A call for a pro version of PhotoImpact

Reactor · Post by **Reactor** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:59 pm

Looking over the last thread and what's new in X3... it seems a little like the developers are sorta missing what their users are saying. Until they do start to listen and aim for not only the amateur market, but the higher-end users as well, I'll refrain from requesting anything else.

PhotoImpact is still a great program, but the developers obviously don't realise how much better it can be, and what other markets out there exist for it.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 3:50 am

In fairness this is a catch 22 situation that I have previously discussed with Corel Developers. If a program gets packed with too many features the price will rise and then potential purchasers will shy away on the grounds that they are paying for things they will never need or use.

This was the thinking behind having two Video Editing Programs
VideoStudio - the cheaper version aimed at the mass end of the market
MediaStudio - aimed more at the professional or serious hobbyist

Corel have more than one Photo Editing Program
PhotoImpact X3
Paint Shop Pro X2
Photo Express 6
Painter Essentials

Our members should update this link with any items they would like to see included in a new version. It is however a matter for the software Company to decide what will and will not be included in future versions who will have to balance our needs against development costs and anticipated sales revenue.

I must say that I am extremely impressed with the value for money that Corel have given in this latest release of PhotoImpact.
With version X3 you are also given
Corel Media One
Cool360
Painter Essentials Version 3.

Each one of those programs was sold seperately beforehand.

Reactor · Post by **Reactor** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:25 am

No arguement here that X3 is good value for money... it's just that there's been a call for a pro version of PhotoImpact and the call seems to have gone unnoticed. PhotoImpact (or Paintshop Pro for that matter, but I'd prefer PI) could stand strongly against Photoshop as a great alternative. This call can also be heard strongly through many professional forums where Adobe's software bloat and 'backdoor information grabbing' is currently being discussed. And, I get do feel a bit silly recommending PI to the guys who are looking for an alternative... because they don't need wizards or Express Fix tools. Those can be handy, but they need tools which enhance what they do in a production environment, and PhotoImpact in many ways isn't far off delivering that to them. I know how powerful PI is, but it's software which is squarely aimed at beginners... not the higher end user. And, with each release it looks more and more like PSP is going for the Pro group and PhotoImpact for the mum and dad crowd. That saddens me somewhat. PI is the powerhouse program of the two in my mind- it shouldn't be dressed in a pretty pink dress and made to look all sweet and fluffy.

I hope I'm making sense here. I'm all for coming up with additions for PI because I love using the program, but... I'm a little tentative to because it seems the devs are simply going to ignore them, because they're aiming for a different crowd. Bloat is bad- yes. But, the suggestions that were made in the other thread are really good ones, and would open the program up to even more users.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:39 am

I hear what you say and so that this debate does not spoil the purpose of the thread
PhotoImpact: Wish List for Future Versions
which is intended for suggestions for new improvements (not a debate), I am going to split these few posts into a separate thread so that our members can debate what they think of the suggestion

a call for a pro version of PhotoImpact

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:24 am

I would like to pay for a VW Golf and get a Porsche also. VW are not listening to the market either

It's horses for courses. The pro's have always needed things which consumer programs can't or won't provide and consumers would not want to pay for. That's why there is no "One Fit All" solution out there.

It would be great if you could pinpoint some features you would like to see included and we have a poll to see how many happy PI users would be willing to pay more to have these included.

It would be great if Corel at least would fix known problems with PI, which have been there for at least the last two versions. That, I'm sure, would not only make me happy but countless others as well.

Reactor · Post by **Reactor** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:02 am

Thanks for the thread split, sjj1805. I'm glad my comments won't water down the other one

I would like to pay for a VW Golf and get a Porsche also.

You have a Porsche already with PI... it's just painted pretty colours, has a lot of automatic driving modes and has big, fluffy seatcovers

It would be great if you could pinpoint some features you would like to see included and we have a poll to see how many happy PI users would be willing to pay more to have these included.

Good idea. After work today I'll sit down and think up a few. One thing though- many people have stated that Adobe and the like overcharge for their programs. By asking for a version of PI which is less targeted towards the amateur crowd, I'm not saying I'd like to be paying the same amount as what someone would for Photoshop. Like Mediastudio Pro, a midrange pricing model would be best.

It would be great if Corel at least would fix known problems with PI, which have been there for at least the last two versions.

Agreed.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:12 am

A few positives and negatives.

First the positives
http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=27208
http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=27209

Now the Negatives
http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic. ... 6959#56959
http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic. ... 624#142624

TwiceWise · Post by **TwiceWise** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:31 am

Okay guys, I'm going to try not to be too negative.

On the plus side I really like how quick X3 loads. PI 12 took forever and this one loads in just a few seconds. That's a plus for me.

I also like the way they have arranged the easy palette. It seems logical and the arrangement doesn't take up too much screen real estate.

But having said that I am very disappointed in the quality of the documentation.

The only mention of the new comic strip mode is in the "what's new" section of help. There was no mention of how to use it or where it would be found. I had to search through the menus until I stumbled on it myself.

The same thing was true of "Painter Essentials." There is absolutely no mention of it in the help file whatsoever. Also, Essentials is apparently not part of the download, and thus not accessible to try out as a new feature. I can't understand why they didn't have documentation for their new features. That would seem to be a minimum requirement for a new release.

In addition the help files has this to say about the Corel Corporation. "Corel's product portfolio features well-established, globally recognized brands, including CorelDRAW Graphics Suite, Corel WordPerfect Office, WinZip, Corel Paint Shop Pro, and Corel Painter."

Thus, while Paint Shop Pro is mentioned as one of their premiere products PhotoImpact is not. It would seem to be a matter of simple courtesy to mention the product the consumer is using as something they sell and support. In addition the Corel websight still has a banner sized advertisement for Paint Shop Pro and no mention of the brand new release of PI X3. You can find it by diligent searching but there is no mention on the home page.

If they didn't want the product they shouldn't have purchased the company. This, plus the fact that Paint Shop Pro is priced $20 higher gives a clear indication that PI is going to become their kiddie consumer version and Paint Shop Pro is going to be for the serious professional.

At least, that's what it looks like to me.

- TwiceWise

Xyzzy2 · Post by **Xyzzy2** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:50 am

sjj1805 wrote:Corel have more than one Photo Editing Program
PhotoImpact X3
Paint Shop Pro X2
Photo Express 6
Painter Essentials

As I see it:
PhotoImpact is aimed at scrapbookers (see photo contests here), amateur photo manipulation and webmastering and DVD menu creation. Some more advanced photo editing & manipulation features seem to be artifacts of the past, hardly developed anymore.
Paint Shop Pro is dedicated to (semi)-pro photo editing & manipulation work. (BTW, have you noticed PSP copying PI features for the last few versions?)
Photo Express is aimed at fast photo fixes and photo related activities.
Painter Essentials is natural media painting software.

X.

Xyzzy2 · Post by **Xyzzy2** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:02 am

Reactor wrote:it's just that there's been a call for a pro version of PhotoImpact and the call seems to have gone unnoticed.

Don't hope for a change. If you want pro editing & manipulation level in PI price range, you need PhotoLine32.

X.

Reactor · Post by **Reactor** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:02 am

PhotoLine32 huh? I'll have a look. As for having hope... I had a think about this today and I don't think I'll bother, until I see some step forward from Corel first. I really don't have the time to waste helping a company that has no desire to do anything other than what they've already decided.

EDIT: I had a look at Photoline32. It has a few nice features, but it's not too great on the usability front, and that's often as important as the tools a program offers. Anyhow, I'm also going to have a look at Paintshop Pro. If it's incorporated a lot of what's in PhotoImpact than maybe it'll be a better 'upgrade' than going to X3. We shall see.

I'd still like to see a Pro version of PI, but even if it does get made, it won't be available for a long, long time.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 1:41 am

TwiceWise wrote:......
The same thing was true of "Painter Essentials." There is absolutely no mention of it in the help file whatsoever. Also, Essentials is apparently not part of the download, and thus not accessible to try out as a new feature. I can't understand why they didn't have documentation for their new features. That would seem to be a minimum requirement for a new release.....

You should get a free download of Painter Essentials 3 with your purchase of PhotoImpact X3. Following installation of Painter Essentials you are given asked to register it. Upon doing so you are taken to a page containing various videos showing how to use it.

TwiceWise · Post by **TwiceWise** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:50 am

thanks for the info Steve, I appreciate it.

I've seen Corel Painter Essentials. It's a unique product and a good addition to PhotoImpact.

However, I still am disappointed that I had to ask here, instead of finding the answer in the documentation that came with the PI-X3 download.

- TwiceWise

TwiceWise · Post by **TwiceWise** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:05 pm

To quote myself

In addition the Corel websight still has a banner sized advertisement for Paint Shop Pro and no mention of the brand new release of PI X3. You can find it by diligent searching but there is no mention on the home page.

I just went to the Corel homepage and they have a full size banner across the page advertising X3. So, maybe they are going to get behind it and support the product after all.

- TwiceWise