Photo House Version 3 on Windows 7

[Stan Seagrave]

Hi folks.

First off, I hope I'm posting this in the right area. It's a program problem, but I'm certain Windows 7 is the main issue.

For several years now, and over several systems, I've been using Corel Photo House Version 3 for image editing. I've tried other programs, but keep coming back to it. It came free with a printer as part of a 'Corel Print House Magic' package. I know, by many standards, it's quite basic - but it does everything I need it to, is user-friendly and is a vital tool for me in graphic design and illustration work. I make particular use of the cloning tool, the various special effect filters, and the paint brush and spray gun for creating original illustrations.

Since I've had it, I've used it on W 98, W Me and W XP Professional without a hitch - despite the fact that it says '95, 98 and NT 4.0' on the case!

Well.... I've now had to trade up to a new system, running Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. I managed to load the program on it, and it worked perfectly the first time I used it. 'Great', I thought.... just a little too soon! The second time I used it things started going wrong. When I clicked 'Open' to get a file, the 'Look in' strip came up blank. I clicked the drop-down menu, which only listed 'Desktop'. I clicked that... and then the program froze. I got an error message up to say that the program had stopped responding and that Windows was searching for a solution. After a few more seconds, another message appeared to say that the program was shutting down. And that was that.

Since then, I've tried all ways to get the thing to run properly again. I've un/reinstalled, changed the compatability setting for earlier versions of Windows, searched for driver updates (they don't seem to be available for this program now), etc. I've discovered that I can paste an image into the program from the Clipboard and edit it. But as soon as I try to save it, the program stops responding again and shuts down.

What I don't understand is why it worked ok the first time I used it. I haven't changed any system settings. And why won't it work when I change the compatability for a version of Windows that it DID work on?

I'd be grateful for any advice anyone can offer on this. As I said, I'm sure it must be a Windows 7 issue.

Failing a fix... can anyone suggest a new program which includes all the features I've mentioned? I've tried Adobe Photo Shop, but don't get on with it. I want to stick with Corel if I can.

Cheers,
Stan.

[Ron P.]

Welcome to the forums,

Wow, I'd say you're real lucky to get such an old outdated free program to last so long. I've used that program way back when I was running Win98. However started having problems with it on WinXP so I opted to use other programs, rather than getting frustrated by the instability.

There is the option of setting up a dual-boot system, if you still have an older operating system like Win98. You're program could be installed on the Win98 side of your dual-boot system. Aside from that, I would say it's time to start trying out what's current. Corel currently offers CorelDraw Graphics Suite X5, and PaintShop Pro X3.

[LeviFiction]

Technically this is only supposed to be available for Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate editions but for some reason even telling it that I have Home Premium lets me download it. It's a special copy of Windows XP that you run in a virtual machine. With this you might be able to run the program inside of XP, assuming it still runs well in XP. And you won't have to dual-boot just to use a single program.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtua ... nload.aspx

The compatibility settings might not be working because its only a very general compatibility layer in the system. While people have gotten programs as old as certain DOS based programs to run on Windows 7 other programs just were not meant for it. It's an attempt to move forward without completely forgetting everything that came before.

Other than that software you might look into, and I've actually recommended this to someone who used to use PaintShop Pro 6 and loves it, is Paint.NET. It's a free semi-open source program (you have to ask the developer if you want to see the code) that is very small and very powerful. It has cloning, paint brush, air brush (spray gun/can), filters, gradients, layers, blend modes. It is a pretty impressive little program. It was designed to be used with the .NET framework which comes installed in Windows 7 and is compatible all of the way down to XP sp3.

http://www.getpaint.net/

I know, it's not Corel but Corel's best similar product within the range of consumer budget is PaintShop Pro and I recommend waiting for the next version if you wanted to buy it. So download the trial of X3 and see if it's something you'd like. But honestly wait for X4, it'll probably be a while, no one knows when the planned release is, but the problems people have experienced with X3 make me hesitant to recommend it. I find it very unlikely that X4 will be as bad.

[Stan Seagrave]

Thanks a lot, guys!

I tried to download the XP Mode - but no, it wouldn't allow me as soon as I selected W7 Home Premium 64-bit. It simply wouldn't give me the option.

However, I've downloaded Paint.NET and it looks pretty good. Looking forward to getting used to it!

I did try X3 on a Free Trial and thought it was okay, but still it didn't seem to have the versatility of the earlier program. I'll wait for X4.

Thanks again.

PS Back again a little later. Paint.NET seems good. A couple of niggles, though - things that it doesn't seem to do that Photo House could do.

1) I can't seem to find a way of getting edge fading on the paint brush or cloning tools.

2) I got some fantastic 'posterized' effects on PH3 - especially a psychedelic shot of the Empire State Building, based on a photo I took, which is worthy of Andy Warhol! I've experimented with the various tools on Paint.NET, but can't replicate anything near the same effect.

3) On PH3, I could open 2 images side-by-side and clone details from one onto the other (i.e. cloning one person's face onto someone else's head). This doesn't seem possible - although maybe it has something to do with the Layers feature, which I've never used before.

For a freebie, though, I shouldn't complain - and I'm very grateful for the referral. Cheers.

[Hunter]

**UPDATED 8-9-11**

Hello Stan,

I noticed this thread while searching the forum for Print House and wanted to give you another option, a more up to date Print House option, I have many versions of Print House including the latest, but still dated, version 6, and I managed to get this version installed on Windows 7 with only one minor issue that I have noticed, but it looks as if the vast majority of PH6 as well as Photo House works well. First I set the setup executable on the PH6 cd to run in XP SP3 Compatibility Mode, I then ran the installer. When installed I went into the Program Files (x86) folder,in drive C:, and found the Print House 6 folder, then changed the executables for Print House to run in Windows XP SP3 Compatibility Mode, changed Photo House to run in Windows 98 /ME Compatibility Mode. As I said all works fine except that in PH6 (Print House) there is a flyout that is just to the left of the color palette that will not display the thumbnails at all. This flyout is only for "favorites", the standard tools and effects are all still available. This is in Print House, but I honestly can't recall if it applies to Photo House as well. You'll get more tools and effects as well as the ability, after the program is installed, to manually add the content, such as clipart and photo's as well as sample projects, to the hard drive for faster accessibility and searches from within PH6.

Also, I know you can still find new or used boxed PA6 out on Ebay or even Amazon but be careful that you know what your getting as some will only be a "special edition" jewell case version without all the additional content, but it sounds like that may be all you need.

I hope I have not confused you, I can do that now and again

Hope this helps,
Hunter

[Ron P.]

Welcome to the forums Hunter,

What a great opening post too.. We really appreciate such helpful advice.

Thanks

[Hunter]

Thanks for the warm welcome Ron P. , glad to be here!

[David Lisgo]

It is possible to run Corel Photo house on Windows 7 and Windows 10. For Windows 7 professional I did a clean install of the OS and installed Corel Photo House 2.1 before updating the OS. The only special thing I did was on the advanced options where I added an extra font (this seems to stop a hang up) and I didn't attempt to install Corel Gallery. Photo House installed easily. I do get a "failed to update the registry" popup but once I click the 'OK' button, it opens. After that I updated my OS and then got my free copy of Windows 10 installed and the program still works. I'm also running it on another computer with Windows 7 Ultimate. One computer has a 32 bit OS and the other a 64 bit, both are old Sony All-In-One computers.

It's a great program and worth the clean install for me.

BTW my first post here as I to was looking for answer the problem.