Need your opinions - Should I upgrade to PI 11?

disector · Post by **disector** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:31 am

Hello everyone,

I am a web professional who has been using PI since clear back in the mid-90's (version 3 I think was my first.)

We had Photoshop in-house back then but I had read an article about how much better PI was for web content creation. Operations like a drop shadow which took forever in Photoshop were a piece of cake in PI.

Anyway I have upgraded here and there along the way and am proud (or embarrassed maybe) that I currently run and use version 6 on a daily basis.

I see I can upgrade to the boxed version 11 for $40 delivered, but after reading the forums this evening I am a little frightened.

Version 6 is running very stable.

Should I be afraid of version 11?

I’m not that concerned about blowing the 40 bucks, but the software we use for production has to be stable and operate correctly.

In looking at historical data it looks like the new versions of PI are released in September usually.

Is PI 12 on the verge of getting ready to ship?

Thanks

Post by **Ron P.** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:56 am

Hi Diesctor, and welcome to the forums..

I'll answer based on my observations. I have only used PI-11 for less then a year. I have no experience with earlier versions. I have had very little trouble with it, but it has crashed a time or two, and I have a couple of other image editing programs that have crashed also. I think that PI-11 is a stable program.

Is PI-12 soon to be released? I don't think so. Last year Intervideo aquired Ulead. Then last month it was announced that Corel purchased Intervideo. So until the dust settles, I would suspect no one is in a hurry to release anything new. Then it is certainly unsure what Corel may do with Ulead's PhotoImpact, since it has its own line of like applications that do quite well. Currently Corel has it's own Corel Draw, and since they aquired Jasc a few years ago, Paintshop Pro, which they continue to develop. So who knows next year, PhotoImpact may be Corel PhotoImpact...

Ron P.

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 12:30 pm

My 2 pennies worth go like this:

do you work with RAW format photographic images? Yes? get PI 11
do you find version 6 lacking in areas? Yes? upgrade to PI 11
do you have less than 1 GB physical RAM? Yes? forget about PI 11
can you do with PI 6 what needs to be done or can you easily work around shortcomings? Yes? Don't try to fix what doesn't need fixing

I have used PI XL, PI 10 and now PI 11. As long as I don't work with digital photos, I use PI 10.

PI 11 is stable for me but RAM hungry. Plenty of free disk space for virtual memory settings also help, I guess.

I have two machines, one tweaked for video editing with 2 GB of DDR400 RAM, no problem, one general use, same spec's as my video machine, except for the motherboard (ASUS P4S800) and RAM (512 MB DDR400). The general use one is also connected to the internet and runs ZoneAlarm and VET AntiVirus and MS office 2003 app's. PI 11 tends to be a bit temperamental on this but still works. I have developed the habit of restarting it every now and then, if I need to work with large images since it tends to crash after a while otherwise. Doesn't seem to be too diligent with memory.

Other than that, it’s ok.

disector · Post by **disector** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 1:40 am

Thanks for the feedback fellas. So sorry to hear about Corel buying Ulead, I had no idea. Something tells me that is the end to $100 new releases and $50 upgrades. Shame. Photoimpact was always a tremendous value.

I too used Corel Draw long ago (anyone want to buy a whole bunch of older version Coral Draw books? lol)

Anyway, I believe I'll go ahead and upgrade tonight. Might be my last chance. We have thousands of .UFO raw files we use all the time when updating older graphics. Will always need a prog that can read them.

So, thanks again!

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:33 am

Why the pessimistic outlook on things? I don't think for a minute that Corel will let PhotoImpact die. As Terry said in another thread, the integration of PI into the video editing suites and it's capabilities to create new menu templates for the DVD authoring modules makes that move highly unlikely.

All we can do is wait and see. I'm quietly optimistic though.

Xyzzy2 · Post by **Xyzzy2** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:21 am

heinz-oz wrote:As Terry said in another thread, the integration of PI into the video editing suites and it's capabilities to create new menu templates for the DVD authoring modules makes that move highly unlikely.

Adding to application X or Y, which already supports named layers/objects, another output format is not any problem.
Because templates are just UFO files containing objects with predefined names and characteristics (transparency etc.), isn't it?

X.

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:03 am

Xyzzy2 wrote:
heinz-oz wrote:As Terry said in another thread, the integration of PI into the video editing suites and it's capabilities to create new menu templates for the DVD authoring modules makes that move highly unlikely.
Adding to application X or Y, which already supports named layers/objects, another output format is not any problem.
Because templates are just UFO files containing objects with predefined names and characteristics (transparency etc.), isn't it?

X.

What, exactly, is your point? Do you have another program that gives you UFO file format?

If you do, good luck with it. At least you shouldn't be worried about what happens to PhotoImpact then, you got it covered.

Xyzzy2 · Post by **Xyzzy2** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:13 am

heinz-oz wrote: What, exactly, is your point? Do you have another program that gives you UFO file format?

If you do, good luck with it. At least you shouldn't be worried about what happens to PhotoImpact then, you got it covered.

OK, let me put it straight: adding fully-documented UFO output format to PaintShop Pro is fairly trivial work (even without some more advanced , harder to implement features, it would be still perfectly usable for many purposes); considering that PSP (afaik) already supports kind of named objects with transparency, it is possible to create templates there.
Of course PI includes ready DVD templates, lower thirds wizard and other stuff that makes creation easier, but in no way it is 'tightly' integrated with Ulead video products, as I see it.

Now, if you want to put ban on discussing PI future, be at least consequent and lock all threads involving the issue. Like this one, isn't it?

I see no way this discussions could influence anything regarding PI. But people talk sometimes with no specific reason or purpose, fe. just to learn opinion of others, don't you know?

Hopefully we get PI 12 with some interesting features and stuff, but just because it is probably just around the corner. Or maybe we won't (see WS3). Anyway, I am not discussing the problem further, because you (and others) seem to shun the discussion itself. That says about free speech here.

X.

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:16 am

I don't know what your problem is mate? What do you expect to achieve with a discussion about what may or may not happen with Corel/Ulead in the future?

You may have time for idle chit chat, please, feel free but don't expect others to be just as wasteful with their time.

We are, after all, volunteering our time for the purpose of helping someone out there with problems, if we can. I'm sure I don't only speak for myself but, my time at least, is too valuable to me than to waste it moderating a useless poll about what might or might not happen in future.

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:29 am

Xyzzy2 wrote:.......

Now, if you want to put ban on discussing PI future, be at least consequent and lock all threads involving the issue. Like this one, isn't it?

Now, where exactly did anyone here say something about banning a discussion?

I see no way this discussions could influence anything regarding PI. But people talk sometimes with no specific reason or purpose, fe. just to learn opinion of others, don't you know?

Exactly.

Hopefully we get PI 12 with some interesting features and stuff, but just because it is probably just around the corner. Or maybe we won't (see WS3). Anyway, I am not discussing the problem further, because you (and others) seem to shun the discussion itself. That says about free speech here.

Are you that thick? When did anyone limit your "freedom of speech"? Your thread was locked because you started a personal attack on another user and I felt this was going to continue. If I intended to limit your precious freedom of speech, I would have deleted your posts alltogether.
X.

keenart · Post by **keenart** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:55 pm

heinz I will answer Xyzzy2's based on my experience.

As a longtime Corel product user, if Corel follows the standard "buy and sell" routine, as they have in past decades, they buy new and sell the old.

Xyzzy2, I hope you can work that out. Secondly if PI is history, then it's history, and discussing it makes no difference, because there is nothing you or one of us can do about it.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:58 pm

Xyzzy2
My food for thought......

If you're argument that merging various applications into one is the way forward then why do we have
MediaStudio Pro
VideoStudio
MovieFactory

Surely they are all mergable in the same way that you suggest merging PhotoImpact with Paintshop Pro (and others).

I think it may have something to do with giving a potential purchaser a choice of programs rather than forcing a "here it is now take it or leave it" scenario.

Terry Stetler · Post by **Terry Stetler** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 2:31 am

heinz-oz wrote:Why the pessimistic outlook on things? I don't think for a minute that Corel will let PhotoImpact die. As Terry said in another thread, the integration of PI into the video editing suites and it's capabilities to create new menu templates for the DVD authoring modules makes that move highly unlikely.

All we can do is wait and see. I'm quietly optimistic though.

My other point was that it's not unheard of for a company to keep two similar products in their line if their both selling.

The example given was Broderbund publishing both PrintMaster and Print Shop. Both make money and they play them off each other. Another is Avids acquisition of Pinnacle where they moved Liquid into the Avid line, differentiated it a bit from Avid Xpress and voila'; they have 4 editing lines instead of 3 (Newscutter, Liquid, Xpress & Media Composer).

In my opinion Uleads video products would most wisely be used in Corels 'Visual Creation Studio' and 'Visual Creation Studio Pro' bundles. They currently include VEGAS Movie Studio + DVD, which is a VideoStudio type program, and either Photo Album (VCS) or Paint Shop Pro (VCS Pro).

Replacing VEGAS Movie Studio Pro + DVD with VideoStudio and MediaStudio Pro would better differentiate their 'VCS' and 'VCS Pro' packages. Replacing Photo Album with Photo Explorer in 'VCS' and Paint Shop Pro in 'VCS Pro' with PhotoImpact would give the advantage of better integration. PhotoImpact would also add DVD menu authoring, lower thirds etc. to 'VCS Pro.'

Basically; why license Sony's software when you have your own?

On the other hand, there will be decisions to make regarding Photo Explorer vs. Photo Album and GIF Animator vs. Animation Shop.

disector · Post by **disector** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 4:24 am

I went ahead and ordered PI11, I hope it works well for me, which I think it will, otherwise I'll keep using PI6.

My issue with Corel (which may have changed) is that I have a bookcase full of reference manuals and I still had difficulty performing the tasks I needed. I found their products hard to use and non-intuitive very much like Photoshop. PhotoImpact was reasonable to learn and even though there are things that frustrate the hell out of me with it, I still prefer it hands down to Photoshop, if only due to the "anti-snub" factor.

Most of the people I know who use Photoshop either us it at work or have a pirated copy at home. They can't grasp the outstanding "value" factor of PI. I mean in the end, a web visitor could care less what you use to create a graphic, they only are about the end result. And with PI the end result is outstanding.

I’ll take a wait and see attitude on the future of the product. I am hoping for the best and planning for the worst!

keenart · Post by **keenart** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 5:10 am

That is funny. Years ago most artists had to work with Corel Draw. The new kids that came into the shop just could not grasp the program and so eventually, the Mag bought all Photoshop software to make it easier for everyone. They had almost as much trouble with Photoshop and had to buy Illustrator.

I have always had Corel Draw, Photoshop, and PI. I use PI for most of my regular vector work and Photoshop for the profiles and printing. Corel Draw is gathering dust.

I once submitted my work to an Editor and he told me I could only submit work used in Photoshop. So, I got a copy of Photoshop 3 at the time from the Company. I finished my work in PI 3 and then saved in the Photoshop format, sending the file to the Editor. He never knew otherwise!!!

A friend did the same with Windows and Mac files.