learning Curve for Beginners
While the Photography Workspace is simplified, the Complete Workspace can be overwhelming for new users due to the volume of tools.
Limited Cloud Integration
Compared to tools like Adobe Creative Cloud, PaintShop Pro offers minimal online collaboration or cloud syncing features.
Performance on Large Files
Editing large files or working with many layers may lead to slowdowns on lower-end systems.
Comparison with Other Tools
PaintShop Pro is often compared to Adobe Photoshop. While Photoshop is the industry standard and offers more advanced tools for professional designers, it requires a monthly subscription.
PaintShop Pro is more affordable and user-friendly, especially for hobbyists, small businesses, and budget-conscious creatives. It also stands out by offering AI-powered tools and a perpetual license model.
Other alternatives like Affinity Photo are also popular among users looking for Photoshop replacements. PaintShop Pro holds its ground with a broader range of built-in features and its reputation for reliability.
Customer Reviews and Testimonials
PaintShop Pro has consistently received positive reviews from users and industry experts alike. On websites like Product Hunt and Trustpilot, users highlight the software’s affordability, functionality, and powerful editing features.
One reviewer praised the software, stating:
“I was looking for a Photoshop alternative that didn’t come with a monthly fee. PaintShop Pro not only met my needs but offered features I didn’t expect, like AI-powered enhancements.”
Another user commented:
“Great tool for photo editing and creating marketing materials. The one-time purchase is a huge plus. I’ve used it for everything from wedding photos to Instagram graphics.”
Despite the positive feedback, some users mention the initial learning curve and the lack of Mac support as notable downsides.
Conclusion
PaintShop Pro is a mature, feature-rich photo editing and design tool ideal for users who want professional capabilities without the cost of a subscription. Its AI-powered features, flexible workspaces, and one-time pricing make it especially appealing to photographers, content creators, small businesses, and hobbyists.
Whether you’re editing RAW images, designing promotional graphics, or applying creative effects to photos, PaintShop Pro offers the tools and flexibility to get the job done efficiently and affordably. While it may lack some cloud-based collaboration features and macOS compatibility, it remains a top contender in the desktop photo editing space.
