The latest release of Paint Shop Pro from Jasc promises astounding new functionality.

Most significant is PSP7's support for vector shapes and layers. You can endlessly rearrange and transform these lines and geometric shapes without losing detail.

Likewise, the text tool has become more drawing-tool-like, allowing you to draw text on a path, shape the text's profile and fill text with gradients or patterns.

PSP7 boasts improved photo enhancement features like red-eye removal, scratch removal, and easier color correction using the new Adjustable Histogram tool.

With new Image Mapping, Image Slicing, and Image optimization features, Jasc has taken PSP7 in the same direction as ImageReady or Fireworks, turning it into a single-application web production tool.

Overall, PSP7's new feature show real attention to the needs of graphics designer. Even core features have gotten a facelift. The Zoom tool now offers a handy Overview window that lets you see the forest even while working on the trees. The new Style Palette expands the old color palette to include much needed direct controls for outline width/color and texture gradient/pattern, among other things.

Key New Features

- Vector shapes
- Multi-level named undo/redo
- Multiple image printing
- Overview window
- Text-on-a-path. text gradients
- Adjustment layers
- Image Mapper, Slicer
- Image Optimization, Live Preview
- Zoom Overview window
- Photo-fixing tools
- Adjustable histogram

Copyright © 2006 Stephen Jones All rights reserved.