XnView Software

A retouch tool, as you get in iPhoto and other programmes, would be very useful for removing blemishes and spots in the image - I am surprised that there isn't one, in what is otherwise excellent software.

Indeed, a retouch tool would be very useful. Two additional comments in this context:

1) Just an option of working with non-rectangular selections (circle / ellipse) and allowing to copy and paste such selections would be a nice improvement towards this functionality. Possibility of configurable blurring of edges with a defined width while pasting would be a next step. Obviously, an even more advanced functionality would be welcome as well, but these two things would already help tremendously for simple retouching tasks.

2) I was surprised that I couldn't find the copy&paste functionality (even the standard rectangular one) within the Paint tool. Is there a reason why one has to close the Paint window for accessing this functionality?

I agree, the Draw dialogue needs a few more basic tools to help us out with images that have mistakes or things showing that shouldn't, such as car no. plate, someone's face, some accidental nudity

1. clone tool - to copy native colour/texture from the image to another spot.
2. blur tool - draw a shape and have the area blur out, or draw freehand
3. pencil - to draw freehand solid lines
4. brush - to draw with texture
5. copy/paste selection area

But so far, the Draw tool is a big improvement to xnview I see!