Corel PaintShop Pro X4

The perfect partner for passionate photographers, PaintShop Pro X4 includes everything you need to create stunning photos. With hundreds of photo-editing features, ranging from one-click 
photo-fixers to pro-level effects, there’s a level of interface for everyone, no matter their level of expertise. Support from the integrated Learning Centre means that budding amateurs can edit like a pro, while those with the technical know-how have a staggering range of tools to help them make precision edits to their work.

The 75 new and enhanced features in this latest update include HDR batch merging, selective focus, Photo Blend and a newly redesigned interface that allows you to move easily between edit, adjust and manage functionality with a single click. All of this combines to make PaintShop Pro X4 the perfect package for photo-editing.

Pros: HDR ready, simplified tools. 

Cons: Lacks the editing depth of Adobe Photoshop.

Conclusion: Paint Shop Pro is a fantastic choice for almost any photography enthusiast out there, with a great range of features and an easy-to-use interface. Thanks to a free update system, Paint Shop Pro will almost always be able to import your raw photography files, and the inbuilt compatibility with Facebook and Flickr means that it’s never been easier to plug in your camera, tinker with your shots and share them online, all through one photo suite. While it may not be able to match market heavyweights like Adobe Photoshop in terms of high-level editing power, almost anyone is going to find something to love with this package. Some of the trickier editing tasks are simplified here into almost one-click tools, while those willing to get their hands dirty can access a deeper level of features, aimed around professional level editing, including new updates like Selective Focus which allows you to recreate tilt-shift lenses.

This is a solid photo-editing suite, with a decent set of features and a slick interface, providing a more cost-effective alternative to other slightly higher end offerings. Highly recommended.