PaintShop Pro

PaintShop Pro
source
Name	PaintShop Pro
Developer	Corel
Released	1990
Latest release	(varies)
Operating system	Microsoft Windows
License	Proprietary

PaintShop Pro PaintShop Pro is a raster and vector graphics editor for Microsoft Windows developed by Corel. It originated in the early 1990s and has been used by photographers, designers, and hobbyists alongside applications such as Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, Affinity Photo, Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Lightroom, Capture One, and DxO PhotoLab. The software competes within ecosystems involving companies like Adobe Systems, Corel Corporation, Serif, Microsoft Corporation, Apple Inc., and hardware vendors such as Wacom, Nikon Corporation, Canon Inc., Sony Corporation, and Fujifilm.

History

PaintShop Pro traces roots to early bitmap editors of the 1980s and 1990s alongside titles like Deluxe Paint, Microsoft Paint, Aldus PageMaker, MacPaint, CorelDRAW, and Adobe Photoshop. Originally developed by Jasc Software, the application grew through releases that paralleled developments at Adobe Systems, Microsoft Corporation, Apple Inc., Adobe Photoshop Elements, and utilities from Ulead Systems. After acquisition by Corel, its roadmap intersected with initiatives at Corel Corporation and market trends shaped by events such as mergers involving Aldus Corporation and acquisitions by Symantec Corporation in adjacent software markets. Over time, PaintShop Pro evolved with influences from imaging standards and organizations including International Electrotechnical Commission and industry shifts driven by camera makers like Canon Inc., Nikon Corporation, Sony Corporation, and platforms like Windows 10, Windows 11, and legacy Windows XP.

Features

The application provides layers, masks, RAW processing, HDR merging, batch processing, and retouching comparable to features in Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, Capture One Pro, DxO OpticsPro, and ON1 Photo RAW. It supports plugin architectures familiar to users of Nik Collection, Topaz Labs, Alien Skin Software, and integrates with color management from standards promoted by International Color Consortium and workflows used by professionals at institutions like National Geographic Society, BBC, and The New York Times Company. Advanced features include scriptability similar to Adobe Photoshop Actions and automation comparable to tools from Autodesk and CorelDRAW Graphics Suite. Image editing tools echo capabilities found in software developed by Microsoft Research, Google LLC, Intel Corporation, and academic labs at MIT, Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, and Carnegie Mellon University.

Editions and Licensing

PaintShop Pro has been distributed in boxed retail editions, downloadable standalone versions, subscription-adjacent offerings, and bundled packages akin to models used by Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite, and productivity suites from Apple Inc.. Licensing models have reflected trends influenced by companies like Adobe Systems and Microsoft Corporation with perpetual licenses, upgrade pricing, and promotional bundles marketed through retailers such as Best Buy, Amazon, Newegg, and software distributors like Steam and Humble Bundle in adjacent industries.

User Interface and Workflow

The UI emphasizes a customizable workspace, tool palettes, and docking windows similar to paradigms in Adobe Photoshop, CorelDRAW, Affinity Designer, and GIMP. Workflow integration targets photographers and designers who use hardware from Wacom, Eizo, BenQ, and cameras by Canon Inc. and Nikon Corporation; cloud and asset workflows echo services from Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and collaboration patterns used at organizations like Flickr, 500px, Behance, and Dribbble. Learning resources and community support mirror structures seen around Stack Overflow, GitHub, Reddit, and official help centers run by companies such as Adobe Systems and Corel Corporation.

File Formats and Compatibility

PaintShop Pro reads and writes common raster and vector formats, interacting with standards like JPEG, PNG, TIFF, GIF, BMP, and RAW formats from camera manufacturers including Canon Inc., Nikon Corporation, Sony Corporation, Fujifilm, and Olympus Corporation. Interchange with professional prepress and publishing tools aligns with formats used in PDF, PostScript, and workflows common at companies like Adobe Systems and print services employed by institutions such as The New York Times Company and National Geographic Society. Support for plugin formats and scripting allows interoperability with toolchains used at studios like Industrial Light & Magic, Weta Digital, and Pixar.

Reception and Reviews

Critics and reviewers from outlets such as PC Magazine, TechRadar, CNET, PCWorld, Wired, The Guardian, The New York Times Company, Digital Photography Review, and Tom's Hardware have compared PaintShop Pro to competitors like Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, Affinity Photo, and CorelDRAW. Reviews often note cost-to-feature ratios analogous to comparisons between Microsoft Office and Google Workspace, and user feedback channels mirror communities at Reddit, Stack Exchange, and vendor forums maintained by Corel Corporation.

Development and Versions

Development has progressed through numbered releases and feature updates in patterns similar to software from Adobe Systems, Microsoft Corporation, Apple Inc., and Serif (company). Versioning, update cadence, and support cycles reflect industry practices used by companies like Adobe Systems and Corel Corporation, and integrate testing methodologies influenced by research at MIT, Stanford University, and corporate labs at Intel Corporation and Microsoft Research.

Category:Graphics software