Jasc Paint Shop Pro 7
Jasc's Paint Shop Pro (PSP) has been considered the -poor man's
Photoshop." Like Photoshop, PSP can be complex to use but also
delivers power and versatility. Paint Shop Pro 7 has new tools
and functions, and its new Getting Started guide makes learning
the program easier.
PSP has evolved the Photoshop-like interface. Almost any command can be pulled out into an icon, and various customised workspaces can now be saved.
The Web tools are not well integrated into a Web page creation workflow, but they do include two new excellent dialogs -- Image Slicer and Image Mapper. Both offer visual optimisation within the dialogs, as well as a mouse-over Rollover Creator. They also output HTML tables. Unfortunately, no independent Rollover tool is available.
PSP's powerful photo editing is more accessible due to the new Enhance Photo tools that deliver better results than similar tools in other programs. Rather than offering one-click solutions for contrast, saturation, fade correction, colour balance, red-eye removal, and scratch removal, these auto-enhancers are usually easy dialogs that further control.
Working with the separate raster and vector layers is still confusing, especially determining what tools to use for each. But PSP's vector tools are considerably expanded. New Object commands include some that fill important gaps, such as tools for arranging, grouping, aligning, and distributing, as well as using textures, gradients, and patterns for fills and strokes.
Though using PSP often requires too many mouse clicks, it delivers on power and creative control. The program is bound to catch the interest of novices as well as experienced imagers.
Jasc Paint Shop Pro 7
Company: Communique Software
Ph: 02 9671 4495; Fax: 02 9671 5624
Price: AU$239.
Rating: 4 Star
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