|
 Ulead
PhotoImpact XL - Photo Editing Software
is a very good all-in-one graphics program with a wide range
of useful tools for digital photo enthusiasts, including excellent
web features. Its versatility and flexibility combined with
its price—under $100—make it a best buy.
Ulead PhotoImpact's wide range of features include powerful
vector tools, web publishing capabilities, and a versatile
range of image enhancement and correction tools. The core
of PhotoImpact is the EasyPalette. It includes hundreds of
predefined drag-and-drop effects, styles, textures, and shapes.
All of these presets can be customized and saved for future
use, and its Batch Processing feature allows you to record
a series of actions that can be played back or applied to
a series of images at once.
Ulead PhotoImpact has a number of automated functions for
correcting and enhancing images, such as adjusting color cast,
exposure and red eye. A Post-Processing wizard makes it easy
by leading you through the automated correction tools. There
are also advanced tools for more experienced users, including
tone maps, and levels and color adjustment boxes.
 PhotoImpact
has a layers palette allowing you to adjust layer transparency
and create complex collages, but it does not support enhancement
layers, as Paint Shop Pro does.
Another popular feature of PhotoImpact is Special Effects—over
80 effects filters in all, plus 3D capabilities that allow
you to apply 3D shading to text or objects with changeable
attributes such as bevel, chiseled edges, shadows, surface
texture, and multiple light sources. However, the 3D effects
can only be applied to vector graphics such as an oval, not
to raster objects such as a cutout of a photo. There are also
hundreds of presets for textures and materials such as metal
and glass, which can be customized.
One of its best elements is PhotoImpact's ability to create
sophisticated web graphics and custom HTML web pages with
pictures, buttons and banners. Its Component Designer allows
you to easily create objects such as rollover buttons, and
you can output web albums and web galleries.
The software also includes Ulead Photo Explorer 8 for image
organization and sharing, PhotoImpact Album for cataloging
images into collections of thumbnails, and GIF Animator 5
for creating motion images and effects such as snow falling.
Although not quite as easy to learn as Photoshop Elements,
check out Ulead PhotoImpact if you are looking for a good
all-around graphics program with strong editing and web capabilities.
Rating: 
Back
to Digital Photo Editing Software
|
