Corel Photo-Paint 8 Features

Corel Photo-Paint 8 Features

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Performance and Productivity

Speed: Additional support for Intel's MMX technology is built into the architecture of Corel Photo-Paint 8, resulting in performance enhancements to nearly all image-processing operations.
Lo-res Image Editing: This feature creates a low-resolution copy or "proxy" of an original high-resolution image. Image edits are recorded and saved with the proxy. The Render command 'plays' the information associated with the proxy back onto a copy of the high-resolution file at any specified resolution up to that of the original image.
Grid, Rulers and Enhanced Guidelines: The Grid and rulers make it easy to place image elements precisely. As in CorelDRAW 8, Guidelines can be multiselected, deleted or nudged using the arrow keys.
Enhanced Print Engine: The Print Engine offers a streamlined user interface and includes support for Adobe Postscript 3.
Command Recording and Script Editing: The Recorder Docker window and the Scripts Docker window give Corel Photo-Paint 8 the power and flexibility to record, play and edit scripts. Creating a script is simple with the Recorder Docker which automates a series of operations. Users can open scripts and play them from the Scripts Docker window or run a script by dragging and dropping it onto an image. The Undo list can also be saved as a script. Scripts help users reduce manual duplication of repetitive tasks.

Streamlined Interface Controls

Flat-Look Interface: The new "flat look" updates onscreen elements, such as buttons, with a fresh uncluttered appearance.
Toolbox Refinement: The Toolbox has been reorganized, grouping Brush/Paint tools on one flyout. Object Transparency tools are separated from the Object Picker tool, which is now grouped with the Mask Mover tool.
Docker Windows: As in CorelDRAW 8, new Docker windows are used for the Object Manager, Channels and Tutor dialogs to streamline workflow in the application window. The Docker window can be customized and positioned anywhere in the application area.
Streamlined Menus and Dialogs: Dialogs are smaller and more consistent between CorelDRAW 8 and Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 wherever possible and many menu options that are available in both programs appear in the same location. This integration makes it easy for users to transfer learning between applications. The Effects Filters dialogs have also been streamlined, which has helped reduce the footprint of Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 by 1 MB.
Document Info Dialog: This dialog contains helpful information for working with Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 images. Details on current cursor position, width/height of current mask, angle and direction of gradient fill and transparency, radius of circle and more are available.
Refined Options Dialog: The Options dialog has been streamlined using a common design shared between CorelDRAW 8 and Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8.
Customization: Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 offers the same customization features as CorelDRAW 8, including the new Workspace customization feature that lets users save different workspace configurations. Users can continue to use accelerator keys for Toolbox items and text properties.
Property Bar: For greater ease of use, the Property Bar changes to display the most commonly used controls associated with the tool selected.

Enhanced Object Editing

New Objects Dialog: The Object Docker window allows drag-and-drop reordering of objects. Users can move "floating" masked selections with the Object Picker tool and access object properties by double clicking the object name in the list. Updated Object Picker tool cursors are included for improved ease of use.

Object Menu Options

Drop Shadow: The Perspective Drop Shadow effect has been improved, including the addition of an on screen Fade Out control.
Feather, Defringe and Threshold: These object effects now preview on screen to provide users with immediate feedback.

Mask Refinements

Color Mask: The Color Mask dialog has been simplified and includes an option to adjust its size. The dialog lets users control the quality of color mask smoothing and also includes new tolerance controls.
Mask Align: A preview capability is included in this streamlined dialog box to help users visualize how masks will align on the image. Users can also "mix" HSB color tolerance modes, rather than applying all of them to color mask creation simultaneously.
Magic Scissors Mask Tool: This enhanced tool now displays tool radius on screen with a bounding box.
Clip Mask: The clip mask lets users experiment with transparency changes before applying them to an object. It can then be used to remove the transparency changes at anytime without affecting other object features or users can make transparency changes to an object, then apply a clip mask to restore it to full opacity.

Brush Tools and Settings

New Orbits: Unique brush effects can be created by using new Orbits with the paint or image sprayer tools. This feature allows users to define the brush nib as a series of points that dynamically adjust their positions relative to each other during painting. Preset Orbits include DNA, Orbiter, Rings and more.
Brush Symmetry: The new Symmetry tool option makes it easy to paint symmetrical patterns using any brush tool.
Improved Tool Settings: Settings are logically grouped within the Tool Settings roll-up for greater ease of use.
Improved Pressure Sensitive Pen Tablet Support: Users who employ a pressure sensitive pen and tablet will now enjoy greater flexibility and achieve more realistic results with the implementation of tilt and rotation functionality.
Onscreen Nib Resizing: Users can dynamically resize a brush nib on screen without having to pause to access the Tool Settings roll-up or Property Bar.

Effects

Onscreen Effects Preview: Effects can now be previewed on screen or in the dialog box.
Image Stitch: Users can open several files, then set parameters to match their edges to create the illusion that the images are "stitched" together (similar to a photo panoramic effect).
New Dodge/Burn Effects Tool: This image toning tool is now available on the Effects toolbar. It lets users lighten or darken specific areas on an image, mirroring the darkroom method of selectively underexposing (lightening) or overexposing (darkening) certain image areas during the print process.
Lenses: Lenses can be used to apply various effects to the area of the image directly beneath the lense. Several new Lense options are included in this release, including Add Noise, Impressionist, Psychedelic, Remove Noise, Sharpen, Soften and Solarize.
Plug-ins: Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 includes full support of the Adobe plug-in standard, including support for import, export, acquire and filter plug-ins. New PhotoShop -compatible plug-in filters included in this version are Auto F/X Photo/Graphic Edges, Cytopia PhotoLab, Digimarc Digital Watermarking and Human Software Squizz!.
Image Sprayer Tool: Images can be "sprayed" onto a document using a brush-like application. As with any brush style tool, users can adjust random, sequential and directional control, as well as size, transparency and dab variation. Exciting new sprayer images have been included in this release.
Noise Enhancement: Moire removal is included in the Noise filter to minimize the visible patterns that sometimes appear on scanned images.
Lighting Effect: The on screen size of this dialog has been minimized.

File/Document Enhancements

Customizable Workspace: Users can create custom Workspace files that include their preferred options, application window positions, keyboard shortcuts and more. These configurations display only the windows and controls most relevant to the job at hand, making it easier for users to maximize their efficiency.
Image Types: Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 offers support for 16-bit grayscale and 48-bit image types. Original high bit-depth images will be preserved when opened in Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8. Both 8-bit and 24-bit images may be converted to the higher bit-depth type with the image conversion commands.
Clipboard Operations: CorelDRAW 8 graphics in CMX format can be copied to the clipboard, then pasted into Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 with their shape intact. This means that irregularly shaped graphics will not be surrounded with an opaque square border when copied into Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8. The Paste Into operation automatically produces an object with a clip mask that corresponds to the current mask, rather than a special floating selection that must be "defloated" before other masking activities can be performed.
Raster Image Processing Engine: The internal engine responsible for most image processing operations has been enhanced. It also includes additional support for Intel MMX technology.
Copy Visible: The Copy Visible command copies all visible data from a selection, not just the data corresponding to the "active" object. The traditional Copy command duplicates the active object.
Fade Last Option: This post-editing option can be used after applying an effect or using a brush or fill tool. It allows users to adjust the overall opacity of the applied effect to modify the way it blends with the image. The effect is similar to painting on a new object, then adjusting the Opacity and Merge mode controls in the Objects dialog.
Duotone to Multichannel Mode Conversions: Duotone images can be converted directly to the Multichannel type, whereby the overlay color will reflect the original duotone ink colors.
Image Type Conversion: The enhanced 8-bit Paletted dialog includes a new smoothing option that pre-filters the original image to create better tonal gradations in the final paletted image. Additional options include the ability to modify the dither pattern in the resulting image, and an eyedropper to select a color from the image and "weight" the color conversion toward that color during the conversion process.
Backgroundless Image: Users can create a new Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 document with a transparent background so that the image shape itself represents the outer edges of the image rather than a rectangular bounding box.
Corel Versions: Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 uses Corel Versions technology to allow users to manage, archive and retrieve documents. Users can create compressed/non-compressed archives containing multiple versions of a document. This program acts as a complement to Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 Backup and Checkpoint capabilities.
Memory Management: Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 includes a powerful memory management system that allows users to edit larger files.
Intellimouse Support: CorelDRAW 8 and Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 support Intellimouse features, allowing users to zoom and pan with the center wheel of the mouse.

Enhanced Color Support

Professional Color Management: The ColorSync 2.0-standard color management system has been licensed from Kodak to ensure accurate color representation during scanning, display and printing (using ICC profiles). As well, there is built-in support for acquiring colors using a spectrophotometer.
Color Manager: The Color Profile Wizard (formerly the Color Manager) is integrated into CorelDRAW 8 and Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 in the Options dialog box. Users can select device profiles in this dialog.
Palette Support: The PANTONE Hexachrome palette and browser palettes for Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are included.
Pop-Up Palette: Click and hold the mouse button down in the onscreen color palette to view a grid of a neighboring color. Users can find the exact color they need with a single click.
Color Harmonies: Select compatible complimentary colors using the Color Harmonies color selector, which superimposes different shapes on a color wheel. By moving the shapes around the color wheel, users can see which colors look best together.
Convert to NTSC: Create professional high-quality images for television broadcast. Use the NTSC filter to restrict an images' range of colors to those acceptable for television reproduction.

Improved Connectivity

Improved Filters: The JPEG export dialog incorporates a preview and subsampling option, as well as contrast pre-filtering controls. Support for Adobe Photoshop format now includes import/export of Layer/Clip masks.
File Formats: Improved GIF animation import capabilities include frame interval control, the transparent color option and conversion options for 24-bit movies. The FlashPix FPX filter is updated with a new library from Kodak, which results in improved loading and saving in this format.
Adobe-compatible Import, Export and Acquire Plug-in support: Support for Adobe-compatible plug-in modules lets users extend Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 export functionality.

The Internet

The Internet Tag WWW URL: Users can create clickable image maps for the Web by assigning hyperlinks to objects within an image and setting properties defining the clickable areas on the image. The image map and hyperlink information can be saved to GIF, JPEG or PNG formats. Server-side and client-side support are included.
Animated GIF: Animated GIF format is fully supported, including frame interval settings.
JPEG Preview: Before an image is exported in JPEG format, it can be previewed in the dialog box to determine the optimum level of compression.
Palette Support: Internet browser palettes for Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are included to ensure that the appropriate colors are used when creating Web graphics.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) site Access: Users can retrieve files and imges from the Web using the Scrapbook Docker window by connecting to an image or to the computer. The Scrapbook Docker can also be used to automatically monitor favorite FTP sites.

Documentation

CorelTUTOR: The improved CorelTUTOR sports a browser-like window that allows users to navigate through tutorials with ease. Many new topics are included to make it easier to get to work using CorelDRAW 8 and Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8.
Documentation and Online Help: A full-color reference manual provides conceptual and procedural information on the applications and utilities in the box. Context-sensitive help (F1), What's This? help and the fully detailed Online Help provide electronic access to reference and procedural information.
Corel Commercial Printing Guide: This reference manual provides an overview of basic and advanced color management concepts as well as information related to professional design, output and pre-press.

Web Page Editor: Symantec Visual Page

Corel Photo-Paint 8 Features

Click on a thumbnail to enlarge it. Use your browser's "BACK" button to return to this review when done.

Performance and Productivity
Speed: Additional support for Intel's MMX technology is built into the architecture of Corel Photo-Paint 8, resulting in performance enhancements to nearly all image-processing operations. Lo-res Image Editing: This feature creates a low-resolution copy or "proxy" of an original high-resolution image. Image edits are recorded and saved with the proxy. The Render command 'plays' the information associated with the proxy back onto a copy of the high-resolution file at any specified resolution up to that of the original image. Grid, Rulers and Enhanced Guidelines: The Grid and rulers make it easy to place image elements precisely. As in CorelDRAW 8, Guidelines can be multiselected, deleted or nudged using the arrow keys. Enhanced Print Engine: The Print Engine offers a streamlined user interface and includes support for Adobe Postscript 3. Command Recording and Script Editing: The Recorder Docker window and the Scripts Docker window give Corel Photo-Paint 8 the power and flexibility to record, play and edit scripts. Creating a script is simple with the Recorder Docker which automates a series of operations. Users can open scripts and play them from the Scripts Docker window or run a script by dragging and dropping it onto an image. The Undo list can also be saved as a script. Scripts help users reduce manual duplication of repetitive tasks.

Streamlined Interface Controls
Flat-Look Interface: The new "flat look" updates onscreen elements, such as buttons, with a fresh uncluttered appearance. Toolbox Refinement: The Toolbox has been reorganized, grouping Brush/Paint tools on one flyout. Object Transparency tools are separated from the Object Picker tool, which is now grouped with the Mask Mover tool. Docker Windows: As in CorelDRAW 8, new Docker windows are used for the Object Manager, Channels and Tutor dialogs to streamline workflow in the application window. The Docker window can be customized and positioned anywhere in the application area. Streamlined Menus and Dialogs: Dialogs are smaller and more consistent between CorelDRAW 8 and Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 wherever possible and many menu options that are available in both programs appear in the same location. This integration makes it easy for users to transfer learning between applications. The Effects Filters dialogs have also been streamlined, which has helped reduce the footprint of Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 by 1 MB. Document Info Dialog: This dialog contains helpful information for working with Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 images. Details on current cursor position, width/height of current mask, angle and direction of gradient fill and transparency, radius of circle and more are available. Refined Options Dialog: The Options dialog has been streamlined using a common design shared between CorelDRAW 8 and Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8. Customization: Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 offers the same customization features as CorelDRAW 8, including the new Workspace customization feature that lets users save different workspace configurations. Users can continue to use accelerator keys for Toolbox items and text properties. Property Bar: For greater ease of use, the Property Bar changes to display the most commonly used controls associated with the tool selected.

Enhanced Object Editing
New Objects Dialog: The Object Docker window allows drag-and-drop reordering of objects. Users can move "floating" masked selections with the Object Picker tool and access object properties by double clicking the object name in the list. Updated Object Picker tool cursors are included for improved ease of use.

Object Menu Options
Drop Shadow: The Perspective Drop Shadow effect has been improved, including the addition of an on screen Fade Out control. Feather, Defringe and Threshold: These object effects now preview on screen to provide users with immediate feedback.

Mask Refinements
Color Mask: The Color Mask dialog has been simplified and includes an option to adjust its size. The dialog lets users control the quality of color mask smoothing and also includes new tolerance controls. Mask Align: A preview capability is included in this streamlined dialog box to help users visualize how masks will align on the image. Users can also "mix" HSB color tolerance modes, rather than applying all of them to color mask creation simultaneously. Magic Scissors Mask Tool: This enhanced tool now displays tool radius on screen with a bounding box. Clip Mask: The clip mask lets users experiment with transparency changes before applying them to an object. It can then be used to remove the transparency changes at anytime without affecting other object features or users can make transparency changes to an object, then apply a clip mask to restore it to full opacity.

Brush Tools and Settings
New Orbits: Unique brush effects can be created by using new Orbits with the paint or image sprayer tools. This feature allows users to define the brush nib as a series of points that dynamically adjust their positions relative to each other during painting. Preset Orbits include DNA, Orbiter, Rings and more. Brush Symmetry: The new Symmetry tool option makes it easy to paint symmetrical patterns using any brush tool. Improved Tool Settings: Settings are logically grouped within the Tool Settings roll-up for greater ease of use. Improved Pressure Sensitive Pen Tablet Support: Users who employ a pressure sensitive pen and tablet will now enjoy greater flexibility and achieve more realistic results with the implementation of tilt and rotation functionality. Onscreen Nib Resizing: Users can dynamically resize a brush nib on screen without having to pause to access the Tool Settings roll-up or Property Bar.

Effects
Onscreen Effects Preview: Effects can now be previewed on screen or in the dialog box. Image Stitch: Users can open several files, then set parameters to match their edges to create the illusion that the images are "stitched" together (similar to a photo panoramic effect). New Dodge/Burn Effects Tool: This image toning tool is now available on the Effects toolbar. It lets users lighten or darken specific areas on an image, mirroring the darkroom method of selectively underexposing (lightening) or overexposing (darkening) certain image areas during the print process. Lenses: Lenses can be used to apply various effects to the area of the image directly beneath the lense. Several new Lense options are included in this release, including Add Noise, Impressionist, Psychedelic, Remove Noise, Sharpen, Soften and Solarize. Plug-ins: Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 includes full support of the Adobe plug-in standard, including support for import, export, acquire and filter plug-ins. New PhotoShop -compatible plug-in filters included in this version are Auto F/X Photo/Graphic Edges, Cytopia PhotoLab, Digimarc Digital Watermarking and Human Software Squizz!. Image Sprayer Tool: Images can be "sprayed" onto a document using a brush-like application. As with any brush style tool, users can adjust random, sequential and directional control, as well as size, transparency and dab variation. Exciting new sprayer images have been included in this release. Noise Enhancement: Moire removal is included in the Noise filter to minimize the visible patterns that sometimes appear on scanned images. Lighting Effect: The on screen size of this dialog has been minimized.

File/Document Enhancements
Customizable Workspace: Users can create custom Workspace files that include their preferred options, application window positions, keyboard shortcuts and more. These configurations display only the windows and controls most relevant to the job at hand, making it easier for users to maximize their efficiency. Image Types: Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 offers support for 16-bit grayscale and 48-bit image types. Original high bit-depth images will be preserved when opened in Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8. Both 8-bit and 24-bit images may be converted to the higher bit-depth type with the image conversion commands. Clipboard Operations: CorelDRAW 8 graphics in CMX format can be copied to the clipboard, then pasted into Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 with their shape intact. This means that irregularly shaped graphics will not be surrounded with an opaque square border when copied into Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8. The Paste Into operation automatically produces an object with a clip mask that corresponds to the current mask, rather than a special floating selection that must be "defloated" before other masking activities can be performed. Raster Image Processing Engine: The internal engine responsible for most image processing operations has been enhanced. It also includes additional support for Intel MMX technology. Copy Visible: The Copy Visible command copies all visible data from a selection, not just the data corresponding to the "active" object. The traditional Copy command duplicates the active object. Fade Last Option: This post-editing option can be used after applying an effect or using a brush or fill tool. It allows users to adjust the overall opacity of the applied effect to modify the way it blends with the image. The effect is similar to painting on a new object, then adjusting the Opacity and Merge mode controls in the Objects dialog. Duotone to Multichannel Mode Conversions: Duotone images can be converted directly to the Multichannel type, whereby the overlay color will reflect the original duotone ink colors. Image Type Conversion: The enhanced 8-bit Paletted dialog includes a new smoothing option that pre-filters the original image to create better tonal gradations in the final paletted image. Additional options include the ability to modify the dither pattern in the resulting image, and an eyedropper to select a color from the image and "weight" the color conversion toward that color during the conversion process. Backgroundless Image: Users can create a new Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 document with a transparent background so that the image shape itself represents the outer edges of the image rather than a rectangular bounding box. Corel Versions: Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 uses Corel Versions technology to allow users to manage, archive and retrieve documents. Users can create compressed/non-compressed archives containing multiple versions of a document. This program acts as a complement to Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 Backup and Checkpoint capabilities. Memory Management: Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 includes a powerful memory management system that allows users to edit larger files. Intellimouse Support: CorelDRAW 8 and Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 support Intellimouse features, allowing users to zoom and pan with the center wheel of the mouse.

Enhanced Color Support
Professional Color Management: The ColorSync 2.0-standard color management system has been licensed from Kodak to ensure accurate color representation during scanning, display and printing (using ICC profiles). As well, there is built-in support for acquiring colors using a spectrophotometer. Color Manager: The Color Profile Wizard (formerly the Color Manager) is integrated into CorelDRAW 8 and Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 in the Options dialog box. Users can select device profiles in this dialog. Palette Support: The PANTONE Hexachrome palette and browser palettes for Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are included. Pop-Up Palette: Click and hold the mouse button down in the onscreen color palette to view a grid of a neighboring color. Users can find the exact color they need with a single click. Color Harmonies: Select compatible complimentary colors using the Color Harmonies color selector, which superimposes different shapes on a color wheel. By moving the shapes around the color wheel, users can see which colors look best together. Convert to NTSC: Create professional high-quality images for television broadcast. Use the NTSC filter to restrict an images' range of colors to those acceptable for television reproduction.

Improved Connectivity
Improved Filters: The JPEG export dialog incorporates a preview and subsampling option, as well as contrast pre-filtering controls. Support for Adobe Photoshop format now includes import/export of Layer/Clip masks. File Formats: Improved GIF animation import capabilities include frame interval control, the transparent color option and conversion options for 24-bit movies. The FlashPix FPX filter is updated with a new library from Kodak, which results in improved loading and saving in this format. Adobe-compatible Import, Export and Acquire Plug-in support: Support for Adobe-compatible plug-in modules lets users extend Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8 export functionality.

The Internet
The Internet Tag WWW URL: Users can create clickable image maps for the Web by assigning hyperlinks to objects within an image and setting properties defining the clickable areas on the image. The image map and hyperlink information can be saved to GIF, JPEG or PNG formats. Server-side and client-side support are included. Animated GIF: Animated GIF format is fully supported, including frame interval settings. JPEG Preview: Before an image is exported in JPEG format, it can be previewed in the dialog box to determine the optimum level of compression. Palette Support: Internet browser palettes for Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are included to ensure that the appropriate colors are used when creating Web graphics. File Transfer Protocol (FTP) site Access: Users can retrieve files and imges from the Web using the Scrapbook Docker window by connecting to an image or to the computer. The Scrapbook Docker can also be used to automatically monitor favorite FTP sites.

Documentation
CorelTUTOR: The improved CorelTUTOR sports a browser-like window that allows users to navigate through tutorials with ease. Many new topics are included to make it easier to get to work using CorelDRAW 8 and Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8. Documentation and Online Help: A full-color reference manual provides conceptual and procedural information on the applications and utilities in the box. Context-sensitive help (F1), What's This? help and the fully detailed Online Help provide electronic access to reference and procedural information. Corel Commercial Printing Guide: This reference manual provides an overview of basic and advanced color management concepts as well as information related to professional design, output and pre-press.

Web Page Editor: Symantec Visual Page