A standard toolbox and a tool-specific property bar replace several of Painter 7.0's idiosyncratic palettes. Painter's new look and feel is surprisingly conventional, but it will still benefit even the most unconventional artist. Painter 8.0 offers a more-streamlined interface, which includes layers and layer masks compatible with Photoshop. A set of plug-ins comes with the install, and you can buy additional ones from third-party vendors.

The automated setup requires only that you acknowledge the licensing agreement and enter your copy's serial number.

Installation is as simple as inserting the CD into your computer's drive. You'll get an even better deal if you own any previous version of Painter Painter Classic (bundled free with Wacom tablets) or Photoshop 5.5, 6.0, or 7.0. Painter 8.0 is available at a new low list price of $299, which ought to attract a wide variety of users. With a completely revamped interface and its lowest price ever, this release of Painter is a must-have for professional artists and dabblers alike. In fact, Corel has optimized Painter to fit into workflows incorporating a range of software Painter's role is to provide specialized painting tools instead of all-around graphics functionality. To wit, Painter now plays well with Adobe Photoshop, a great boon for those who rely on that app. This year, the company folded Painter back into the main product line, but the program still focuses on pros. Last year's 7.0 was the first product released by Procreate, a new Corel division targeted specifically at professional users. Corel Painter 8.0 is for illustrators who want to create original art in oils, pastels, and watercolors without getting their hands dirty.

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