Corel PaintShop Pro 2019 represents a great leap forward in RAW editing. This affordable software is perfect for those who want something more advanced than Photoshop. If you require advanced RAW editing and a program that allows you to work efficiently, PaintShop Pro 2019 is a top choice. Suitable for both professional photographers and the enthusiastic hobbyist, this software is both versatile and accessible.
In terms of features, this software has a wide range of tools. Users can fully edit RAW photos with a great deal of control. Moreover, it is possible to add textures, gradients, and other graphical items which is perfect for marketing material and digital artwork. In this PaintShop Pro 2019 review, we dissect the program and see how it compares to other available software.
Main Features
PaintShop Pro 2019 has several new features not present in the previous version. At its core, the software remains much the same. It still has an excellent array of basic features suitable for photo editing and graphics manipulation. Furthermore, this program has the following features:
- 360-degree photos
- Pic-to-paint filters
- Simple and intuitive interface
- Large library of color pallets and gradients
- Full RAW photo editing capabilities
- Detailed crop tool with multiple features
- Camera correction tools
Aside from the above, PaintShop Pro 2019 also has basic photo management features. It certainly doesn’t have the extensive management options of Lightroom, but users can effectively organize their images. Moreover, tags and ratings can be assigned.
Usability
Compared to 2018, this current version has a slightly improved interface – the change isn’t huge, but it just looks modern. The essentials workspace and Camera RAW lab are included and provide a streamlined workflow. Camera RAW lab, for example, provides a full set of sliders for editing RAW images such as contrast, lighting, and temperature.
Continuing this theme of usability, the basic tools and layout are user-friendly. Tools and menus are logically placed. Moreover, the various software features are easy to use. Even novice users will quickly learn the basics through useful tooltips and guides.
One small complaint is the way that different tool pop-ups appear on the screen. If a user has multiple toolboxes open, the workspace can look cluttered – to alleviate this, users have to manage their tabs and minimize windows to create an effective workspace.
Performance
In general, the PaintShop Pro series from Corel has had average performance. The company does not actively promote the product for its lightning-fast speeds. However, it does not receive many complaints either.
Compared to other process-heavy programs such as ON1 Photo RAW and Lightroom, PaintShop Pro 2019 performs well. Furthermore, it does not require an elite computer to run smoothly:
- Windows 10
- Intel Core I-series or AMD Phenom II
- 4GB of RAM
- 1.5GB of HDD space
As you can see, 4GB of RAM and an Intel Core I-series processor is quite standard and can be found in many basic computer setups. It should be noted that Corel does recommend 8GB of RAM for some advanced features such as HDR editing.
What do these requirements translate to in terms of performance? Loading times are smooth. Furthermore, image thumbnails render without issue. There is sometimes a slight delay when applying editing filters, but the image preview pretty much updates in real-time. Aside from this, the performance is fantastic.
Editing Features
PaintShop Pro 2019 has a great offering of editing tools. This is what the software excels at – providing users with a wealth of tools and control over the editing process. The following are some of the features provided:
- Basic image composition editing
- Advanced crop tool
- Professional curves tools
- Smart selection and auto selection tools
- One-step photo fix feature
Regardless of the type of photography you enjoy, PaintShop Pro 2019 has it covered. The one-step photo fix is a neat feature, for example, that allows users to edit their images instantly. The Pic-to-painting feature is also an interesting one. This transforms an image to replicate different artistic styles or the works of particular artists like Van Gogh.
Quality
The quality of created images in PaintShop Pro 2019 is superb. When changes are made, the original quality of the image is retained. Moreover, the final look is clear, sharp, and high resolution. The different filters and pre-sets available also look fantastic. The only downside we found, was that some of the tools and filters look a little dated – they may be fine for fun photo pieces, but only a handful are useful for professional shots.
PaintShop Pro 2019 vs. PaintShop Pro 2018
As you can see, PaintShop Pro 2019 is a comprehensive program. It is important, however, to understand how it compares to previous versions. Critics state that PaintShop Pro 2019 does not differ enough from the 2018 version to warrant an upgrade.
If you are purchasing the software for the first time, the investment is, of course, worth it. We do believe that the upgrade is a viable choice too, however.
PaintShop Pro 2019 has several new interesting features which are great for marketing and digital artwork. Moreover, as with any new product version, the interface is improved, and performance enhanced too. The following is a quick comparison to show some of the features of both the 2019 and 2018 versions:
| PaintShop Pro 2019 | PaintShop Pro 2018 | |
| 360-degree Photos | Yes | No |
| Pic-to-Paint | Yes | No |
| RAW Editing | Yes | Yes |
| Essentials Workspace | Yes | Yes |
| Textures & Brushes | Yes | Yes |
Is PaintShop Pro 2019 worth the investment?
Windows users have another brilliant editing program to choose from in PaintShop Pro 2019. Though it’s not the latest version of this software, this amazing product is suitable for both beginners and experts and facilitates all levels of skill. Moreover, it allows users to create quality photo edits in a matter of seconds.
