Release includes new bells and whistles, targeting both novice and advanced users of graphics software

A graphics software targeted to both novice and advanced users was recently updated in honour of its 10th anniversary.

Jasc Software's Paint Shop Pro (PSP) Anniversary edition includes a new product tour, hands-on tutorials and other features which appeal to both new and prior users, said Bonnie Hollenhorst, product manager for the Eden Prairie,. Minn.-based software developer.

Hollenhorst said PSP targets five user groups. The first group, which consists of novice photo enthusiasts or hobbyists, may be new to digital photography and usually has basic imaging needs.

The product tour allows novices to explore how to tackle common projects, said Kris Tufto, CEO of Jasc. "It actually shows you the mouse movements and keystrokes that you have to go through; it tells you what each option is all about. That's part of growing with the product."

Media Center Plus 3.1, a tool for organizing photos into albums of thumbnail images that reside in multiple folders, is also included in the software.

The second target group is made up of more serious hobbyists or commercial photographers who are interested in scanning capabilities or advanced colour adjustment tools, rather than automatic filters. The third group of users is what Hollenhorst called "creative graphic doodlers," or those that creating graphics for business purposes. These customers can play with the Picture Tube library of clip art or draw their own using the Vector Shapes utility to make their flyers, brochures or greeting cards, she said.

Commercial or personal Web graphics designers make up the fourth group -- they will likely gravitate toward Animation Shop 3.04, a Web animation and presentation graphics tool. Other capabilities include optimizing graphics, splicing images, embedding URLs and creating colour palettes. Technical writers are the final group; PSP "allows them to embed screen captures or images into documentation, helping make documentation more user-friendly," said Hollenhorst.

Myron Bonk, district manager of Mississauga, Ont-based reseller Software Spectrum Canada, said he expects PSP sales to increase, particularly among financial and telecommunications customers. "Those two market segments gravitate toward Paint Shop Pro because of the large marketing departments they have in their companies." The software will probably also continue to sell well in the educational market, he added.

Hollenhorst estimated that 20 million users have downloaded or registered for the program -- and she added that the firm expects more novices to come on board, although the product's functionality keeps growing. Tufto added that the ability to download the software for a 30 to 60 day trial has been the secret behind PSP's user adoption, likening it to test-driving a car.

Since the founding of the firm in 1991 by Robert Voit, a former commercial airline pilot educated in computer sciences, Jasc has received feedback from its users about what they'd like to see in terms of future PSP upgrades, according to Tufto.

"It's not really any mind-melding we're doing back in Minnesota. We get fantastic input from our users. So it's through the outcome of all that user interaction that Paint Shop Pro ends up being what it is. It's not a very tough concept to understand but maybe tough to implement for some businesses."

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