Corel recently updated PaintShop Pro with a 64-bit version. PaintShop Pro X6 now supports 64-bit processing and is proudly available from Corel as a perpetual license application, as communicated in Corel’s press release and in correspondence from Corel’s PR department (take that as a direct shot at Adobe’s Creative Cloud subscription-only licensing).
If’ you’ve been looking for Photoshop alternatives, this might be worth a closer inspection for the price and performance. It even opens your .PSD files if you drop your Photoshop subscription…
Unfortunately, PaintShop Pro X6 remains a Windows-only app; however, Corel notes that about 7% of PaintShop Pro users are using it on their Macs via Boot Camp or an emulation program like Parallels. (Boot Camp provides a better user experience thanks to the increased availability of system resources.)
Corel PaintShop Pro X6 Ultimate is available for $99.99, while PaintShop Pro X6 standard edition is only $79.99. Check it out here at B&H Photo.
Improvements in PaintShop Pro X6 are highlighted by Corel below.
New 64-Bit Power Drives Acceleration Application-Wide
The leap to 64-bit has dramatically accelerated key features application wide. Performance gains include:
- Superior performance: 64-bit dramatically improves the power of PaintShop Pro X6, delivering more performance, speed, and stability in users’ favorite features. For example, when compared to X5, 64- bit PaintShop Pro X6 saw a 78% performance increase in cataloguing JPG images.
- New! Memory management: New memory management work opening and saving files and applying effects is accelerated in both 32- and 64-bit versions of X6. Both are included with every purchase.
- New! Open more and larger images faster: With X6 users can open larger files and more files – upward of 50 – with ease. This significantly improves performance in batch processing, multi-layer compositing work and HDR processing.
- Enhanced! Support for Adobe Photoshop plug-ins: PaintShop Pro X6 now supports many 64-bit Adobe Photoshop plug-ins in addition to Photoshop format (.psd) images and Photoshop format (.abr) brushes.
New Tools Improve on Workflow
New selection tools make traditionally tedious editing tasks a breeze allowing users to focus on the creative side of editing.
- New! Smart Selection Brush: This new brush enables the selection of objects based on a brushstroke. Users simply paint over an object to select it.
- New! Auto Selection tool: The new auto selection tool lets users enclose an image area in a bounding rectangle that automatically detects and snaps to the edge. It’s quick and simple, accelerating common selection tasks.
Professional Level Plug-ins Add Additional Value to PaintShop Pro X6 Ultimate
Corel’s flagship photo editor, PaintShop Pro X6 Ultimate also includes valuable photo editing extras worth over $200.
- Perfectly Clear: Available for the first time in PaintShop Pro Ultimate, the award-winning plug-in by Athentech Imaging, saves users time by delivering advanced, one-click image corrections based on 10 years of scientific research.
- FaceFilter3 Standard: A versatile photo retouching and beautifying toolkit by Reallusion, FaceFilter Standard helps users reveal the true beauty of their photos by providing scenario-based portrait editing and beautifying.
