Is anyone awake at Corel?

[bruce1951]

OK I'm out of here.

I started to get the new update popup whenever I tried to start and close PSPx.

So against my better judgement I gave in. Clicked on update. Nothing. Nothing at all happens. So after several tries I went the the Corel site. Found the update and downloaded it. Hit install. All went ok.

Now a few issues. My version number is now 18-3-0-13. Yet I still get the popup advertisment telling me to upgrade to 18-3-0-13!!
My start up times for PSPx8 have gone from 10-15 seconds on first start up and 4-5 seconds on subsequent start ups. Now I have to wait over a minute for all start ups!!!
My custom work space is still listed. But when I click on it to load it I get the 'standard' PSPx8 work space. (I have several custom work spaces and all are there except for the last one I was using).

I don't have the time to fiddle about while Corel sits on their collective #$#@.

I'm nolonger prepared to put up with such a mess of a program. I'm uninstalling every trace of PSP from my computers. One less customer. And may I add one who will happily relay may experience to anyone who is interested.

bruce

[JoeB]

OK I'm out of here.

I started to get the new update popup whenever I tried to start and close PSPx.

So against my better judgement I gave in. Clicked on update. Nothing. Nothing at all happens. So after several tries I went the the Corel site. Found the update and downloaded it. Hit install. All went ok.

Now a few issues. My version number is now 18-3-0-13. Yet I still get the popup advertisment telling me to upgrade to 18-3-0-13!!
My start up times for PSPx8 have gone from 10-15 seconds on first start up and 4-5 seconds on subsequent start ups. Now I have to wait over a minute for all start ups!!!
My custom work space is still listed. But when I click on it to load it I get the 'standard' PSPx8 work space. (I have several custom work spaces and all are there except for the last one I was using).

Did you save your workspaces before doing the update and then reload them afterwards?

I don't have the time to fiddle about while Corel sits on their collective #$#@.

I'm nolonger prepared to put up with such a mess of a program. I'm uninstalling every trace of PSP from my computers. One less customer. And may I add one who will happily relay may experience to anyone who is interested.

You might be doing a disservice to some people. Not everybody has your issues, me being only one where all versions work as they should, given the ocassional bug you see in all software. Unless I'm mistaken, there are others regulars just in this forum who, like me, don't have the issues you encounter, or only get some promo ads that they may not mind (some like them for discounts) or may turn off as per instructions in other posts.

We tend to hear from people with problems, which is the case with most such forums and other comment outlets. Satisfied customers don't generally join a forum to simply say that their program (or product) works as advertised. And we don't have that many people complaining, particularly with your specific issues - compared to the many thousands of PSP users out there. It helps to keep things in perspective IMHO.

[bruce1951]

JoeB I did save my workspace/s. Some how the update over wrote the last one on my list. The one I was currently using!

I was one of the ones with no real issues with PSPx8. UNTIL that nagging upgrade advertisement started. I caved into to get rid of the advertisement. I still have the advertisement. I lost my current workspace. And now start up time is way slower. How does Corel manage to break things?

I have just received a large order and simply don't have the time to figure out what Corel done to my program. How on earth Corel manages to change things for the worse is beyond me.

Simple solution now is to abandon PSP and use other software to do my work. PSP was a good editor. Still is. But as it becomes more and more bloated the more and more issues it has. I know forums are always full of complaints and little praise. That's the nature of forums. But my guess is that the majority of users don't 'push' PSP and/or tolerate it's quirks.

I'll pass by from time to time to keep an eye on PSP. But I won't be spending anymore time trying to figure out what Corel is trying to figure out.

bruce

[Joelle]

I use PSP X9, and don't have your problems, although that shouldn't make a difference.

PaintShop Pro is an excellent editor, well worth staying with .

Joëlle

[MarkZ]

Like JoeB I have not had deal-breaking issues with any versions of PSP. Some have been better than others. I complain about Corel's poor response in fixing obvious, easy to fix (in my opinion) bugs. But overall I think it is a good program and has got better in the latest versions.

Bruce, I find it interesting that, because of your problems with X8, you've chosen to pull the plug on PSP and go into a learning curve with something new rather than try another version of PSP. But I'm sure you will find something that you will be happy with. So many fish in the sea.

[bruce1951]

Folks my go to editor is Photoline. I have been a PSP users since the early Jasc days. I still prefer some of PSP's features and tools. Even though Photoline is streets ahead of PSP I still prefer elements of PSP. Hence I use PSP as an external editor to Photoline. No different to users employing plugins within PSP. IMHO a mixed tool bag has lots of advantages.

I've thrown my hands in the air with Corel simply because they are bloating an excellent editor and somehow managed to break something that was working. I've been one of the lucky ones. But that all changed when Corel dumped an advertisement for PSPx8 patch 3 on my PSP. I thought by clicking on the upgrade the advertisement would go away. But no I get the advertisement and Corel managed to break one of my workspaces. Just one. Not all. It was was the last one in use and my go to work space. How did they do that? And to add to insult my PSP has gone from a 10-12 second start up times to 60 seconds!!!!!!!!!!

Dumping PSP will change my work flow. But maybe it's time for a change anyway.

I'll keep an eye on this forum and I'll add comments when I think I can help. But Corel needs to step back and assess the direction they want PSP to go. Being hell bent on something for everyone may well come back to haunt them.

bruce

[Joelle]

I use Xara Photo & Graphic Designer 11 as my 2nd editor, but PSP (X9) remains the first although I haven't upgraded to the latest version.
Xara is superb for Vectors, and some photo adjustments (Healing Brush for one) are better than in PSP.
Your new choice Photoline had me curious, so investigated, hmm...

It remains to be seen how Corel survive in the world of image editing.
People are getting lazier and want the this-button-does-everything in their software.
I agree that Corel haven't added anything must-have to their latest version, which is a shame. could be money, or lack thereof, related.

Good luck with the new software

Joëlle

[stepfull]

I'm sad to report that I find myself in much the same position of being ready to dump PaintShop Pro. First it was a problem with not being able to save .png files in PSP 2018. Now it just hangs on the initial splash screen. Yesterday, it was stuck trying to initialize the CMYK engine. Today it's stuck on updating the cache. Never does open. So I tried opening an earlier version (X19). Same thing.

So I thought I would try uninstalling and reinstalling. I can't even do that, because the uninstaller hangs.

I'm just not sure where I'll land; I was never a great fan of Adobe Photoshop, and I'm even less inclined to go that direction now that they've switched to subscription licensing. I only know that with my Paintshop Pro basically inoperable and with projects waiting, I can't wait around to see if a fix is coming.

Sorry Corel, but I have to agree with others who have mentioned PaintShop Pro suffering from bloat, and I think it's finally been its demise.

[Zantara]

I have no ties with Corel, I'm just a humble user.
But a user who has none of the afore mentioned issues, nor most of the issues my users come across with 2018.
The start-up time was very slow, but since I removed the "smart folders" and just use Computer instead of Collections, startup time has been reduced to 20 seconds max. I can live with that.

What I don't get is why some of us suffer and battle with 2018 and others don't.
Can't be just Corel then?

[JoeB]

I have no ties with Corel, I'm just a humble user.
But a user who has none of the afore mentioned issues, nor most of the issues my users come across with 2018.
The start-up time was very slow, but since I removed the "smart folders" and just use Computer instead of Collections, startup time has been reduced to 20 seconds max. I can live with that.

What I don't get is why some of us suffer and battle with 2018 and others don't.
Can't be just Corel then?

Exactly. You solved your issue by discontinuing use of Collections and in the past I believe that has helped others also. Some found improvements after disabling or otherwise modifying their use of their anti-virus and/or firewall. Others by changing their build of Windows 10. And of course there are very many of us who simply don't have any issues at all. It's a very mixed bag - in a way system specific but on a variety of different system configurations - which definitely makes it much more difficult to troubleshoot than some issues.

[hartpaul]

I also don't seem to get any of these random problems that others seem to be getting. It is very difficult to be able to find and suggest solutions when posters just go for a rant and provide insuficient information either in their posts or in the side bar system information. I would suggest at a minimum:

Windows system 7, 8.0, 8.1 diferent buildand specially those with Windows 10 which version and build as there are at least 1507, 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709 and soon 1803. And even different builds in the same version eg I have 1607 builds 14393.1770, 14393.1914, 14393.2007 and presumably these each have slightly different characteristics.

PSP version and update eg PSP X9 - 19.0.0.96, 19.0.1.8, 19.0.2.4, 19.1.0.29. 19.2.0.7
Location of User brushes etc eg C:\Users\paul\Documents\Corel PaintShop Pro\19.0
Using Manage, Adjust, Edit, or combinations.
Manage set to Computer / Collections, and number of thumbs that show when Manage first opens

type of installation - recommended (on C drive both 32 and 64 bit versions) or other variations.
Type of Antivirus
Type of Firewall,
any anti malware or anti spyware programs
Permanent connection to internet / not connected


Any other suggestions that may vary between users that may affect slowness or create other problems?

We have already seen some differences caused by numbers of thumbs / files being managed, use of McAfee, imported scripts / brushes/ tubes etc

By having all this information available it may be possible to see some patterns emerge in those that are having the same problems or comparable problems.

[stepfull]

I'm sad to report that I find myself in much the same position of being ready to dump PaintShop Pro. First it was a problem with not being able to save .png files in PSP 2018. Now it just hangs on the initial splash screen. Yesterday, it was stuck trying to initialize the CMYK engine. Today it's stuck on updating the cache. Never does open. So I tried opening an earlier version (X19). Same thing.

So I thought I would try uninstalling and reinstalling. I can't even do that, because the uninstaller hangs.

I'm just not sure where I'll land; I was never a great fan of Adobe Photoshop, and I'm even less inclined to go that direction now that they've switched to subscription licensing. I only know that with my Paintshop Pro basically inoperable and with projects waiting, I can't wait around to see if a fix is coming.

Sorry Corel, but I have to agree with others who have mentioned PaintShop Pro suffering from bloat, and I think it's finally been its demise.

Hmm. PSP 2018 is back to opening the way it usually did. No idea what changed. Still have to use the "save for office" tool to save files as .png. I suppose I can live with it for now, but I'm moving to a new machine soon, and I have some real trepidation about putting PSP on the new box. I'm certainly not inspired to upgrade to "Ultimate", and it would take some really significant upgrades to make me think about moving to a new version when one becomes available. Seems like my reward for upgrading has mostly been worse performance.

[JoeB]

I'm certainly not inspired to upgrade to "Ultimate",....

Just so you know, Ultimate only provides some extra resources like brushes, etc. It is not a different program in any way from the non-Ultimate version.

[hartpaul]

And if you don't believe it and for all those that are confused about Pro v Ultimate, from the Corel site

PSP 2018-Version Comparison Matrix.

https://www.paintshoppro.com/static/psp ... rix-en.pdf