cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Hi folks. New to this section. Currently use NX Capture and Photoshop (some Lightroom 3) and wondering if anyone can compare the two programs in the title. I know that the Corel program is now 2019 Ultimate so that may be too new for this comparison.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Here is information I received via pm:

I upgrade my PSP every year. A month or two after a new release I get little pop-up ads from Corel to upgrade. If you don't respond, over the next few weeks the price drops from $70 down to $25 or $30. So considering the initial and upgrade costs it is about the best bargain around.

I have used Paint Shop since it was a shareware program by JASC. For years, before the subscription I also updated my PhotoShop every couple of years. Even without a subscription, Paint Shop Pro does do updates to correct any issues.

Now to the important stuff. I believe that Corel matches Adobe feature for feature, with one being ahead of the other from time to time. Of course since I don't subscribe I have no hands-on experience with the latest from Adobe.

The PSP interface, like any, has a learning curve. PSP has a great feature that you can turn on that will pop up a short description of how to use a tool you click on, with a link to a tutorial. This will come up every time you click on a tool until you are comfortable with it. You check a box to stop it. This alone is worth the price of admission as you don't have to go searching for help. They also have tons of how-to videos.

I can highly recommend this program, but cannot compare it to Affinity.
Signed...anonymous [/i]

Video:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MYCgZ3onXX0

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fjrwillie Loc: MA

I am a PSP user and have been for about 10 years. In addition to PSP, I use Rawtherapee for processing RAW files which integrates with PSP very nicely. Once in PSP I also use NIK filters which also integrates nicely with PSP and of course the tools that are built into PSP.

Currently I am using X8 and will at some time upgrade to a newer addition sometime in the future. I have not seen a compelling reason to upgrade. It is of little interest to me whether software can send to FB or Instagram or what ever. I can do that myself within Windows.

Rawtherapee is a free RAW processor and is very very powerful. If I didn't use layers and masks this might be the only software I would use.

Overtime when one is talking about a function in Photoshop and can easily find a tutorial on it, at first it was frustrating to be in PSP. Overtime I have been able to watch various tutorials and figure out the similar methods within PSP.

That's my take

Willie



I read over the list of tools in Affinity, which I believe PSP has all of them covered. the price of 40.00 is very inviting.

srt101fan

I don't know anything about PaintShop Pro so unfortunately I can't compare. But I want to throw in my 2 cents worth and say that I really like Affinity. I'm still in the early learning stages, but it seems to have all the tools I would ever need along with a user friendly interface.

Good luck with your decision!

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Thanx for your help, anonymous (you know who you are) and, of course, for the link to the youtube vid. Very informative and promising.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Thanks, Willie. You and Linda's "anonymous" friend have reminded me that PSP HAS been around for some time. I went looking through a drawer (pack rat/hoarder, sorry) and found an old JASC software CD of version 6 that I bought, I believe, back when I had Windows 95. I DO remember using it and I remember that I liked it. But at the time, I found myself gravitating more to PhotoShop and a program called PhotoSuite. The CD will not, of course, work on my Windows 10 PC, but maybe it is time I gave the 2019 version a try. Thanks again.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Seems the older I get, decision-making becomes harder, srt101fan (BTW, are we referring to the Minolta SR-T 101 from the late 60s?). My first concern with Affinity is does it have a cloning tool like PhotoShop does. My only real gripe with Nikon's NX Capture programs is that their "band-aid" tool for doing clean-up work decides for you what it will replace your selection with. I'm not really a Control Freak (I don't think), but I'd rather choose for myself a la PhotoShop's cloning tool.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

I, too, am a regular user of Affinity. I am not an expert but I have been using it for over a year now and I am very pleased with the features it offers. Affinity has an excellent clone tool and also tools for blemish removal, in-painting, and healing. I find it to be excellent for clean up - large or small. I have no experience with PS or PSP but I believe Affinity has the same capabilities when it comes to photo editing and finishing. On the Affinity website there is a link to their list of tutorials. These are well done and very helpful. Watching a few of them could give you a good feel for what the program can do.

Previously I used Capture NX2. I like that program but its capabilities are very limited compared to Affinity. Also, most PS plug-ins work with Affinity. I use NIK and Topaz a lot. I also used Capture NXD occasionally but only for raw conversion. There are times when I feel Nikon's own software is best for raw conversion but I use affinity 95% of the time because it normally does an excellent job.

srt101fan

Yes, the Minolta SRT 101! Used it a lot, and then, somewhere along the line, had a brain snooze and bought a Minolta X570. To this day I don't know why!

I'm with you on the decision-making issue....I'm loving one-option decisions more and more!

I know Affinity has a cloning tool but I haven't yet advanced far enough to use it. So I'm glad to see that Cwilson341 gave you some good answers, including good advice on checking the Affinity videos.

I have nothing against Lightroom and Photoshop. I have a separate Digital Asset Management program so I didn't need the Lightroom library function. That's why I went with Affinity and I'm glad I did!

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

I might have gone with the XD-11. But I did steer a couple friends toward the 570. They loved it.

kdogg Loc: Gallipolis Ferry WV

I used PSP with Nik plugin,and Topaz until recently. I am now learning to use Luminar and I am liking it very much.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Here is another "anonymous" response via pm

Affinity has been my main editor for several months. It has everything anyone could need to edit photographic images to perfection. Like any other editor it requires a good understanding of what the different parameters can do and in this respect Affinity has excellent tutorials in You Tube which I found much more useful than the book of instructions they have because we can actually see the changes made to a file when working with Affinity with the tutorials. I have found that the sharpening machines of Affinity are all excellent and if you ask me I believe sharpening with this software is very accurate and precise. I always get kind of short with my sharpening because it is easy to overdo it. They use Export instead of Save because when using Save the file is saved as an Affinity File. The Haze filter is dynamite to improve structures in the sky and I use it often. It tens to make the skies more dramatic with a natural effect.

I wish the Curves adjustment was better, something like what Photoshop offers. I cannot do color corrections with the Curves adjustment in Affinity although Color Balance is available.
Changes made with Affinity to a file are almost always non-destructive. I like this feature that allows me to make corrections or delete the layer if I am not happy with my changes. The program has a b&w filter that is so useful that many times I do not have to go to Topaz B&W Effects to convert my files. I have included a link that explains how to use it.

Affinity has so many parameters that I cannot mention them all. It is kind of overwhelming for the newbie so it requires patience and some time to develop the skills to use Affinity to full advantage. I have not regretted a second that I bought Affinity and I am still learning.
I am delighted with this software and working with its RAW machine could not be easier and the results are dynamite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VMX0fAYDiQ

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bonjac Loc: Santa Ynez, CA 93460

May I jump in on this discussion. I, too, am looking at PP software and was wondering whether anyone is using Mac Photos a 'library' module in combination with Affinity for photo processing. I shoot mostly raw. Thanks for any input and I apologize if jumping in like this is frowned upon.

Regards, Jack

PS. Is Corel Paint Shop Pro available for Mac's?

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Your questions are semi-related to the OP; however, the drawback to "jumping in" is that many folks who already assisted the OP may no longer be watching this topic, and the topic title makes no reference to Mac.

It appears that Corel PSP is for Windows only. You might consider creating a new topic, with reference in the title to Mac Photos, in order to attract those with the knowledge to assist.

Keep watch on this topic also, though, just in case