Review PhotoStudio 2000
November 8, 2000
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Low-priced photo manipulation programs often are worth just what
they cost, but PhotoStudio 2000 is a product that throws the
price-to-quality ratio test into disarray.
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That is because despite carrying a $39.95 price tag, PhotoStudio
2000 has features substantial enough to turn photo editing into a
relatively easy task. No, it isn't
Photoshop,
but for the price it is a good buy for those who
do not need the more expensive options.
To properly examine PhotoStudio 2000, it helps to break down its
functions into three areas: photo acquisition, photo enhancement,
and photo output. In all three areas, the program maintains its
value.
Photo Acquisition
PhotoStudio 2000 does its best to work with other programs,
enabling users to import graphics in several formats, including
.bmp; .tif; .pcd; .pcx; .tga; and .jpg. It also supports
Photoshop plug-ins for importing and exporting. In addition,
users can capture photos from the desktop.
The program also works with TWAIN compliant digital cameras,
scanners, and other such image input devices. PhotoStudio 2000
allows the user to organize graphics into working photo albums.
These albums can then be opened and the graphics viewed before
importation.
Photo Enhancement
As previously stated, this isn't Photoshop, but it remains a very
versatile program. The tool palette (pictured at right) provides
the usual features, such as spray, fill, cropping, and gradient
fill.
Among the basic areas for enhancement accessible from either the
tool palette or a drop-down menu are brightness, contrast, hue,
saturation, tone, color reduction, equalization, smoothing, and
sharpening. Moreover, PhotoStudio 2000 allows the user the option
of utilizing sliders to establish their own enhancements.
The program uses filters to convert graphics to give the
appearance of fine arts, liquid effects, and tiling. In addition,
other filters provide emboss, fisheye, cone, sphere, whirlpool,
motion blur, spiral, cylinder, ribbon, and mirroring effects.
The program also offers red-eye removal, stitching, and
conversion of formats between 24-bit, 8-bit, 4-bit, and 1-bit
color and black and white.
The program's ability to add layers to photos and experiment with
different filters and settings is quite valuable.
We've all faced situations where it took several steps to get a
graphic looking the way we wanted, only to later attempt to
remember what we did in order to create another graphic with a
similar appearance. This isn't necessary with PhotoStudio 2000.
It allows the recording of macros for easy process duplication.
Another useful item is the image navigation tool, which allows
users to zoom in and work in close quarters without getting lost.
For those new to the various filters, a comprehensive online help
system can guide them through the process.
Photo Studio 2000 allows the user to place text on top of photos,
using any font on the user's computer, with the option of
adding shadows and wrap text within the confines of the graphic.
While this is an impressive array of tools, PhotoStudio 2000 goes
well beyond this with its ability to use third-party Photoshop
Plug-In filters. Just because it isn't Photoshop does not mean it
can't act like it.
Photo Output
Users can print their photos directly from the program, save them
to disk, or even send image messages from within the program with
a click of a mouse.
Further, the program enables users to put together slide shows
with more than 100 transition effects.
Photos can be exported in several formats, including .jpg and
.png for internet use, as well as .psf, .tit, .pcx, .tga, .fpx,
and .eps.
Photos that are exported with text placed on top of them look
smooth, particularly with the anti-aliased text.
Summary
This is one of the more versatile programs around in the under-
$40 price range, and that may extend up to the under-$100 range
or beyond. From its ability to handle individual images to its
batch-processing functionality, PhotoStudio 2000 is a program
rich in features.
For optimum performance, the program requires a Pentium PC or
equivalent, Windows 95, 98, 2000 or NT, 16 MB RAM and 50 MB hard
disk space
One obvious omission from its list of attributes is the ability
to import and export .gif images, but many graphic programs in
the lower-price ranges have the same deficiency because of the
costs involved to include that ability.
What is it called again? PhotoStudio 2000.
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How much does it cost? $39.95
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How big is the download? 8 MB
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Where can I get it?
http://www.arcsoft.com/mainproducts.html
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| Is it worth it? The combination of good price and versatility make it well worthwhile. |
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