Short summary Photoshop - More effects etc. complicated at start, comes with ImageReady which is complicated still but can get some nice animations.. PaintShopPro - Not as many effects as PS but has lots of different styles. Easy to use, Comes with AnimationShop, extremly easy to use, built in effects for transitions and animations. Overall, Photoshop is better but Paint Shop Pro is easy to use, better for beginers.