Picture Yourself Learning Corel Paint Shop Pro X2

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 396 pages
• Published by: Course Technology PTR
• Edition: 1st Edition February 7, 2008
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 1598634259
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1598634259
• Book Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 1.2 inches
• Weighs: 2.3 pounds

Product Description
Harness the power of Paint Shop Pro Photo and discover all the fun and practical techniques you can use to perfect your photographs and create dynamic graphic elements. "Picture Yourself Learning Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2" introduces you to the tools you need to correct and enhance photographs, beginning with the basics of working with toolbars, palettes, and rulers, and setting up your Paint Shop Pro Photo preferences. Once you are acquainted with the basic tools, you’ll learn how to use layers to make brightness, hue, and color contrast adjustments; how resolution applies to your monitor, your images, and your prints; and how to use the various file and output functions. In addition to numerous retouching and repairing techniques, you’ll discover how to use special effects to turn your photographs into works of art and create digital scrapbook pages and 3D images. In addition to the step-by-step instructions, tips, and notes, you’ll find a glossary to help you define terms that are new to you, as well as appendixes featuring Paint Shop Pro Photo keyboard shortcuts and useful additional resources. Get ready to create gorgeous scrapbook pages, panoramas, framed photographs, and more with "Picture Yourself Learning Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2."

About The Author
Diane Koers owns and operates All Business Service, a software training and consulting business formed in 1988 that services the central Indiana area. Her area of expertise has long been in the word-processing, spreadsheet and graphics area of computing as well as providing training and support for Peachtree Accounting Software. Diane's authoring experience includes twenty other books on topics such as PC Security, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Works, WordPerfect, Paint Shop Pro, Lotus SmartSuite, Quicken, Microsoft Money and Peachtree Accounting, many of which have been translated into other languages such as Dutch, Bulgarian and Spanish. She has also developed and written numerous training manuals for her clients. Diane resides in Indianapolis, IN.

Reader Reviews
How many times have you thought you took the perfect picture only to discover that there were flaws in the photo I recently tried out Corel's Paint Shop Pro X2 software which retails for $ 99.99. One disclaimer, I have used the various earlier Paint Shop versions in the past. This software is economical to purchase and fairly easy to use. The learning curve is too not difficult to grasp. The included Photo X2 printed manual provided is complete, but has no illustrations. Photo editing is very color intensive and in some ways your finished photo is artwork. Fortunately, I had assistance learning Paint Shop Pro X2. Two excellent books are Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 by Ken McMahon published by Focal Press and Picture Yourself Learning Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 by Diane Koers published by Cengage Learning. These both retail for $29.99 each. Ken McMahon's book is very complete and a great tool for a beginner to intermediate photo edit. Ken's book has numerous graphics and is an easy read and lays out different options a photo editor can implement. Diane Koers book's is 392 Pages and written as a text book for a classroom, it is for more intensive learning and it comes with a sample CD. Both books bring added information to the Pro X2 software and a different point of view on how to use it. There are multiple things you can do to enhance your photo with Photo X2. The number one reason is a one step photo fixer which is like taking your photo to a lab. I was somewhat skeptical of this until I used the photo fixer. I tried this option on a group photo, where the lighting was all wrong. There were dark areas and areas with too much ambient light. I clicked on one step photo fixer and corrected the lighting of the photo and the result was spectacular. The other problem I had was the group of people were in a semi-circle in the photo not in a straight line. I used a tool called a perspective tool and adjusted the group to a straight line. I now had the perfect photo with a lot of help from Paint Shop Pro Photo X2. The hardest concept to understand with Photo X2 photo software is the use of layers. The first layer is the background and then additional layers are placed on top of the first. The photo editor has the option to change layers around and make them more transparent or opaque. A good visualization of this is a group of transparent plastic sheets with designs on them. They layers are all stacked on top of one another for a finished photo. A use of this if you want to add text to a photo, another person to the photo or item. The photo editor will allow you move the layers around much like shuffling a deck of cards. For a Cub Scout function, I needed to print out some special photos. I didn't have a matt for the photos but X2 has a photo frame option which became my matt. The next step I used was adding the names of the Scouts in color. The finished photo was a big hit with the parents and the Scouts. Parents complimented me and asked me how I was able to make the photo. My last project was one of field expediency. I needed wrapping paper for my wife's Valentine Day gift. I opened X2 and selected a red background for the paper. I typed in Happy Valentines in different font sizes and type faces. I used the picture tube options for added effect. . There are different designs of tubes. I used the flower tube and laid down different flowers on the paper and printed it out. By the way, my wife liked the paper and thought I bought it at the store. There are more things that X2 can do like coloring black and white photos, removing red eye, scratches in photographs, 3D effects, and painting your own photograph than I have space to write about. If you are the market for fairly reasonable and easy to use photo software Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 is well worth the investment. To get the most out the software I would recommend Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 by Ken McMahon and Picture Yourself Learning Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 by Diane Koers. MAJ (ret) Eric Shuler NJARNG