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Xycod All Deals Design, Photo & Graphics Software Photo Manipulation Software

PostworkShop Pro Edition

Artistic Image Manipulation

$99

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Platforms: Windows XP, Vista, 7, Mac OS - 10.4/10.5/10.6 INTEL ONLY 32 bit and 64 bit

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PostworkShop Pro Edition, Photo Manipulation Software Screenshot

PostworkShop Pro Edition, Design, Photo & Graphics Software Screenshot

Photo Manipulation Software, PostworkShop Pro Edition Screenshot

Design, Photo & Graphics Software, PostworkShop Pro Edition Screenshot

Design, Photo & Graphics Software, Photo Manipulation Software Screenshot

Photography can be art. Both in technique and image production. But you can bring a stand-out artistic flair to any photograph using PostworkShop Pro. It has over 400 independent filters which can transform your photography into a unique and signature image, suitable for either web- or print-based applications.

Whether you have an idea to emulate the grand masters of painting, create a thoroughly modern cartoon or manga look, simply want to experiment with different colorations or textures, or want to work with the same principles as apply to conventional drawing, etching, painting, etc., but with digital freedom, the unique toolkit which is PostworkShop Pro makes any of these schemes possible. With unlimited scope and variation.

How to get started? Try using our filter Styles one at a time, for auto painting, simulated sketching, an illustrative look, and so on. Not satisfied yet? Then use the Styles in blended combinations, image layer upon image layer. Not quite what you can imagine? Then switch to our new manual brushwork tools – for simple retouching or more complex and supplementary manipulations, to add emphasis to your subject. Not sure that your input image is the best starting point? Then use our unique and brand-new browser to choose a photograph or illustration from Fotolia’s entire online stock catalog. You are the artist, PostworkShop Pro just makes it easy.

Written by Steven Johnson

The Conversation

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The Fine Print

Testimonials

Review what others have to say...
“As soon as I got PostworkShop, it became by favorite CG application. Even after two months of intense work, every time I start it, I face thousands of new possibilities. PostworkShop is always a new and fresh adventure.”- Boris Andonovski (CG artist)
“What really makes PostworkShop stand out is the way that it lets you combine filters. In particular, you can both chain and, far more usefully, layer effects and creatively combine them using blend modes and opacity. This is absolutely crucial to artistic effects in particular where you might want to, say, distort the image, reproduce it using artistic brushes, overlay an outline and combine the results with halftoned shading.”- Tom Arah, PCPro.co.uk
“PostworkShop shows a canny ability to provide almost every creative approach through what can be considered an intuitive interface. Layer styles are essential to its success and all 400+ presets (categorized and sub-categorized, including Graphic Arts, Painting and Drawing) can be applied in multiples. Up until this point, artists – especially of the Photoshop variety – will be forgiven for thinking it a pretty standard application. But there is much more under the hood to discover, especially in its 64-bit Pro edition.”- Digital Artist, Imagine Publishing, July 2011
“I am emailing you to congratulate you on a truly outstanding software product. PostworkShop is the program I’m wishing I had discovered long ago. The way it renders my landscape images is truly beautiful. This is far and away the best program of its type that I’ve worked with.”- Peter Walton (professional photographer)
“Instantly add some traditional artistic flair to your images. The PostworkShop software is all about artistic image manipulation and it doesn’t get much easier than this. If the styles on offer don’t reach your exact requirements there is a style editor where the perfect solution can be designed from scratch. Quick, simple and effective software for creating a host of artistic styles, with the option to add bespoke effects.”- Advanced Photoshop, Imagine Publishing, August 2011
“One of the major ways this program radically differs from other programs that allow the user to create various image styles is that you can combine different styles in layers and use the same type of blending and layer opacity options that you find in Photoshop. This adds a tremendous amount of flexibility. The improvements in version 2 are numerous, as are the new features and enhancements. This program is fun and easy to use with excellent results.”- Paula Sanders (professional photographer)
“As a digital artist I'm very pleased with the results I've seen in my explorations of PostworkShop, it certainly makes the grade as a primary tool for pushing my photography and other digital compositions into new and exciting directions. Three thumbs up! I'm feeling inspired :^)”- Scott Chitwood, Rampant-mac.com
“Mixing the effects is what creates the newest and most original paintings.. Definitely go for the PRO version and skip the others. You are going to want all the power this program has to give.”- Marilyn Sholin, Pixiq.com
“PostworkShop Pro is the tool you need if you want to transform regular photos into genuine works of art - even if you lack artistic talent. The application makes available an extensive set of filters which can be applied in layers over regular images.”- Softpedia.com
“What I like most about it is that it's fun. Start a new project, load in an image and hit the filters until the little man in your head says "Ooo, I quite like that!" and save it. Job done.”- Grewulf.net

Expand All Email Updates Load 5 Older Comments

David Gilmour By enabling you to assemble building block elements to design your own filters, PostworkShop Pro bridges the gap between cookie cutter, push button digital painting generators, and full blown digital painting applications like Corel Painter. I picked it up v1 here at BDJ one year ago, and I regard that as one my best finds and buys ever. PostworkShop Pro has become an indispensable part of my toolkit.

Aug 17 2011 at 5:13am Copy Link

John Stevenson hi David, Many thanks - positive feedback is always appreciated. Unfortunately we cannot sell you anything at this point - the v.2 software is a free upgrade - with lots of new features and many improvements - for v.1 licensed users. Our very newest feature is featured here: http://www.prweb.com/rele...718564.htm as of just yesterday ... We think this does give us a truly unique standing in the graphics software world, but - in the end - it is is users and applications which count the most.

Xycod - Aug 17 2011 at 6:56am Copy Link

Louis H I fully agree with David. One of the best finds and buys for me here at BDJ. If you have any need or desire for an Image manipulation program, THIS is the one to get. And you really do want the PRO version. It gives you an amazing amount of control over your workflow. I've been using it for over a year and I still have not unleashed the full power of this thing. No question that when they get around to V3, this will be a must upgrade for me.

Aug 18 2011 at 4:07am Copy Link

John Stevenson hi Louis, We do have some plans for v.3 - but, in the immediate future, there will be a set of 2.2, 2.3 etc. updates. The "Xycodians" think that our new collaboration with Fotolia is a very user-supportive aid at the front (input) end of the program, and we are also engaged in finalizing some workflow/efficiency improvements in the middle and at the output side. We have also supplemented the PostworkShop tutorial content - our Learning Center is now almost completely redone for the v.2 program: http://postworkshop.net/tutorial
Thank-you for your compliments.

Xycod - Aug 18 2011 at 6:29am Copy Link

Louis H Thank you, John, and you are welcome.

One of the things that impresses me a lot is that you all chose to make V2 a free upgrade to all licensed V1 users. And that you all do not simply release new numbers for minor bug fixes, but actually incorporate new and improved features in each upgrade.

And you offer a wealth of tutorials for helping users more fully exploit the power built into this program.

I started out with the Artist version and within a matter of days realized that I wanted the Pro version.

So again, to others reading this, if you have ANY need (or desire) for a program such as PostworkShop, then this is a deal,and THE version I highly recommend you take advantage of. At minimum, give the free trial a run and see for yourself what this program can do. I use Photoshop and more than half a dozen other programs designed to accomplish similar things, but PostworkShop Pro is the one I always go to first.

Aug 18 2011 at 10:45am Copy Link

Jerry S Add my voice to the chorus of satisfied users.

Aug 19 2011 at 12:25am Copy Link

Henrik Safegaard I am a very satisfied user too for 6 month. This software has become one of my best. :-)

Aug 19 2011 at 3:26am Copy Link

Preston Mitchell A Grand PostWorkShop Experience: Great Software When Stable!!!

I purchased PostWorkShop Pro (PWS) earlier this year as version 1.1.

After downloading v1.1, the vendor Xycod sent an email reporting version 2 was available. The new version 2 offered several new and excellent features. So, I opted to download and install version 2.

PWS Pro does a wonderful job of transforming digital photos into true digital artwork. It offers an incredible amount of different artistic styles to apply. Photoshop and other image software are weak in comparison to the power of PWS.

Unfortunately, PWS Pro ver 2.0 was prone to crashing too often. It was not a stable program.

After researching the version history of PWS, I learned that Xycod had long promised a version 2; missed countless deadlines for its release; and foisted buggy versions of v2 on its customers...and then later renamed those buggy v2s as Beta1, Beta2, & Beta3.

I complained to Xycod. Their reply was most extraordinary: "Yes, this is BETA-3 and it will go to RC when we and the users won’t find any more bugs. For people who aren’t bothered by bugs and want more features than 1.1 we recommend using 2.0 right now."

I felt like I paid Xycod to use me as a Guiena Pig!!!

I am very annoyed with Xycod's cheezy business practice of charging people to use their beta versions!

What a smart way to maintain corporate profits! Get customers to pay to be a Guiena Pig! Even Microsoft offers betas for no charge! (No, Xycod's original email announcing version 2 to me did not clearly identify the software as a beta.)

After version 2 began to crashed more frequently, I uninstalled PWS...and never looked back....which is a pity because the software does a great job of creating artistic masterpieces...WHEN the software feels like being stable!

Maybe the version 2 offered here today is finally a stable release. But I am too scared to reinstall PWS until I see a few reviews from Xycod's current Guiena Pigs.

Good luck to all PWS buyers today...and please post your experiences with PWS.

Aug 19 2011 at 11:16am Copy Link

John Stevenson hello Preston, We're genuinely disappointed with your reaction. The whole aim behind our version 2 release was to make it the best program possible while leaving it completely free of charge to our v.1 license holders. As you can see from the majority of comments recently posted here, there are users who have found the upgraded program impressive, useful and appreciate the wide range of new features. On the other side of the equation, Xycod has tried to provide professional support via its Forum, and to deal with issues in a straightforward way, (Basically, there are always ways to crash graphics programs which do intensive amounts of manipulation on a pixel-by-pixel level - generally we've found that the user can avoid almost all of them in PostworkShop by carefully optimizing their workflow. And to then produce outputs which match (or even exceed) their imagination.)

Xycod - Aug 19 2011 at 11:41am Copy Link

Preston Mitchell REQUEST to Bits Users Who Buy or Try PostWorkShop!

After my very unhappy experience with an unstable early release of PWS ver 2, I am reluctant to install it again. But since I bought PWS and like what it does, I respectfullly request all Bits folks to:

PLEASE POST your experience with using PWS Pro!

Thank you,
Preston

Aug 19 2011 at 12:04pm Copy Link

David Gilmour In response to Preston's request, I have experienced no stability issues with v 2.1 of PostworkShop Pro. I am running 64-bit version 2.1.4157 on Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1.

Aug 19 2011 at 12:14pm Copy Link

Jerry S I am running on PWS v2.1.4157 on Windows 7 Premium 64-bit without issue.

As for being a "guinea pig", that is an allegation often thrown around without basis. Software is software: software always has had and always will have bugs. What differentiates a released version from a beta is simply the number of bugs and their severity. I've worked with PWS v1 and 2 and don't consider either to have been unusually bug-ridden. In any event, if you feel you were being used as a "guinea pig, the answer is simple enough: don't use the software.

As I said, I've had no significant issues with PWS. Your experience may differ. Just for the record, I spent four days last week helping a publisher debug an application I really, truly need to have perfect for use in my work. Some of us understand the nature of software development - which is a very complex process - and some of us don't. The solution is always if you don't like it, don't use it.

I like PWS and I use it.

Jerry

Aug 19 2011 at 12:45pm Copy Link

Preston Mitchell REPLY to John -- Re: Great, but Instable, Software

You said "(Xycod) was genuinely disappointed with my reaction." Well, my reaction was based on my disappointment with PWS's instability.

I don't dispute that PWS performs its function exceedingly well (when it is stable). But rather I question the quality of its development as a batch of software code...based on my own user experience.

I agree PWS can "produce outputs which match or even exceed (an user's) imagination". I'll even say that no other software, including PhotoShop, comes close to matching PWS's ability to create artistic masterpieces from digital photos. But I disagree with your rationale for PWS's instability, implying it is merely the nature of the beast.

Aug 19 2011 at 12:49pm Copy Link

Tazzie Preston ... have you actively worked with Xycod when having trouble with PWS to resolve the problems? I see so many people assume the problem with a program is wholly with the program itself ... programs do not function in a vacuum, and there are so many variables that can affect its function and effectiveness.

I have used PWS with Win7-64 bit, with a good number of other programs installed, and have had no problems. If I did, the first place I would go to would be Xycod. Besides potentially coming to a solution to the problem, it would also be giving Xycod valuable information that could enable them to help other users with the same problem.

I do hope you have better success with v.2!

Aug 19 2011 at 1:56pm Copy Link

Louis H For the record, I have had no problems running the current version on a Win 7 Professional 64 bit machine. And also, for the record, Xycod made it clear that when V2 was released as a public "beta" that it was a "beta" that had gone through quite a bit of testing before being released as a public "beta." They were releasing it to the public, at that point, with the hopes that any issues they were not able to catch would be reported and then cleared up BEFORE releasing the new version as a full version. Personally, I had no problems with the beta release and no problems with the full release, thus I hold to my other comments highly recommending this to all looking for this type of a program.

Aug 19 2011 at 5:17pm Copy Link

Preston Mitchell Tazzie & Louis -- Thank you for confirming that current version 2.1.x is stable...which was not what I experienced when using the early version 2.

Did I attempt to work with Xycod?

Heck, my last contact was with Xycod CEO Bela Biro, who wrote: "After long months of closed beta testing, we put it on public beta to iron out the remaining bugs. This is the best way to ensure bug free operation and stability. We call it a beta, because from version to version we may introduce unwanted side effects that may ruin the efforts of un unlucky customer. And yes, there will be a BETA-3 *** for people who aren't bothered by bugs or want the missing features in 1.1, we recommend using 2.0 right now."

Good golly, 'public' Beta 3! Issued after missing their announced RC release date. Hm-m, well, I believe Beta 3 was supposed to be the RC...except they didn't quite get it right...so! I don't feel Xycod was initially forthcoming about what exactly they released as first version 2. I don't appreciate paying to be their Guiena Pig.

Well, perhaps it is all old news...and hopefully, v2.1.x enjoys "bug free operation and stability". If so, then PWS is the most extraordinary program for transforming digital photos into artistic masterpieces...and Xycod would deserve kudos for developing such a wonderful software. But I pray Xycod won't make a muddle of releasing version 3 in the future! Such was the real point of my commentary today.

Aug 19 2011 at 8:47pm Copy Link

Nico Westerdale Due to the overwhelming response Xycod has agreed to extend this deal for another day - Enjoy!

BitsDuJour Admin - Aug 20 2011 at 12:00am Copy Link

John Stevenson to all, we're very pleased to extend the offer today. Thanks again for the encouraging statements that were posted here yesterday.
for Preston, we remain committed to improving and expanding our product by all possible means. As for comparison(s): Corel's Painter (now in v.12), which does some limited auto-painting plus sophisticated manual painting, can be crashed (even in fairly simple modes of use). Adobe Photoshop CS5 (also a v.12) does include some manual painting tools which are an advance on what were originally developed 10 and 15 years ago - but the new brushes are limited in use to images of no larger than about 2000 by 2000 pixels (otherwise the application stalls). Also of note: all three beta versions of PostworkShop v.2 contained substantive new features - they were all identified in the revisions/changes list in each release. We simply elected to introduce them in a sequence, so as to keep improving step-by-step.

Xycod - Aug 20 2011 at 7:09am Copy Link

Preston Mitchell Reply to John -- Thank you AND...

On behalf of the Bits community, thank you for extending Xycod's discount offer for an extraordinary software (in spite of its rocky development history). ALSO, we all appreciate a developer who confirms his commitment to continually improving his product.

I look forward to installing v2.1.x and FINALLY using the license that I paid for months ago! (Hopefully, my license will register v2.1.x.)

In the future, I just hope that Xycod does a much better job of handling the public beta releases (or preferrably JUST one public beta). Three betas was a bit much...especially when Beta 3 was released AFTER Xycod's previously announced release date for a stable RC! I think I got trapped by that. Ver 2.0 Beta 3 still wasn't quite right. Anyway, surely you see that Xycod's handling of the beta process was not good PR!

I SUPPOSE ALL IS WELL THAT ENDS WELL in stable ver 2.1.x! So, KUDOS for developing the world's very best software for transforming digital pix into artistic masterpieces.

Aug 20 2011 at 8:49am Copy Link

Louis H Perhaps I should keep my mouth shut, but there is a saying "damning with faint praise," and that is what I hear from you, Preston. You come across, to me - others mileage may vary - as far more obsessed with winning the match, rather than truly moving on. If you need to have the final word on this, then by all means feel free to respond.

I, for one, do not "surely" see that how Xycod handled their beta process was not good PR. Betas are called Betas for a reason. You had a bad experience. It is obvious from other users, myself being one such, that their experience was not the same as yours. This does not invalidate your experience, but it does demonstrate, again - to me at least, that an individual experience should not been cast forth as the norm for all experiences with the same program and/or company.

To John (and all the folks at Xycod) : Thank you again for allowing those of us hungry for V2 to have been allowed to experiment with the Beta release during that phase of development. And while I will not seek to speak for anyone but myself, I will borrow the following words from the late, great, Douglas Adams.....(someone who was notorious for missing promised deadlines...)

"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by."

Aug 20 2011 at 2:10pm Copy Link

Tazzie @Louis .... "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." I love this!!! LOL A perfect quote for me!

I have to agree with you and .... @ Preston ... enough is enough. I know if I don't like what you say, I don't need to read your posts, but still ... let it go! You are like an obsessed bulldog that won't let the bone of contention with these "betas" go. We get it ... now let it go. Repetition gets really annoying and ruins whatever effect you hoped for with your first post.

Read my first post on this thread .... your problem with the program could be in part or wholly due to your system's configuration or other factors. I empathize with that ... it can be frustrating to try to figure out what is causing problems with software. But this ranting about betas and such is not productive.

I don't know what you hope to accomplish by such repetitive bashing of Xycod, but I'm sure that the first post was read, and they have acknowledged it. Continued harping on past issues is, again, non-productive. IMHO, Xycod is undeserving of such bashing. Many of us value good relationships with the software developers and relish the opportunity to interact with them on BDJ and work with them to improve and enhance their products. You are not contributing to this spirit of collaboration, and I, for one, do not appreciate it.

Aug 20 2011 at 2:48pm Copy Link

Steven Avery Hi,

I'm not doing the type of art manipulation discussed, maybe by the time of the next Bits. And it is still a bit steep for an impulse buy. Also there are other lighter editions.

I am impressed with the comments and will put PostworkShop on the "try" list in the future. One of the lesser editions (Artist) was in a Bits bundle in 2010, if this is true in a future bundle it is clearly a big plus to the bundle. Not the professional, though, for the real workhorses here. And there is no guarantee it will return. However for us non-professionals keep an eye out, it is clearly the bundle star. Or if Artist goes directly on Bits.

And really, Preston, it sounds to this outsider more like you had a bad hair day than a terrible software experience :) . Just kidding, friend. There are many variables on systems, and graphics is not a simple program. And Windows XP is good, but it has its issues, like stack and memory management , that can easily contribute to a particular set of problems.

You might force Nico to institute a "3 complaint rule" or something. We sympathize, but as a disinterested bystander, an overdone kvetch actually makes the company look good, as long as they are there responsively with a smile and a nod and a try.

Shalom,
Steven

Aug 20 2011 at 7:38pm Copy Link

K X The Artist Edition was on Bits in March, and during that promotion, the people most familiar with (and fond of ) the program were pleading for a sale on the Pro version.

I think this is the first time the Pro version has been on sale here, and unlike some programs which show up frequently, who knows when it will come back.

I'm just trying it out, but it seems to be very powerful and useful, whether you're using it to transform photos into or art, or in my case, more interested in using it for digital painting.

There are lots of tutorial videos and galleries n the developer's site and also a forum.

If you look at this review or round-up of various digital painting programs, PostworkShop Pro was rated second only to Corel Painter, and it's a quarter of the retail price.

http://digital-painting-s...index.html

I think that even if you use Photoshop or Painter this will be a useful tool. I haven't tried it, but it's supposed to be able to work in Plug-in mode with either of those programs, if that's your preference.

Here's a knowledgeable review which compares it to Photoshop:

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/bl...ap-filter/

I've been playing around with the Style Editor which which seems pretty unique, and fun. You can see it in the screenshot. It's described on the website as "Build your own styles easily with the node-based filter graph editor by simply dropping existing styles, connecting input and output pins to generate something truly unique."

The website says there's also a 30 Day guarantee. I'd say if anyone's on the fence, buy it today, and try it out some more.

Aug 20 2011 at 8:40pm Copy Link

Please note that all comments for this promotion will be screened before posting. It's nothing personal, just a step we have to take because of a few bad apples last time around.