Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 for Photographers by Ken McMahon
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Book Reviews of Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 for Photographers
Book Review: photo editing
Summary: 4 Stars
How many times have you thought you took the perfect picture only to discover that there were flaws in the photo I recently tried out Corel's Paint Shop Pro X2 software which retails for $ 99.99. One disclaimer, I have used the various earlier Paint Shop versions in the past. This software is economical to purchase and fairly easy to use. The learning curve is too not difficult to grasp.
The included Photo X2 printed manual provided is complete, but has no illustrations. Photo editing is very color intensive and in some ways your finished photo is artwork. Fortunately, I had assistance learning Paint Shop Pro X2. Two excellent books are Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 by Ken McMahon published by Focal Press and Picture Yourself Learning Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 by Diane Koers published by Cengage Learning. These both retail for $29.99 each. Ken McMahon's book is very complete and a great tool for a beginner to intermediate photo edit. Ken's book has numerous graphics and is an easy read and lays out different options a photo editor can implement. Diane Koers book's is 392 Pages and written as a text book for a classroom, it is for more intensive learning and it comes with a sample CD. Both books bring added information to the Pro X2 software and a different point of view on how to use it.
There are multiple things you can do to enhance your photo with Photo X2.
The number one reason is a one step photo fixer which is like taking your photo to a lab. I was somewhat skeptical of this until I used the photo fixer. I tried this option on a group photo, where the lighting was all wrong. There were dark areas and areas with too much ambient light. I clicked on one step photo fixer and corrected the lighting of the photo and the result was spectacular. The other problem I had was the group of people were in a semi-circle in the photo not in a straight line. I used a tool called a perspective tool and adjusted the group to a straight line. I now had the perfect photo with a lot of help from Paint Shop Pro Photo X2.
The hardest concept to understand with Photo X2 photo software is the use of layers. The first layer is the background and then additional layers are placed on top of the first. The photo editor has the option to change layers around and make them more transparent or opaque. A good visualization of this is a group of transparent plastic sheets with designs on them. They layers are all stacked on top of one another for a finished photo. A use of this if you want to add text to a photo, another person to the photo or item. The photo editor will allow you move the layers around much like shuffling a deck of cards.
For a Cub Scout function, I needed to print out some special photos. I didn't have a matt for the photos but X2 has a photo frame option which became my matt. The next step I used was adding the names of the Scouts in color. The finished photo was a big hit with the parents and the Scouts. Parents complimented me and asked me how I was able to make the photo.
My last project was one of field expediency. I needed wrapping paper for my wife's Valentine Day gift. I opened X2 and selected a red background for the paper. I typed in Happy Valentines in different font sizes and type faces. I used the picture tube options for added effect. . There are different designs of tubes. I used the flower tube and laid down different flowers on the paper and printed it out. By the way, my wife liked the paper and thought I bought it at the store.
There are more things that X2 can do like coloring black and white photos, removing red eye, scratches in photographs, 3D effects, and painting your own photograph than I have space to write about.
If you are the market for fairly reasonable and easy to use photo software Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 is well worth the investment. To get the most out the software I would recommend Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 by Ken McMahon and Picture Yourself Learning Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 by Diane Koers.
MAJ (ret) Eric Shuler NJARNG
Book Review: GREAT BOOK
Summary: 4 Stars
This book is a wonderful source of information for Corel. My only complaint was in the actual procedure for layering which produces the same affects as 35mm multi-exposures. It just needs an example and a step by step method (on combining two images)which I later found on the internet. This and other manuals never assume that you don't know you have to right click on certain layers to make them work. This is a simple thing that can leave you totally perplexed since a wrong click can really mess you up. If this had just been there I would have rated it a 5 star.Book Review: Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 Review
Summary: 4 Stars
It is nice to find a book that is NOT about Photoshop. Paint Shop Pro is a very capable photo editing application and just the ticket for the digital camera masses. When you take into account it's price (under $100) it is a real bargan. This book offers some quite useful tips and tricks.Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2Book Review: Paint Shop Pro review
Summary: 4 Stars
Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 for Photographers
Very helpful for home computer darkroom users, especially for portrait cleanup and enhancement.
Book Review: very informative
Summary: 4 Stars
A huge benefit, particularly for those who downloaded their program, although experience tells me it's also much clearer than the packaged manual. Well written and takes alot of the mystery out of using Paint Shop Pro.