PI X3 Die Harders: Does Moving to Paint Shop Pro X3 worth it

[Felony]

PI X3 Die Harders: Does Moving to Paint Shop Pro X3 worth it?

it seems like PI X3 is now abandon ware, wanna know your toughts.

Thanks

[Ron P.]

Welcome to the forums,

Is it worth it? You can only answer that. It depends on how you use the program. PSPP is a very powerful program, and with the latest version, X3, you can even create video slideshows from your photos.

Paintshop Photo Pro X3 is geared toward photographs, not with creating web pages, or vector graphics. There's some things that only PI can do. Some of us have used PI for creating custom DVD menus for use in VideoStudio and DVD MovieFactory. So far they have not incorporated support for the UFO file format into PSPP.

So if we say it's terrible, you'll take that as gospel and not have a look? I think to decide, you need to at least download the trial version to see for yourself.

[sjj1805]

I have asked Corel to look into the possibility of including the UFO format into Paint Shop Pro, pointing out that we need that particular format to be able to continue creating and editing DVD Menus for use in their Video Programs (VideoStudio / MovieFactory etc.)

I think that when you are used to using a certain program it gets a bit hard to try a different alternative because you get used to doing things in a certain way, you know where to find certain tools or filters. The other program will no doubt have all those tools and filters but you struggle to find them because they are not where you are used to looking.

The best thing to do is to grab hold of the Try Before You Buy version and spend a few hours using it keeping in mind my above comments.

[Luna Esterhuizen]

I thought that I had to give PSPPX3 a try. So I bought it and sorry to say it is not worth it. I've wasted every cent! The so called "projects" does not offer you much and while playing back a slideshow the slider moved while the image just stuck on one image. There is 100% free well known software that can do exactly the same.
I should have downloaded the trial at first. I also use PIX3 for creating menus for VS, what is Corel doing about that?
To my opinion PSPPX3 is definitely no replacement for PI.

[longcall911]

I wouldn't give up my PI X3. There's almost nothing I can't do with it. Granted, some capabilities are buried. But, they work nicely. One problem that I have always had is that often a text object somehow loses its text property after saving the image. So, PI doesn't then let me edit it. (yes it is saved as a ufo).

Otherwise, I stick with this version until it dies.

[trueblue]

I quite like PSPP and there's nothing it can't do that PI doesn't do. In fact, PSPP can do more.

I have been a die-hard user of PI for many years and will be sorry to see it go, but Corel are now offering it so cheaply, that I'm sure the next thing is you won't find it for sale at all. So, get used to working with PSPP.

There's a number of free classes out there that takes you through the basics, which is really all you need.

PSPP does vector graphics better than PI. They say it is geared toward photography, but some amazing graphics are created with PSPP.

Be patient, stick with it and no, you have not wasted your money. Did you download the update? Check in PSPP for Updates. I think it's a little bug fixer.

Like with all Corel products, they're buggy and put out onto the market far too soon...... we are all beta testers and pay dearly for it too.

[Xyzzy2]

I quite like PSPP and there's nothing it can't do that PI doesn't do. In fact, PSPP can do more.

Like what?

PSPP does vector graphics better than PI. They say it is geared toward photography, but some amazing graphics are created with PSPP.

My opinion here is exactly opposite.

PSP has problems with ease of use. Just look like dialogs are organised- lots of unused space, strange vertical grouping of controls.

IMO it is not worth to move to PSP just for the sake of it. And it looks like with time Corel is going to make PSP heavier that the whole Creative Suite... Just to make impression of something "serious".

[Ken Berry]

Plus, as Steve has said, the whole business -- very important to many of us -- of having PI make video templates with its UFO format, which is not available in PSP...

[georgetroy]

I may be in the minority hear, but I perfer PhotoImpact over Paint Shop Pro, Use to the interface. I like the vectors and painting brushes best. The 3D- options are fun to use. I also have Paint Shop Pro X3 so I just use it once and a while.

[trueblue]

Why not make your Video templates and save as a .psd. They work in both PI, PSP and PS.

[Ron P.]

Why not make your Video templates and save as a .psd. They work in both PI, PSP and PS.

Big problem with that is that the programs, VS, DVDMF, will allow only the UFO file format for it's menus, not PSD, not PSP, not JPG, BMP and so on. Sure you can use images in whatever format, as the backgrounds, however for the full menus of buttons and all, it must be UFO..

[ACeleste]

PI X3 Die Harders: Does Moving to Paint Shop Pro X3 worth it?

it seems like PI X3 is now abandon ware, wanna know your toughts.

Thanks

It's definitely abandonware. The least they could do is put the source code on Source Forge, and let the community continue to develop it as an open source program.

As for switching to PSP, to me, that would be rewarding Corel for their ignorance. And I will not do that. When PI becomes unusable on a future operating system, I'll switch to Photoshop (or Elements). I'm already using Photoshop on OS X.

Photoline32 is an excellent inexpensive alternative on Mac, but the interface uses that awful chopped-up, non-maximized look from OS 9 (which I hated). It's also an excellent inexpensive alternative for Windows, but again, I'm not fond of the interface, it looks somewhat like Windows 3 / Windows 95.

BTW, for the curious, here's the link: http://www.pl32.com/

Except for the GUI, it's an excellent program, and some of the features make me believe the developer may have once worked for (or freelanced for) Ulead. It includes the option of saving JPGs using 4-4-4 subsampling (choose the "high quality" option), I believe this debuted back in PhotoImpact 3.1. Photoshop STILL doesn't let you use 4-4-4 unless you choose the highest quality level, which usually creates unnecessarily bloated JPGs. Also, PhotoLine has the CMYK support that PhotoImpact always needed and never had (originally, it could not have it, due to a non-compete agreement with Adobe, but that agreement has long since expired). So you may want to check out PhotoLine.