Paint Shop Pro Photo XI

Evaluating an image-editing application without referring to Adobe’s seminal Photoshop is always very difficult, as all budget applications seem to take their inspiration from it. Rightly or wrongly, Paint Shop Pro has always been seen as the ‘poor man’s Photoshop’ (and even if you’re a stalwart user, deep down you’ll agree with us), but with version XI Corel is attempting to try something new.

By re-branding the application Paint Shop Pro Photo, the ambiguity has been removed from the equation, and it’s clear who this app is aimed at. But PSP Photo XI really is standard fare – with photo-management tools, special effects, new blemish removal tools, depth of field tools, colour replace, and the usual gaggle of levels, curves, and so on. There’s nothing here that will revolutionise the world of digital photography, but it must be said that the app does everything very well, especially for those unfamiliar with high-end digital image-editing solutions, such as channels.

One feature worth mentioning is Time Machine, which is great fun. Essentially it applies a series of filters and effects to your photos so they look as if they were taken in a different era – from mid 1800s to the 1960s.

PSP Photo XI is one of those upgrades you’ll probably buy if you’ve been using PSP all your life (or working life anyway). There’s nothing here, apart from Time Machine, at a push, to tempt you away from Photoshop, but that’s not who it’s aimed at. We like this release – it shows intelligence and awareness on Corel’s part. For beginners on a budget without the need for Photoshop’s power, it’s a great tool.