Photo Editing

Ratings and Reviews of Photo Editing Software

Photo Editing Software

Once you've taken the dazzling photos with your digital camera (see our digital camera review Digital Still Cameras)

you'll need software to edit, optimize, color, animate and, in general, ready them for web, publication or print use. The answer of course, is Photo Editing and Design software. Photo Editing and Design software can be simple or complex, basic or highly functional. It's important to choose the package that meets your needs - from the first - so you don't end up purchasing too much or too little, and wasting your time and the business' money.

So, what should you think about when you're purchasing Photo Editing and Design software?

Your System: Photo Editing and Design software is taxing on your system. Make sure that your PC more than meets the minimum manufacturer's system requirements. If your system can't keep up, you'll be unhappy - and waste valuable time (and your money upgrading after you've experienced a good deal of frustration). Critical system components in the "photo" world are: memory (lots of it!), graphics card (a good one), monitor (flat panel best, big is good in any configuration), the printer (a photo or even a color laser), the CPU (faster is better) and your hard drive (big is better here too!).
You: Know how much time you are willing to dedicate to learning and using the capabilities the software provides. If you aren't willing to spend the time, don't buy the most powerful, complex package!
Compatibility: Camera, printer, file formats - everything needs to work "neatly" together. Check your camera printer and the software to make sure your photo "system" is in "synch".
Ease of Use/Training: Is the software easy to use? If the software requires time to understand and use professionally, does the manufacturer provide training (included on the software CD, Web based or partner-based)?
Support: The more complex the software, the more important it is for the manufacturer to stand behind it and help you if you run into trouble. Make sure that the software manufacturer has a robust customer support site and process before you buy!
Features and Functions: If you need it now, make sure it's there. If you think you might need it later, make sure it will BE there if it already isn't!

Web Home Office Reports
Upgrade Costs: Once you've invested in software, you'll have to keep investing in the upgrades. Make sure you look into the costs of upgrades (historically) for your software, or if it's brand new product, the track record of the company producing the software.
Bundles: Home Office Reports continues its strong advocacy of purchasing "sets" of software to meet specific needs in the graphics "world". Web publishing, document production, end-to-end graphics, photo editing and animation. One of the best ways to ensure compatibility (and save some money on the "bundled" price) is to choose software from a single, reputable vendor.

Ready to choose your photo editing software? Let's get going!

Some vendors offer more than one package in this category. We'll review them in table format within that vendor's detailed review.

Photo Editing Software Review

Photo Editing and Design Software*

(Rankings - best, 5 symbols, worst, 1 symbol)

Company	Best For*	Simple Start-Up	Cost	Time Savings	Ease of Use	Works With	Support	Features	Overall Rating
Adobe	ARP	¹¹¹1/2	$$$1/2	¹¹¹¹	@@@1/2	YYYY	pppp	iiii1/2	%%%%1/2
Allume	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	ppp	iii1/2	%%%1/2
American Systems	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	ppp1/2	iii	%%%1/2
Apple	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	pppp	iiii1/2	%%%%1/2
ArcSoft	AR	¹¹¹¹	$$$1/2	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY1/2	ppp	iii1/2+	%%% 1/2+
Ashampoo	AR	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	ppp	iii1/2	%%% 1/2+
Broderbund	AR	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	pp1/2	iii1/2+	%%%1/2+
Corel	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY1/2	pppp	iiii	%%%%
Devon Technologies	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	ppp1/2	iii+	%%%+
Extensis	RP	¹¹¹	$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@1/2	YYYY	pppp	iiii	%%%1/2
Ezonics	AR	¹¹¹¹	$$$1/2	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	ppp	iii	%%%+
Greenstreet Software	AR	¹¹¹¹	$$$1/2	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	ppp	iii	%%%
IMSI	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	pppp	iii1/2	%%%1/2+
LaserSoft	RP	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	ppp1/2	iii1/2	%%%1/2
Magix	AR	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY+	pppp	iiii	%%%%
Microsoft	AR	¹¹¹¹	$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	pppp1/2	iii1/2+	%%%%
Nero	AR	¹¹¹¹	$$$$1/2	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	ppp	iii1/2	%%%%
NewSoft	AR	¹¹¹¹	$$$$1/2	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	ppp	iii1/2	%%%%
Roxio	AR	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	pppp	iii	%%%1/2
Serif	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	ppp+	iii1/2+	%%%1/2+
SureThing	AR	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	pppp	iii1/2	%%%1/2+
ULEAD	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY1/2	ppp	iii1/2	%%%1/2
Upperspace	AR	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	ppp	ii1/2	%%%+
VCOM	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$1/2	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	ppp	iii	%%%

* A = Amateur, R = Rookie, P = Pro

Adobe

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹1/2

Adobe offers three software solutions for digital photo editing and design. Photoshop Album and Photoshop Elements are designed to meet the needs of the "less than experienced" business owner seeking to perform basic photo capture, editing and printing tasks. Photoshop is the "high end" application, and like Adobe Illustrator is the "gold standard" for photo editing software in the industry. So, simple to complex - Adobe has it covered.

Cost - $$$1/2

Pricing for Adobe products is detailed in the table below. Adobe also offers three software bundles that include their photo editing software:

Photoshop Elements 5.0 + Premiere Elements 3.0 - just what it says - $149.99, $119.99 for the upgrade.
Creative Suite 2 Premium - includes Photoshop CS2, Illustrator, InDesign, GoLive, Acrobat Professional, Version Cue, Bridge, Stock Photos and DreamWeaver for $1,199.00, $159.00 for the upgrade.
Creative Suite 2 Standard - includes Photoshop CS2, Illustrator, InDesign, Version Cue, Bridge and Stock Photos for $899.00, $349.00 for the upgrade.

Software	Price	O/S Supported	Overview	Features	Compatibility
Photoshop Elements 4.0 for Macintosh	$79.99, upgrade $59.99	Macintosh OS 9.1, 9.2.X, OX X v10.1.3 through 10.1.5	Digital Imaging Program	File browser to quickly preview, open and organize photos, includes EXIF data Recipes - users can explore and master advanced creative editing techniques Fix photographic flaws - color and exposure adjustments, straighten and crop photos, fix red eyes Photomerge assembles panoramas from multiple photos Picture package printing Digital Video Frame acquisition Brushes that simulate oils, watercolors, charcoal, pastels and canvas textures Filters and layer styles - apply frames edges, drop shadows Create photo collages, mask areas of an image for cutting, copying and collaging Vector shape library included PDF and web slide show creation Attach to email Brush away flaws RAW and 16-bit support Archive photos View full color range Instantly fix common flaws Custom slide shows Retouch specific areas of a photo Automatic red-eye removal Adjust skin tones Isolate objects from backgrounds Tag photos with faces Order prints online from Kodak View photos from TV using network or VCD Access photos using folder view Quick-launching Editor mode	EXIF, JPEG, PDF, MPEG, AVI, WMV, QuickTime
Photoshop Elements 5.0	$99.99, upgrade $79.99	Windows XP	Digital Imaging Program	File browser to quickly preview, open and organize photos, includes EXIF data Recipes - users can explore and master advanced creative editing techniques Fix photographic flaws - color and exposure adjustments, straighten and crop photos, fix red eyes Photomerge assembles panoramas from multiple photos Picture package printing Digital Video Frame acquisition Brushes that simulate oils, watercolors, charcoal, pastels and canvas textures Filters and layer styles - apply frames edges, drop shadows Create photo collages, mask areas of an image for cutting, copying and collaging Vector shape library included PDF and web slide show creation Attach to email Brush away flaws RAW and 16-bit support Archive photos View full color range Instantly fix common flaws Custom slide shows Retouch specific areas of a photo Automatic red-eye removal Adjust skin tones Isolate objects from backgrounds Tag photos with faces Order prints online from Kodak View photos from TV using network or VCD Access photos using folder view Quick-launching Editor mode Animate photos Map photos to locations Fine tune color, brightness, exposure, black and white conversions, correct camera lens distortions, sharpen blurred images Built-in photo services RAW file support Create flipbooks Backup photos online View photos on TV Share photos on mobile phones and handhelds	EXIF, JPEG, PDF, MPEG, AVI, WMV, QuickTime
Photoshop CS 2	$649.00 $169.00 upgrade	Windows 2000, XP Macintosh OS X 10.2-10.3	Digital Imaging Program	File browser - inspect images before opening them in Photoshop, includes date modified, dimensions and EXIF data from the camera, flags keywords, editable metadata Batch automation actions - create PDF presentations, picture packages, web photo galleries Keyboard shortcut customization Layers - work on an element without disturbing others Color correction and matching Direct manipulation of raw data from professional cameras 16-bit editing Live histograms Crop and straighten Image and auto color adjustments, correct exposure problems Healing brush removes dust, scratches and other flaws Precision masking - apply color changes, lens blur, filters and other effects Panorama making Clipping paths Sharpening controls Edge smoothing Contact sheet generation Web photo display Painting tools Drawing tools Layer effects - shadows, glows, bevels, embossed effects Color effects Filters - 95 special effect filters Pattern maker Transformation tools - scale, rotate, distort, or skew images 3D transform filter simulates 3D effects such as jar labels and boxes Liquify - interactively push, pull, pucker or bloat an image GIF animations Editable text - place on path and in a shape Annotation tools Adobe Bridge File Browser Multitasking Batch processing Rating and labeling Search 32-bit High Dynamic Range Support Shadow/Highlight correction Vanishing point Image warp Spot healing brush One-click red-eye correction Optical lens correction Noise reduction 95 special effects filters Web animations Event-based scripts WYSIWYG font menu Multiple image editing	GIF, PDF, HTML, XHTML Adobe Illustrator CS, InDesign CS, GoLive CS, Macromedia Flash

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹

One of the Adobe photo editing and design tools is probably "right" for your business purposes. All of them will help you to quick and easily (if you're a "pro" using Photoshop as well!) make your photos "ready" for their print or online purpose.

Ease of Use - @@@1/2

Adobe's Album and Photoshop Elements packages are straightforward and simple to use and install. Photoshop is a professional tool and you'll have to spend some time with it "getting acquainted" before you'll be a "power" user.

Works With - YYYY

Album is a Windows only application. Photoshop Elements and Photoshop CS2 both operate in both Windows and Macintosh environments

Support - pppp

The Adobe support site is comprehensive and well designed. Adobe offers a multitude of training classes to help you get started and improve your utilization of their software. Additionally, Adobe provides a forum for users and experts to discuss problems, solutions and even interesting new ways to use the software to solve business problems. If you need more help, Adobe offers phone support plans - $39.00 per incident or $159.00 for unlimited support for one year.

Features - iiii1/2

Photoshop remains the "gold standard" for photo editing and design in the industry. Almost every manufacturer touts its "Photoshop" interoperability or compatibility. That says something. Photoshop neatly integrates a number of tools built initially for Illustrator and it works seamlessly with other Adobe offerings like Illustrator, InDesign CS, GoLive CS, Atmosphere and Acrobat.

Overall Rating - %%%%1/2

Adobe has met the needs of users requiring both basic and "high end" photo design, editing and management. Photoshop continues to be one of the best applications on the market for photo editing and design and is used consistently by many graphics professionals. Choose the right Adobe package for your specific needs and you'll find the software easy to implement, reliable and highly functional. A good investment!

Allume (recently acquired by Smith Micro)

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

Allume's photo organization, morphing and editing software is simple to install and set up for use.

Cost - $$$$

Pricing for Allume's software is detailed in the table below.

Software	Price	O/S Supported	Overview	Features	Compatibility
Personal Image Manager	$29.99	Windows 98SE, ME, NT, 2000, XP	Photo Editing Software	Red-eye reduction, color adjustments, enhancing, cropping Add borders, text, virtual layer for editing, removal and printing Acquire photos from camera Add clipart, keywords, categories, dates and names Batch processing Search by keyword, category, captions Email images Create slide shows, add music, create video CDs Archive and store images	BMP, GIF, JPG, PNG, PCT, TIF, PST
Personal Photo Manager Deluxe	$39.99	Windows 98SE, ME, NT, 2000, XP	Photo Editing Software	Red-eye reduction, color adjustments, enhancing, cropping Add borders, text, virtual layer for editing, removal and printing Acquire photos from camera Add clipart, keywords, categories, dates and names Batch processing Search by keyword, category, captions Email images Create slide shows, add music, create video CDs Archive and store images Create calendars, greeting cards, photo albums	BMP, GIF, JPG, PNG, PCT, TIF, PST
Morpheus Photo Animation Suite

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