Review of Ulead Photoimpact 8

© 2003 by Kurt von Behrmann. All Rights Reserved.

Full Version: Boxed $89.95, Download $79.95
Upgrade: Boxed $49.95, Download $44.95

Both downloaded and boxed versions include GIF Animator 5 and Photo Explorer 7

Box version includes 4 Alien Skin plug in filters, 1200 Hemera Photos, 300 bonus animations and $10 iMira.com photo prints.

When it comes to the professional high end of digital photo editing, the standard has been and continues to be Adobe Photoshop. Coming close with various renditions has been Corel PHOTO-PAINT, now bundled with CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 11. The choices on the high end are very clear cut. However, for those that do not need professional-grade photo editing, the choices are not so simple.

For a long time Jasc’s Paint Shop Pro was considered something of a standard for those that wanted sophisticated straightforward digital editing on the PC without the muscle of a high powered application. If Photoshop is just too overwhelming, which it can be for beginners, Jasc’s middle level offering was a nice compromise in both price and features. However, nothing in the digital divide remains the same for long. What was once the champion can easily be unseated.

I have been aware of Photoimpact, but had never really worked with the application until recently. After having worked with Photoimpact 8, I have to admit that this is one of the best full-bodied digital software programs I have ever worked with in these price points. Considering a few of the more modestly priced programs I have worked with, this one is a standout in many ways.

The big shock for newbies opening the application will be the interface. Photoimpact’s default opening mode presents three major menus. This may intimidate the uninitiated to fly-out menus and pull-outs. They do fill up the screen and take up a considerable amount of screen real estate. On the positive side, they are helpful and do offer instant access to a plethora of features. So be ready for that. In many programs, and most recently in Photoshop 7, some of these ease of use features are finding their way into higher-end applications. So Photoimpact is in some ways in the vanguard of photo editing.

Titled Easy Palette, Browse Manager and Quick Command, these three floating menus allow access to a sea of features. The Browse Manager offers access to various image galleries and templates available within the application. There are various configuration options for viewing such elements as effects, masks, brushes and other related features. It is straightforward and does not demand a great deal of concentration to figure out what is basically what here. The inclusion of such a feature removes some of the difficulty in locating specific effects and puts those important features at your finger tips.

The self-explanatory Browse Manager is just that. This menu allows you instant access to files on your hard drive. Broken into various configurations, this feature allows relatively fast browsing within the application without having to exit Photoimpact. For Windows XP users this may be a nice feature, but for those using other versions of Windows this may be a real asset. The Quick Command menu lists actions, as well as allows you to record specific tasks. Even the undo options are available from this point. To me, these features follow the example set by Photoshop and Jasc, but this time with the idea of making such features available at all times. This is a thoughtful move for those adjusting to the working environment of a full featured digital editing program.

Opening a new file may present some interesting options. Not unlike the “big boys,” Photoimpact asks you up front what type and size file you are opening, as well as if it is a web page, customized size, color type and other important document features. So be ready for that. Thankfully, Photoimpact does make the job much easier. Thoughtful layout is the real standout here so that you are not sent out into the design world without some aid.

A few of the stand out features worth looking into are outlined below.

• Print Poster - For instances when you wish to print an image larger than your printer paper. Using this option allows you to create documents that can be printed on several sheets that can be assembled into one large document.
• Java Script Slideshow – This feature allows you to design personalized slide shows for the Web without the need to master Javascript. This simplifies what could and often is a complex feature.
• Direct Burning – From within Photoimpact you can save albums of images directly to your CD. This is a new feature to Photoimpact 8.
• Open CMYK directly to RGB Directly – Instead of splitting a CMYK file into four separate images you are prompted by the program as to how to open the file directly. You can open it as four separate files or as one RGB file. This is one feature set that incorporates a rather high-end element that most targeted users of Photoimpact would not use, but professionals no doubt may.
• De-Interlace – This feature removes the horizontal lines found in video footage. Photoimpact allows you access to cameras to capture images. This feature in essence cleans up digital images.
• Direct Text Editing – This allows you to edit text directly in your images within Photoimpact. There is no spell check feature however.
• Batch Convert - This feature allows you to select several images and convert them to a specific file type. If, for example, you are saving to the Web and have images in bitmap formats, GIF, or even obscure formats, Batch Convert allows you to change them to a specific type.
• Bézier Tools – This affords Photoimpact the ability to create curves and work with paths. It is an add-on that is often missing from so many basic editing programs.
• Red Eye Removal – This is something of a standard in many digital editing applications. This removes those red glaring eyes that sometimes appear in photographs. It is a common option in many programs like this.

• Capture and Trim Videos - You can trim video from camcorders and Webcams, which is an added plus not always seen in photo imaging applications. This adds just another layer of value to the application.
• Web Pages - Photoimpact includes Web page creation. This means you can create whole Web pages, backgrounds, text, and other content without getting into HTML code. You can also incorporate scrolling text, image pop-ups and other effects using the built-in Java support. In short, you have something of a mini Web application from within Photoimpact. You can also save your creations within Photoimpact’s own file format for instant updating. With so many applications offering Web support, Photoimpact is offering some rather decent Web page creation tools. Plus, you can preview your Web creations without leaving Photoimpact via a button that links to your browser, or browsers.

In addition to the extensive feature set are such elements as 12 painting tools, 44 animated special effects, layer management, history palette, and support for Flash and Java, which are becoming more and more important for more complex Web page creation. Also, Photoimpact supports a large set of file formats. So if you are concerned about interoperability with existing formats, this program supports a wide range including JPEG 2000. And if plug-ins are your speciality, this program supports them. It also ships with Eyecandy 4000 LE. If you are not familiar with plug-ins, they are programs that operate as independent programs within an existing one. They cannot be accessed separately and often add special features to a program. Support for them makes Photoimpact just that much more compelling and offers another feature found among higher end programs. And if this were not enough, Photoimpact ships with Ulead GIF Animator, a full-featured total GIF animation package that is a stand-alone application. And of course, you can scan documents directly from your scanner into Photoimpact.

The Final Word

Feature for feature, and in particular price point wise, Photoimpact offers an extremely wide range of features as well as ease-of-use features that make it something of an all purpose digital tool. For those that are wondering what basic program to purchase for digital manipulation and Adobe Photoshop is either too expensive, or too complex, to use, Photoimpact holds up rather well. Naturally, this rather rich program does have a learning curve, but not so steep that your average user will have issues. Neither too basic for intermediate users, nor too complex for newbies, Photoimpact is well designed for its target audience and most end-user needs. Of all of the products in this class, Photoimpact 8 is a winner hands down.

Talk to Kurt in Graphics Unleashed Forums

Lexar Jump Drive and Platinum II SDHC Card · IRISNotes 2 Executive · IOGEAR Spill-Resistant Wired Keyboard and Mouse Combo · Logitech Z623 Computer Speakers · Gateway FX 6860-UR21P: An All-Purpose Desktop PC · Ridiculously Easy Backup From Rebit · The IOGear GPEN300 · A Review of the 5 inch EZReader Pocket Pro From Astak · A Review of the Barnes and Noble Color Nook · A Review of the Dell XPS 8100 · The Kobo eBook Reader, Just About Reading · The Best Ergonomic Mouse? The Smartfish ErgoMotion Laser Mouse · Sage Act 2010 · Microsoft Windows 7 · Adobe Creative Suite CS2 · Adobe Photoshop CS2 · SwissMemory Victorinox rubyRED Swiss Army Knife/Flash Drive · Tapwave Zodiac 2 · Stardock Object Desktop · Acrobat 7 Professional · Maximizer 8 · QuarkXPress 6.5 · McAfee's 2005 Product Line · Logitech io Personal Digital Pen 2 · IRIS Business Card Reader II for Windows/PC · Sandisk Cruzer Titanium Flash Drive · Microsoft Wireless Comfort Keyboard · Maxon Cinema 4D 9 · Jasc Paint Shop Pro 9 · Norton SystemWorks 2005 Premier · Verbatim Store N' Go 2.1 GB Hard Drive · Corel Painter IX · Paint Shop Photo Album 5 · Adobe Video Collection Professional 2.5 · Alien Skin Eye Candy 5: Textures · Techsmith SnagIt 7.0 · Ulead Media Studio Pro 7 · Xara Webstyle 4 · Maxon BodyPaint 3D Release 2 · Eovia Carrara Studio 3 · AV Bros. Puzzle Pro 2 · AutoFX Mystical Tint Tone and Color · Andromeda Screens, Cutline and Etchtone Plug-In Filters · Macromedia Studio MX 2004 · Microsoft FrontPage 2003 · AutoFX AutoEye 2.0 · Adobe Premiere Pro · Adobe Audition · Amapi Designer 7 · Alien Skin Splat! · Alien Skin Eye Candy 4000 · Alien Skin Image Doctor · Canvas 9 · nik Dfine · Xenofex 2 · QuarkXpress 6 · Jasc Paint Shop Pro 8 · Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Professional · Corel Painter 8 · Nik Color Efex Pro · Caligari TrueSpace 6.5 · Macromedia Contribute · Maxon Cinema 4D · Sonic Foundry Sound Forge 6.0 · nik Sharpener Pro · Jasc Paint Shop Photo Album 4 · Xara Menu Maker 1 · Curious Labs Poser 5 · Macromedia Freehand MX · Adobe Illustrator 10 · Ulead Photoimpact 8 · Xara 3D 5 · Xara X · Microsoft Publisher 2002 · Creature House Expression 3 · CorelDRAW 11 Graphics Suite · Procreate Painter 7 · QuarkXpress 5 · Adobe Pagemaker 7 · Adobe Photoshop 7

Clipart, Fonts & Other Artwork			Training	Add-ons	Textures
Bonus Content Packs Spring Unleashed V1 Summer Unleashed V1 Sports Unleashed V1 Fall Unleashed V1 Halloween Unleashed V1 Thanksgiving Unleashed V1 Winter Unleashed V1 Symbols Unleashed V1 Fruit Unleashed V1 Signs Unleashed V1	US Flags Unleashed V1 Music Unleashed V1 Icons Unleashed V1 Buttons Unleashed V1 Stick People Unleashed V1 Computer Unleashed V1 Sports Unleashed V2 Weather Unleashed V1 People Icons Unleashed V1 World Flags Unleashed V1 Clipart Unleashed	1200+ CorelDRAW Brushes Vehicle Templates for Vehicle Wraps Free Fonts 1000 Seamless Stripes Stick Figure Volume 1 Ult. Flames Mega Pack Ult. Flames Mega Pack 2 Ult. Ornaments Mega Pack 1400 Seamless Textures	CorelDRAW X6 Training DVD CorelDRAW X5 Training DVDs CorelDRAW X4 Training DVDs Click 'n Learn Tutorials CorelDRAW 0-60 Training Jeff Harrison's FUNdaMENTALs CorelDRAW Training Session On-Site Training Session Phone Consultation CorelDRAW Unleashed Magazine	Design Base Automation Tool for CorelDRAW X3-X6 ROMCat Resources Docker QR Codes Docker EZ Metrics Smart Designer CoCut Pro	Wood Metal Stone Terrain Fire & Ice Ground & Plants Floor, Wall & Bricks Fiber Tile & Path Marble Crystals

Copyright © 1995–2013 Unleashed Productions, Inc., All Rights Reserved.