I received an email today from Corel announcing the release of Paintshop Pro 2023 and offering a discounted upgrade price as a "loyalty" reward. Unfortunately, there do not seem to be enough new features to make ordering worthwhile. Those that are mentioned in the email include:
- Focus stacking;
- Enhanced frame tool for use in creating masks based on symmetrical and Preset shapes;
- AfterShot Lab for editing RAW files;
- Real time blend mode preview;
- Snap to objects;
- Improved usability and performance
None of the above, most of which are already available in other apps, seem worth the cost of an upgrade no matter how great the discount. The software bonuses included with the Ultimate version of the updated app are also a disappointment. Most, such as PhotoMirage Express, Painter Essentials 8, Highlight Reel, MultiCam Capture Lite, and Sea-to-Sky Workspace, were already included in last year's edition. All that's really new this year is the inclusion of a font package.
I had originally purchased PaintShop Pro in 2020 when searching for a viable low-cost alternative to Adobe Photoshop. I've already found that, though, in Luminar Neo which I consider the single best photo editor now available. Accordingly, I'm not really in the market right now for any others, though I have to admit Paintshop Pro has always been a fairly sophisticated app with a number of useful features. Another problem is that Corel seems to be falling behind in software development. Just as there are, in my opinion at least, no revolutionary new features in the new edition of Paintshop Pro so it is the same with the new 2023 edition of Corel Painter, to which I've also no inclination to upgrade since there isn't a single new feature for photographers included in it. If Corel wishes to maintain its user base and attract new customers it really must do more, and soon.
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