I recently installed XI as an upgrade from from ver. 9. I've never used 7 or 8 so I can't compare it to those two versions.

I used PSP for basic editing as I found it to be a little easier and faster than PS or CS2.

The only reason I have XI is Corel gave me a boxed version upgrade. Ver. 9 had some flaws. Converting CR2 RAW files to JPEG with embedded data or EXIF data never worked properly. I opened a tech support claim with Corel in June 2005 and they just resolved it last week.

I've only tried and couple of images in XI and it was okay. It does have a lot of auto-fixes or what they call "Smart Fix" and "One-Step" fixes, but it also allows for more control in manually editing. Better cropping tools. The levels and curves are better. I was mainly interested in what it could do with basic editing more so than the toning options it now has, so I compared it to PS, CS2 and couple other editors. I was pleased with the results. Once you get your preferences set, to me, it was easy and user friendly. There's some sort of photo album organizer that I don't use and a media card reader management tool called Spitfire that I'll never use. Let's not forget you can now import/export between other Corel programs .. like Painter, etc.

What I find interesting is in less than two years four different versions of PSP has been released. XII, according to Corel, is scheduled to be released in the 1st quarter of 2007.

I think if you downloaded the trial version and compared it to what you have you'd like it. For the current price it's not bad, especially when you compare it to Adobe's prices.

Another editor that I bought and really like is ACDSeePro. :)

Quote - Folks, I started with PSP and the latest version I have is #8.  I use Photoshop CS2 for most of my work but find PSP to be quicker and easier in some procedures, such as the "export to .jpg" which gives exact file sizes at the users discretion.

Corel has owenership of PSP now, not JASC. That concerned me from the start! The ads for the new version XI call it Paint Shop Pro Photo XI.   The ads also make me think this program is full of auto corrections, things like that which I would not use.  The ads make me think  they are aiming at consumer level appeal. I wonder if the program has been compromised.

Does the program have all the graphics capability of earlier versions?

Sorry, I am a software junkie but do not want to get a program aimed at mostly easy auto correct options.  Any input will be appreciated.          

PS> I really don't need another graphic software.  It is in me to find out.        TomDart.