Paint Shop Pro clone for Mac

[eejits]

Hi there qwho,

I think I can help. I run Paint Shop Pro X2 on my newly purchased iMac without problems (mostly). I use Parallels to run PSP in a window as if it was running natively on my mac. Like you I have a lot of legacy files created in PSP that I need to use. I did buy a license of Windows 7 to install on a bootcamp partition but that's because of another program I use (Inventor CAD) but mainly use Parallels to run PSP. then there's no need for switching, having to shut down & start up again.

In saying that I've been trying out the Beta of SERIF's Affinity Designer. It's a great program that's taking a bit of getting used to but it does everything PSP does. Vectors, rasters, layer styles, everything I need to create my cartoon creatures: eejits ( http://www.eejits-online.co.uk ) plus it's native for the Mac. True it's more of vector program like illustrator but it can do raster editing. They'll be releasing a photo editor and a publisher program in 2015 as well.

It's pretty awesome and there's a great support community that gets great input from the development team. They're always listening to suggestions.

Hope that helps. If there are anything you need to know let me know and I'll see if I can help. I'm new to the Mac too though!!

George

 

[qwho]

Hi there qwho,

I think I can help. I run Paint Shop Pro X2 on my newly purchased iMac without problems (mostly). I use Parallels to run PSP in a window as if it was running natively on my mac. Like you I have a lot of legacy files created in PSP that I need to use. I did buy a license of Windows 7 to install on a bootcamp partition but that's because of another program I use (Inventor CAD) but mainly use Parallels to run PSP. then there's no need for switching, having to shut down & start up again.

In saying that I've been trying out the Beta of SERIF's Affinity Designer. It's a great program that's taking a bit of getting used to but it does everything PSP does. Vectors, rasters, layer styles, everything I need to create my cartoon creatures: eejits ( http://www.eejits-online.co.uk ) plus it's native for the Mac. True it's more of vector program like illustrator but it can do raster editing. They'll be releasing a photo editor and a publisher program in 2015 as well.

It's pretty awesome and there's a great support community that gets great input from the development team. They're always listening to suggestions.

Hope that helps. If there are anything you need to know let me know and I'll see if I can help. I'm new to the Mac too though!!

George

finally! a psp user with an iMac. Of course, it may not be the same since I use psp 9 and you use a much newer version....but it is a start

Lots of questions, lol. Let's see...

first I took a peek at your eejits, and I love them! I so envy you your talent! I will check out the website more.

1) why parallels and not fusion or wine bottler or crossover or a new app I want to try called WinOnX? just curious. aside from boot camp which I have no interest in, parallels is my next least favorite (which is not saying much since I have not tried any of them)

2) can you view 'tubes' and layered images on the iMac? I have tons of tubes and I make signature tags and save an unmerged copy of every one of them. was dreading thinking about converting them to photoshop (.psd)

3) what about windows fonts, can they be used in parallels? I have tons of fonts too

4) I would love to see screenshots of psp running on the iMac alongside whatever else you have open. I love the idea of being able to multi-task and go back and forth between psp and whatever else I am doing, which is why I have zero interest in boot camp.

5) does animation shop work as well? if you have/use it?

6) can I use filters/plugins?

I really only use psp as a hobby, so I mostly work with layers, filters/plugins, and that sort of thing. I have zero artistic ability, sadly. So probably no interest in SERIF's Affinity Designer at this time.

that is all my questions for now, I can't wait to hear back from you regarding any of my questions you can answer, and maybe as soon as I get my machine, we can teach each other how to survive going from pc to mac.

 

[Johnchapin]

Pixelmator

Jasc PSP 8 was a really great program.

Pixelmator is a substitute for PaintShopPro. It's inexpensive ($20, I think), native to Mac, and has all the features I used with PSP 8, plus a few more nice ones. The developers have done a great job of improving it over the years. There's now a brush warp tool I really like. One drawback is that the user interface is lame. There are huge areas that if you accidently click on, it takes you out of the app. It's easy to get back however with Cmd-Tab. Also, the tool pop-ups tend to cover up your work, and I end up moving them out of the way. The tool sliders are a bit too sensitive. The brush sizes seem to be limited to a few discrete choices. There is also a fair bit of learning curve if you're used to PSP.

Here's a good history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixelmator

A Wacom tablet seems to work well with Pixelmator.

Pixelmator doesn't seem to handle PSP files.

It's a joy for me to avoid Adobe and Corel, Adobe being extremely expensive with terrible user interfaces, and Corel famous for its not-ready-for-prime-time software.

 

[CrickettGrrrl]

Pixelmator
The brush sizes seem to be limited to a few discrete choices. There is also a fair bit of learning curve if you're used to PSP.

Hi, just a note that you can change the brush sizes in Pixelmator a few different ways. You can use the keyboard shortcuts "[" and "]" to make the brush size smaller or larger.

Also, if you double-click on a brush in the brush palette (or click on the small gear), you can open up the brush adjustment panel. There you can either enter a numeric value in the size box or use the slider.

I have been looking at Adobe alternatives also & agree with you about Pixelmator. I began using it exclusively just to see if I could get by without Ps, about 9 months or more ago. Now I look at my old Ps from time to time and just feel "meh" & haven't any desire to go back to it. Also using Manga Studio 5/Clip Studio Pro (same) both are currently on sale for $20. I paid $79 a year ago & felt it was quite a steal at that price. I also love using iDraw & Acorn.

 

[Johnchapin]

Thanks Crickettgrrl

Many thanks

 

[Kissaragi]

I have read this entire thread, it is quite old, but has had posts recently.

So...I am getting ready to buy an iMac, have used psp for years, have thousands of unmerged images in .psp format as well and countless thousands of tubes, so needless to say I NEED psp on the imac (unless I want to try mass converting everything to .psd format which I understand pixelmator will open, which I do not)

I understnad there are a wealth of options for running psp/windows on an imac. which ones work the best? I am going to try WinOnX app ($4.99) and was going to try vm fusion but not sure if I have to buy windows to use it, same with parallels, plus there is crossover and winebottler and who knows what else.

I use psp9, so I would love to hear about users of that version that run it on an imac and what program you use to do it, please!

I do not want to run bootcamp, I want it intergrated into the mac, not have to shut down the computer every time I use psp and then again to use the mac as a mac.

looking forward to replies on this topic! my biggest reason for not wanting to use a different program is the quantity of images and tubes that use the .psp format...

TIA!

You really would be better off converting them to a more open format and then buying yourself Photoshop elements. To run PSP You will have to buy a copy of Windows and Parallels or VMware which is going to add up price wise and then you have the hassle of having a windows partition and booting up windows every time you want to edit an image.

Photoshop elements is a much better application than PSP and you'll be set on any platform in the future. You can batch convert all your files from within PSP so It really shouldn't take long to do them all.

 

[qwho]

I have photoshop cs3 but I much prefer psp.

And it is not necessary with many of the vm's like fusion and parallels, to boot up windows, like boot camp requires, it runs right alongside, allowing simply switching back and forth from one window to another right in the mac environment.

 

[Kissaragi]

I have photoshop cs3 but I much prefer psp.

And it is not necessary with many of the vm's like fusion and parallels, to boot up windows, like boot camp requires, it runs right alongside, allowing simply switching back and forth from one window to another right in the mac environment.

You still have to initially boot windows in fusion or parallels so its a nice long delay in starting up PSP the first time after starting the computer. If your set on using PSP then fine but I know from experience that its a pain relying on a windows app for something like that. Elements is also very different from CS3.

Honestly it just seems pointless buying a mac at all if your not willing to switch apps in a situation like this where there are multiple fantastic native alternatives.

 

[qwho]

You still have to initially boot windows in fusion or parallels so its a nice long delay in starting up PSP the first time after starting the computer. If your set on using PSP then fine but I know from experience that its a pain relying on a windows app for something like that. Elements is also very different from CS3.

Honestly it just seems pointless buying a mac at all if your not willing to switch apps in a situation like this where there are multiple fantastic native alternatives.

well, I don't shut my computer down very often, and I don't mind waiting when I do.

I don't see how it is pointless buying a mac because I want to use one program on it with windows...and considering the number of vm's out there to choose from, it is obvious there are many people that feel the same way about having windows on their macs. Who knows, I may find I don't enjoy or have issues using psp in windows on the mac, and then I can learn pixelmator perhaps.

No harm in trying before I just give up on it.

 

[kant]

Hi there qwho,

In saying that I've been trying out the Beta of SERIF's Affinity Designer. It's a great program that's taking a bit of getting used to but it does everything PSP does. Vectors, rasters, layer styles, everything I need to create my cartoon creatures: eejits ( http://www.eejits-online.co.uk ) plus it's native for the Mac.

George

Thank you sir.

I've played with this for all of 15 minutes and loving it.

 

[LuckieDoodles]

They actually have a version in 2019 for Mac. You have to install Windows 10 is the catch. I love PSP. I could never get into Adobe but here I am debating which one to get. I guess it's time to see the free trial!

mac os psp

its largely lazyness on my part but i really resent not having paint shop pro for a mac. i cant let one programme define my choice of computer, but my use of psp had become intuitive and having an incredibly short attention span makes learning to use a new programme a mammoth chore.

heres hoping.



http://www.petitiononline.com/psp4mac/petition.html

 

[Johnchapin]

They actually have a version in 2019 for Mac. You have to install Windows 10 is the catch. I love PSP. I could never get into Adobe but here I am debating which one to get. I guess it's time to see the free trial!

I loved PSP many years ago, but took up Pixelmator on a Mac. It does have a fairly long learning curve, but still glad I did. Looking forward to Pixelmator Pro; just giving them time to get the bugs out, if there are any. Many years ago when I tried Windows on a Mac, I was very disappointed at its functionality. I would be interested to hear your more recent experience.

 

[tizeye]

They actually have a version in 2019 for Mac. You have to install Windows 10 is the catch. I love PSP. I could never get into Adobe but here I am debating which one to get. I guess it's time to see the free trial!

And where is this? Corel has a specific page identifying programs Mac versions of their programs and specifically excludes PSP of any year! Googled "Paintshop Pro on Mac OS" and the only relevant hits were crack, keygen torrents noting both PC and Mac. Thanks but no thanks.

With this threat originating in 2007 it has been an ongoing frustration for over a decade. My usage of PSP actually pre-dates JASC as Paintshop (without the Pro) was actually one of the 4 'must have' shareware programs, and one of the few successful enough to make the commercial jump as JASC acquired them. It is frustrating, and I have owned Corel versions so eligible for the upgrade. It originated about a year after Adobe introduced Photoshop mimicking it's features at about 90%. It was so strong that it essentially forced Adobe to create Elements with more features than they would have liked to so could compete at that prices point.

I have looked at Capture 1, Affinity Photo, among others too expensive to list, and all with the possible exception of On One Raw, fail miserably in features. Their "layering" is misleading as it is simply a layer mask of a single photo applying adjustments to the masked area. While On One Raw appears to be able to do this, forget about layering two or more photos and masking through parts of each. This is so basic and PSP will do it. There is a reason that when you look at tutorial for the potential alternatives they don't have one on Sky Replacement involving the original photo with the bad sky and a separate photo with decent sky - just making and manipulating the tonality of the existing sky and calling it "using layers."

Being a Corel customer for many years, a couple months ago received a survey on how to improve PSP. My reply - make a Mac version! While their forums typically kick the can down the road and suggest use on Mac as a virtual PC, I am very hesitant to do that. Yes, I have Parallels on my PC to run TC2000 (stock charting program) but would be VERY hesitant to run PSP as have no idea how would handle the dual environment. Not only where the photo files would end up - Mac formatted or the small Windows partition on the HD and subsequent accessibility, and then there is jumping between programs such as Lightroom or various plugins on the Mac side - if even recognized that were there, or do I have to have both Mac and PC versions of Lightroom, Nik, and others installed on the same machine monopolizing the typically two licensed installs. That is a nightmare.

 

[Mapanggulo]

Sorry to dig up a very old thread but it just amazes me that for more than a decade ago (when this thread was started) there still isn't a Mac iOS version of PaintShop Pro. Corel sucks at listening to people I guess. I see some work-arounds but not having a native iOS version doesn't help this very new Mac user.

This was actually the thread that made me sign-up for this forum, so thank you for all that posted here. I'm off to look at suggested apps to use on this confusing MacBook Pro and see if I can find something that will allow me to edit/tweak my pictures pulled off my DSLR, hopefully fast, easy and stress-free...like PSP. .

Cheers!

 

[tizeye]

Sorry to dig up a very old thread but it just amazes me that for more than a decade ago (when this thread was started) there still isn't a Mac iOS version of PaintShop Pro. Corel sucks at listening to people I guess. I see some work-arounds but not having a native iOS version doesn't help this very new Mac user.

This was actually the thread that made me sign-up for this forum, so thank you for all that posted here. I'm off to look at suggested apps to use on this confusing MacBook Pro and see if I can find something that will allow me to edit/tweak my pictures pulled off my DSLR, hopefully fast, easy and stress-free...like PSP. .

Cheers!

In reply to another thread, looked at the Corel site yesterday. Looks like they went the other way and will never see a Mac version. I don't know when they acquired it, but in their list of other brands, they apparently now own Parallels. 😲

 

[Mapanggulo]

In reply to another thread, looked at the Corel site yesterday. Looks like they went the other way and will never see a Mac version. I don't know when they acquired it, but in their list of other brands, they apparently now own Parallels. 😲

Heck I had to google Parallels because I'm that new (and clueless) about Mac's...lol. Looks like Corel acquired it back in December 2018.

I just installed Pixelmator Pro trial version to try it out. I'm trying to give an honest trial without going back to my slowly dying PC and PSP.

Tizeye, did you ever find something that you liked using that was even remote close to PSP ?

 

[ChrisA]

... and see if I can find something that will allow me to edit/tweak my pictures pulled off my DSLR, hopefully fast, easy and stress-free...like PSP. .

Cheers!

What? You use "paintshop" to edit DSLR images? There are dozens of better apps for that. I doubt PSP would make anyone's list of good image editig apps for DSLR images.

 

[Mapanggulo]

What? You use "paintshop" to edit DSLR images? There are dozens of better apps for that. I doubt PSP would make anyone's list of good image editig apps for DSLR images.

Yes I actually do. It edits fast and is very user friendly. I tend to be a minimalist when editing pictures anyway...preferring to take a great photo with the camera that doesn't need much editing.

 

[wonderings]

Windows in a VM on a Mac works amazingly well. You will want to have more than 8 gigs of RAM though as you need to dedicate RAM to the VM which takes away from MacOS while running the VM. You can then run the native Windows app in a mode called "coherence" in parallels which basically gets rid of the Windows 10 screen and has all the apps running and floating like they were native Mac Apps.

Sorry to dig up a very old thread but it just amazes me that for more than a decade ago (when this thread was started) there still isn't a Mac iOS version of PaintShop Pro. Corel sucks at listening to people I guess. I see some work-arounds but not having a native iOS version doesn't help this very new Mac user.

Not sure Corel not seeing a market for something not he Mac is them sucking at listening to people. They are a business in it to make money, if they see no value or profit to warrant Mac development and support then that is not them sucking at listening, it is them good at not burning cash for something that will not bring in enough to cover all that is needed to bring the software to MacOS.

 

[Herbert123]

Heck I had to google Parallels because I'm that new (and clueless) about Mac's...lol. Looks like Corel acquired it back in December 2018.

I just installed Pixelmator Pro trial version to try it out. I'm trying to give an honest trial without going back to my slowly dying PC and PSP.

Tizeye, did you ever find something that you liked using that was even remote close to PSP ?

Both PhotoLine and Affinity are excellent replacements for PSP. PSP can't hold a candle to either one in terms of functionality.

I prefer PhotoLine over Affinity Photo, though: editing RAW photo files is non-destructive, and PhotoLine is more capable for image editing compared to Affinity Photo. Both have free trials available for testing.

Pixelmator is too limited in my opinion.

 

[Mapanggulo]

Windows in a VM on a Mac works amazingly well. You will want to have more than 8 gigs of RAM though as you need to dedicate RAM to the VM which takes away from MacOS while running the VM. You can then run the native Windows app in a mode called "coherence" in parallels which basically gets rid of the Windows 10 screen and has all the apps running and floating like they were native Mac Apps.

Not sure Corel not seeing a market for something not he Mac is them sucking at listening to people. They are a business in it to make money, if they see no value or profit to warrant Mac development and support then that is not them sucking at listening, it is them good at not burning cash for something that will not bring in enough to cover all that is needed to bring the software to MacOS.

Running a VM is beyond my knowledge base & patience currently...I'm still figuring out how to run my Mac. The experience I'm having is kinda like what I suspect it would be to live in a foreign land where you didn't speak the language and not many people speak yours (kinda like the first time I actually did do that and moved abroad). Maybe in a month or two when I'm more comfortable.

As far as Corel sucking or not...we will have to agree to disagree there.

 

[Mapanggulo]

Both PhotoLine and Affinity are excellent replacements for PSP. PSP can't hold a candle to either one in terms of functionality.

I prefer PhotoLine over Affinity Photo, though: editing RAW photo files is non-destructive, and PhotoLine is more capable for image editing compared to Affinity Photo. Both have free trials available for testing.

Pixelmator is too limited in my opinion.

Affinity so far is good...though learning how it is and still learning where everything is on a Mac is slowing me down enough that I'll probably spend time on my Windows PC this week if I have more pictures to edit.

I might check out Photoline too, thanks!

I do miss the magic wand in PSP a lot

 

[opeter]

This gentleman is doing some tutorials on using Photoline:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFN9-8ILDqgWhsK01DBB3Ng

 

[wonderings]

Running a VM is beyond my knowledge base & patience currently...I'm still figuring out how to run my Mac. The experience I'm having is kinda like what I suspect it would be to live in a foreign land where you didn't speak the language and not many people speak yours (kinda like the first time I actually did do that and moved abroad). Maybe in a month or two when I'm more comfortable.

As far as Corel sucking or not...we will have to agree to disagree there.

I will say installing a VM is made super simple with Parallels

Application and Desktop Delivery | Parallels RAS

Download Parallels to run Windows on Mac, Chrome, gain access to virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) with DaaS, & Toolbox to secure private files, & more.

www.parallels.com

This screen shot gives you the basic idea of what a VM looks like. You will see my Mac desktop and inside of that I have Windows running in a VM. There is a mode you turn on that has your apps running in a VM but you don't see Windows, you can save those apps to your dock and load them just like you would a Mac app. Even installing Windows is super easy, Parallels basically handles all of that. It is something to explore for sure if you can't find a Mac app that works how you want it to.

Image 1 shows Windows running on a Mac, you can use Windows this way and even make it full screen so your whole Mac has Windows running full screen.

Image 2 shows Windows running in coherence mode so the same app you saw in Image 1 is running along side the Mac and looks basically like a native Mac app

 

[danallen]

Bring out the GIMP....

When I first came over the the "Dark Side" with Apple all that time ago, I have to admit I missed my Paint Shop Pro.

Try http://www.gimp.org/ it's pretty good software, GIMP is no Adobe PhotoShop killer but it is good for photos and basic web stuff, plus it's free which is always a bonus. (Make sure you install X11, you'll need it for running GIMP)

And there's always Adobe Elements which is always a good alternative.

Who cares this comment is older than half the IT professionals today, there is nothing like paint shop pro for rapid creation of pictures speaking the thousand words I need to say in the course of ordinary office work.



TDLR;
I am back on Windows for my job after ten years much needed isolation away from Microsoft. It still is as evil as it ever was, and more undeniably evil. I mean, when your software is masterminded in major ways by .... someone who ma not be spoken about freely because of the money paid to control people who censor speech in the United States... that is going to fit with said software being evil.

Part of evil is it sux.

There is plenty good to say about M$oftware but one of the only good thing I am will ing to say is PaintShopPro fills a unique niche that no other software had matched. Simple easy graphic edits. Boom badda bing.

Double TDLR;
Now that I am back in Windows, I have been spazzing myself with MS Paint, trying to make it do what I remember doing with it before, until a moment ago, when I remembered, "No! It was not PAINT! It was PaintShop Pro!" Took only a second to find it, and then, another second to discover that I won't be installing it on my awesome Windows computer, because, well, I won't be installing any software on this computer, because all our company computers are locked... for good reason. So, I will be respectfully requesting PaintShopPro be installed on my computer that is all I can do.

Since I kept my complaints about Microsoft to a minimum, I want to thank MacForums for bucking the tide of closing threads. Why close threads?