Nice list.

Larry:

Originally, you said PaintShop Pro, not ParticleShop. ParticleShop doesn't have a "My Library". Downloads usually go into your Download folder. Check there.

I'm not sure what you mean, here. If you never had brushes for PaintShop Pro, you can buy them and they will show up in your "My Library" list. You install them from there. If you bought brushes, before, they may be in your "Download" folder, where you can double-click on the .exe file to load them. If you had an older version of PaintShop, you may be able to use the menu function to transfer plugins, brushes, etc. from that older version of PaintShop to your latest version.

PSP Ultimate 2021 is my sixth version. I have never had an issue downloading and installing any of the versions. Also, I have never had an issue with the functionality of PSP, even though there have been updates that I have installed, which, reportedly, fixed issues that I never came across.

My only complaint I ever had with Corel is that, like most companies, you have to "chat" with someone instead of being able to talk to a human being.

I love the muted colors. Very different.

A gaming computer works fine, and may be overkill for photos. They have high-end video cards that have enough resolution and speed for displaying and editing photos. My son has a gaming computer and it works well for photos. My non-gaming computer has about the same features and power as my son's gaming computer. Just make sure your computer has a lot of memory, both for the computer, itself, and the video card. Mine has 64 and eight Gigabytes, respectively. You could get by with 8 and 2 Gigabytes, respectively.

I have owned Pentax cameras and lenses since 1969. My first Pentax was a Spotmatic II with a 50mm f1.4 lens. I upgraded to an ME Super and 135mm non-zoom lens. I bought the very thin 40mm "Pancake" lens. With that lens on my ME Super, I could put my whole camera and lens in my pocket. Great all-around camera combination.

My first digital camera was a cheap point-and-shoot Canon. Soon, I upgraded to a better point-and-shoot Pentax, with a true viewfinder. Once I got a cell phone, with a nice camera, both of those cameras were put into storage.

When I knew I wanted a true DSLR, I investigated Nikon, Canon and Pentax. Since I had a number of old Pentax lenses, which work on all Pentax cameras, and the cost vs. features of the various cameras, I decided on the Pentax K5-II and 28 to 270mm zoom lens. My thought was to use that DSLR to replace my Sony video camera. It didn't work out that way. DSLRs are difficult to use as true video cameras unless a lot of accessories are added.

Anyway, my Pentax K5-II was on sale because it was being replaced with a newer model. I got the lens on sale, too. So, my whole rig cost about $1000. With the same features, Nikon and Canon would have been over $2000 and I couldn't use all my old lenses. As an added benefit, all Pentax-brand lenses focus to infinity and change aperture in the same rotational direction.

Since my first K5-II purchase, I have purchased two additional zoom lenses, both water-resistant. My camera body is water-resistant and with a water-resistant lens, I can take my rig anywhere. Is my camera as good as a $4000 Nikon? No. But for the cost, it takes great photos, is compact, is full-featured, is reliable and fun to use.

Only if the new Pentax, that is coming out, has a swiveled back screen, would I think about replacing what I have, now.

Corel is making all its software, including PaintShop Pro, have the same look and feel. Microsoft did that years ago, with their Office products. In PaintShop Pro, specifically, they have moved functions around to make them more logically connected. I believe this had to be done because of all the added features.

I have just recently started scanning my 35 mm color slides with an Epson V850 Pro. I scan 12 slides at a time using a TIFF, 600 DPI Compressed format. It takes an average of about a minute to scan a slide and results in a 5 to 6 MB file size per slide.

I spent several hours scanning at different resolutions and formats, comparing the results, before coming to my decision. I think I came to the best quality, file size and scanning time compromise.

I started with a resolution of 2400 DPI uncompressed resolution, a file size of 95 MB per slide and 2.5 minutes per slide scan time. This combination was no better than my final settings and the file size was just too great to justify scanning at such a high resolution.

I hope this helps.

The mostly non-mentioned software is Corel's PaintShop Pro Ultimate. It has released a new version and can be purchased for under $100. It is fairly easy to use for standard functions and, with a little bit more learning effort, can compete with some of the best photo editing software. You own it and don't have to upgrade every year, which makes it much cheaper than, for example, Photoshop. PSP Ultimate includes several additional software applications, which are useful. I believe they have a trial version you can try. I have several Corel software applications and have been impressed with them. I suggest you give PaintShop Pro Ultimate 2021 a try.

I purchased a prosumer Sony video camera before I bought a DSLR. It is a standard format camera, not HD, and has built-in stereo microphones. It uses Mini Digital Tapes. Focus and exposure works during zooming. I love this camera.

I bought my Pentax DSLR in hopes it could replace my video camera. Unfortunately, while it takes pretty good video, it has too many limitations to be able to replace my true video camera. My DSLR needs an external microphone to record stereo. I have to use the live screen instead of the viewfinder, which is very inconvenient. Focus and exposure is limited in video mode.

All that said, I only use my DSLR for simple video recording. In fact, my Samsung cell phone takes better videos than my DSLR, mainly because it records in stereo, it records in higher resolution and it is more convenient.

My Pentax is an excellent DSLR, just not what I need to do videos, the way I am used to doing them.

Now, that's funny (and right on the mark.)

I have updated the firmware of my Pentax K5 II, twice, with no problems. There is still one small update available, but, there aren't enough new features/bug fixes that I need.

That said, my firmware updates require fresh batteries or a power cord and a memory card that only has the firmware update file on it. Once initiated by pressing a couple of buttons simultaneously, the update just happens. Easy-peasy. Good luck.

I own PaintShop Pro Ultimate 2020. I love it. The extras include PhotoMirage, Painter Essentials, AfterShot and a couple extra applications that have only a one year license. I loved Painter Essentials so much that I purchased the full version of Painter and all the brushes. AfterShot is similar to Lightroom, I believe, since I don't own Lightroom. I think PaintShop Pro is easier to use than PhotoShop. You will get a lot of people disagreeing with me on that.

Bottom line is that PaintShop Pro Ultimate 2020 gives you a lot for the money. As with all software applications, the more you use something the more you understand what it can do and the easier it is to use.

I'm a retired computer systems analyst. I would have had a Mac in a minute. However, I needed to be compatible with everyone else, so I went with Windows. I know that there are software applications on a Mac that allow you to use Windows software, but, I haven't been shown that they are 100% compatible. If you already know Windows, I'd stick with it. Just get the best performing computer you can afford, either Mac or Windows.