What's the difference between Corel painter and Paintshop Pro?

I tried looking this up with google search and I got a wide variety of answers that didn't really cover what I am looking for. I primarily use Adobe Photoshop but was curious about Corel painter and Paintshop Pro. I would need to be able to do layers, saving in various file formats, installing brushes, and etc. Which of the two Corel programs can do almost everything Photoshop can? Or is there a reason I need both Corel programs if I decide to buy them? Looking for advice.

Comments

  • GalaxyGalaxy Posts: 562

    If you use Photoshop, then you should know that there is nothing you need if you have the photoshop. However, there is nothing wrong if you try other tools. The Corel painter is a dedicated tool for digital painting.

  • AllenArtAllenArt Posts: 7,172

    PaintShop Pro is more like Photoshop than Painter is...or more like if Painter and Photoshop had a baby. LOL. Painter is geared entirely toward digital painting. Photoshop and PaintShop Pro do photo retouching as well as painting. However, in the battle of the photo manipulation programs, my personal favorite is Affinity Photo ;)

     

  • AscaniaAscania Posts: 1,855
    edited October 2021

    PSP is a Photoshop alternative, Painter is a painting programme.

    Both together with a whole lot of brushes and other addons can be got at HumbleBundle at a considerable discount for the next 18 days.

    Post edited by Ascania on
  • Ascania said:

    PSP is a Photoshop alternative, Painter is a painting programme.

    Both together with a whole lot of brushes and other addons can be got at HumbleBundle at a considerable discount for the next 18 days.

    That's why I was asking, it's too good of a deal to pass up.

     

  • Can both programs use the same brushes and etc?

  • AscaniaAscania Posts: 1,855

    fictionalbookshelf said:

    Can both programs use the same brushes and etc?

    Not as far as I can recall.

  • RL_MediaRL_Media Posts: 339

    Can't speak on paintshop pro, I use photoshop for that kinda thing. I used to paint with photoshop too until I tried corel painter, it's amazing. I remember trying painter back in the mid 90's I think it was, and hated it. Brushes lagged like crazy, it doesn't have that problem now, not sure if it's because I have a beast PC, or because the program is better coded, or maybe both.

  • GalaxyGalaxy Posts: 562

    You can import, but some brushes may not be fully functional.

  • DripDrip Posts: 1,206

    I used to find the user interface of Paint Shop Pro way more intuitive than that of Photoshop. Photoshop had more features, but PSP had all the features I needed in a more obvious layout, with less need to learn all kinds of shortcut keys to circumvent ten-layer menu trees. But, that was back when it was still JASC Paint Shop Pro 7, no idea if the better interface is still it's primary advantage, since, anything PSP can do, PS can do too anyway. If it no longer has the ease of use advantage, then only the occasional Humble bargain would be a sellingpoint for it, and the better question would be how it compared to GIMP.

  • GalaxyGalaxy Posts: 562

    Drip said:

    I used to find the user interface of Paint Shop Pro way more intuitive than that of Photoshop. Photoshop had more features, but PSP had all the features I needed in a more obvious layout, with less need to learn all kinds of shortcut keys to circumvent ten-layer menu trees. But, that was back when it was still JASC Paint Shop Pro 7, no idea if the better interface is still it's primary advantage, since, anything PSP can do, PS can do too anyway. If it no longer has the ease of use advantage, then only the occasional Humble bargain would be a sellingpoint for it, and the better question would be how it compared to GIMP.

    Absolutely wrong since Photoshop is a true professional tool. Photoshop alternatives are thousand miles behind. If it is a text tool, a selection tool, complex languages (since in every country there are many other languages that exist and are unavoidable). Most Photoshop alternative's selection tools are tedious or do not support many languages and other advanced features.

  • Let's avoid this turning into an App war please.

  • marblemarble Posts: 7,500

    Not wishing to add flames to the fire but from a personal point of view, I don't need lots of languages nor do I need advanced features. I don't have any of the Corel Suite but I get by just fine with Affinity Photo. If I didn't have that I might be interested in the discounted Corel pack.

  • GalaxyGalaxy Posts: 562

    I think the bundle is a good opportunity to own some apps. I found a video editor also included.

  • kyoto kidkyoto kid Posts: 41,222

    ..as I recall PSP began supporting abr brushes with version X6.

  • mwokeemwokee Posts: 1,275
    I had Painter and found it frustrating to use. I flat out just like Photoshop. In the end there really isn't a better software package, just one YOU like best.
  • AscaniaAscania Posts: 1,855

    If you have just installed PSP you might want to enact some changes, like change the workspace to Complete and in the General Preferences activate the Adjust tab as well as set the Edit tab as the default to keep from being annoyed by the Welcome tab every time you start the program.

  • mwokee said:

    I had Painter and found it frustrating to use. I flat out just like Photoshop. In the end there really isn't a better software package, just one YOU like best.

    Painter and Photoshop are not competitors, broadly - painter has some basic image manipulation tools, Photoshop has some more artistic brushes now, but they are essentially catering for different market segments (and most Painter users have a Photoshop-like image-manipulation application too).

  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 38,564
    edited October 2021

    surprised @Dartanbeck is not in here promoting Dogwaffle Howler wink

    I don't use it, I use Gimp, yet here I am blush

    Post edited by WendyLuvsCatz on
  • AscaniaAscania Posts: 1,855

    WendyLuvsCatz said:

    surprised @Dartanbeck is not in here promoting Dogwaffle Howler wink

    I don't use it, I use Gimp, yet here I am blush

    I use Gimp, I use PSP, I even use Paint.net when it's convenient.

  • charlescharles Posts: 849
    edited October 2021

    I use both Photoshop and Corel's Photo-Paint. I find Photo-Paint a lot easier to get most things done, it's much simplier yet powerful. It does support layers and often (not always) will import layers from Photoshop. However as of 2020+ versions it has a really really annoying upsales popups and login system. And even though there is an "check for updates" button in every version I can recall going back 10 years, they NEVER EVER EVER offer any updates to fix any bugs, they just wait to the next year and offer you the next version at a discount and claim to have fixed bugs...which they may or may not have.

    Actually if they spent as much time actually improving their products that they do with their sales pages they might actually have a much better program. It's still really good for direct painting and stuff.

    But you asked about PaintShop Pro...don't bother, it's basically like LightRoom for adding effects to images and you can get better ones as Photoshop Actions.

     

     

    Post edited by charles on
  • ed3Ded3D Posts: 2,285

    and Krita also , more like Corel Painter (But Free)

  • kyoto kidkyoto kid Posts: 41,222

    ...I have that as well. Only looking at the PSP deal as I'm still on Windows 7 which Painter 2021 no longer supports (PSP 2021 still does).  Been working with X4 all these years so yeah, just a bit behind the times.

Sign In or Register to comment.