I used to split my digital photo editing time between Adobe's Photoshop Elements and Jasc's Paint Shop Pro. Then Elements 2.0 came out. I found myself using it more and more, with Paint Shop Pro fading into the background. So I hoped that Paint Shop Pro 8 would reignite the rivalry for my time.
But even though Paint Shop Pro has new features and a vastly improved help system, I don't think it's keeping up with the competition.
For example, the new Background Eraser took a maddeningly long time to display what I had removed from the photo. Similar features in Elements and Microsoft's Digital Image Pro were both better.
Paint Shop Pro 8 includes new features to touch up, add special effects or straighten images. And it lets the user customize toolbars and the workspace, which is a big improvement over the one-size-fits-all theme that some other programs have. Jasc also beefed up its help section, including 40 videos, to help guide users through its features and projects.
Despite the improvements and additional features, though, this version didn't have the feel of a must-have upgrade. A free 30-day trial is available from www.jasc.com
