Ulead PhotoImpact 7

Positioning itself in the competition arena with Adobe Photoshop and Jasc Paint Shop Pro, PhotoImpact 7 is being billed as the "total image editing" package, rather than one that focuses primarily on digital photography.

Its case is strong because in addition to offering excellent digital photo and image editing, PhotoImpact 7 provides tools needed for great graphic design (including vector and 3D elements), Web graphics and Web page creation.

The list of new features seemingly goes on forever, but here are a few of the more impressive ones in Version 7:

• One click enhancement of photos
• Improved quality while compressing .JPG photos
• Z-Merge tool that fuses objects together for great 3D results
• Several effects including Crystal, Zoom Blur and Beautify Skin
• Onion Skin mode to make editing easier
• Image mapping and slicing tools
• JavaScript effects
• GIF Animator 5 is included
• Easier undo/redo tools

While this is only a small portion of the new features, it clearly shows that Ulead is continuing its practice of making major improvements with each version.

On the Digital Front

In this area where PhotoImpact 7 competes directly with some of the major software products, it holds its own, often by making certain processes easier than other programs.

When applying effects to graphics, the program shows a number of variations the user can visually choose, rather than simply guessing what it will look like.

Graphics can be scanned from within the program, automatically straightened, and manipulated in any number of ways by adding filters, effects, and watermarking. For those with a number of Photoshop plugins, they can be incorporated into the program also.

Like many of the features in PhotoImpact 7, they can be accessed through a gallery, which opens on the side of the screen and demonstrates what each selection can do.

One feature that many programs lack is PI7's ability to print multiple photos on one sheet using various configurations.

Graphically Speaking

This is one of the areas that PI7 steps ahead of many other similar programs. Among the many tools the program offers are paint, clone, retouch, stamp, mask, fill, eraser, transform, text, type effects, wraps, blends, path drawing, shadows, animation, lighting, and partical.

Beyond that, the program enables users to create custom filters by adjusting those included in the program.

Considering the number of options available for each of these tools, there is an endless number of possibilities presented for graphic design.

For the Web

First, consider that PI7 can serve as a WYSIWYG Web page creator, and it comes with a few templates to get neophytes started. It also allows users to open existing Web pages.

Users can also design backgrounds, components, buttons, rollovers, links, image maps, and slice images within the program. It comes with Ulead Gif Animator 5, which includes 13 banner text effects, 10 video filters, 16 video transitions and exports to .AVI, .MPG, QuickTime, and Flash animations.

The program supports style sheets, XHTML, SVG, and XHTML. It also optimizes images for use on the Web, and it allows users to save the work as an HTML file and preview it in the browser of their choice.

Users can also insert HTML text within a page, and it will remain editable. Links are also available with a number of properties for video, Shockwave, Flash, Java applets, and audio.

It is easy to look at PI7's $99.95 price tag and consider it a lightweight next to the Photoshops of the world, but for the price and the number of features it offers, it is more than a viable alternative to those wishing to save a few hundred dollars.

What is it called again? Ulead PhotoImpact 7

Where can I get it? http://www.ulead.com

How much does it cost? $99.95

How big is the download? 31 MB

Do I recommend it? No doubt about it.