These tools offer bitmap-based image editing, photo enhancement, and painting capabilities. When choosing a photo editor for professional or business use, you need flexibility, stability, and an intuitive interface which provides a streamlined workflow. Automation capabilities are a big plus as well. Here are my picks for Windows image editors that best fit these requirements.
1. Adobe Photoshop
© Adobe
As the industry-standard, Photoshop skills are a necessity if you want to be employable in the graphic design field. As the most expensive choice in this category and with a learning curve to match, it's not for everyone, but the investment does pay off in increased productivity and the ultimate in flexibility.
2. Corel PaintShop Pro
© Corel
PaintShop has frequently been lauded as the affordable Photoshop alternative, but in the past I didn't feel it measured up. In recent versions, however, Paint Shop Pro has become more mature and refined. The workspace has been streamlined and updated; there are new tools and effects, productivity enhancements, and personalization options. For those looking for flexibility and ease of use at a price within reach, PaintShop makes an excellent choice.
3. Corel Painter
© Corel
As its name implies, Painter is more of an artistic tool than a photo editor. It certainly has the most sophisticated and diverse selection of natural media painting tools than any other product in this category. But it's also well equipped with photo-enhancement functions, Web graphics capabilities, automation features, and a selection of nontraditional tools. Painter is an essential digital artist's tool.
4. Serif PhotoPlus
I have not personally used Serif PhotoPlus, but it is frequently recommended by readers as a good, less-expensive alternative to Photoshop. Looking over the product features, it does seem to be very competitive with Photoshop and costs less than $100.5. Corel PHOTO-PAINT
Available as part of the CorelDRAW Graphics Suite, PHOTO-PAINT has everything you need for professional-level photo editing, with a wide array of artistic tools also. It's a bit weak in Web graphics capabilities, but when you consider what you're getting with all the products in the suite, it's a super value for anyone looking for an all-in-one-box graphics solution.Last Updated: Nov. 2011
