Noting that "47 percent of Paint Shop Pro users wanted the new Version 9 to have more power," while another "48 percent wanted it to be easier to use," Jasc Software today released two public betas, one for each group.
Public beta testing has always guided development of the popular Paint Shop Pro (recent reviewed by Newsletter Editor Mike Pasini). By offering Paint Shop Pro 9 and Paint Shop Pro Studio, the company hopes to address the concerns of both camps.
"Traditionally, Paint Shop Pro has had so much to offer that new users could get overwhelmed by the depth of the tool set," the company's comparison document notes. "When we surveyed Paint Shop Pro users, the results were evenly split: half wanted a Paint Shop Pro with more power, and the other half wanted software that was fun and easier to use. It was obvious that just one Paint Shop Pro wouldn't satisfy users anymore. Customers talked, we listened, and now there are two Paint Shop Pros to choose from."
Key differences for photo editing are that Studio does not remove digicam noise or "the colored glow that appeas in high contrast areas of images." Studio also does not allow customized workspaces and toolbars, nor can it track each editing step and undo any step at any time.
The public betas can be downloaded at no charge from Community page at the Jasc Web site.
