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The high end of computer software image manipulation has always been occupied by a few major names. Adobe’s Photoshop, the defacto standard for professionals, remains a leader in this elite class of software. In the high stakes game of end user software, the field is literally populated with titles. Although a few names stand out, namely, Jasc’s Paint Shop Pro, the consumer offers an amazing assortment of applications. Between the many free, nearly free and often bundled imaging software packages that come with most brand name computers, picking the right title for the right job and skill level can be a real effort.
For professionals, the choices are relatively simple. Even for home enthusiasts and serious hobbyists, the choices in software are relatively clear cut. However, for those just getting their proverbial “feet wet,” finding the right software is not so simple. The choices and offerings are such that unless you are well versed in software you could purchase a package that is either too complex to use, or just not powerful enough.
In an effort to make software easier to use, many companies offer wizards, windows and displays that sometimes make the process more, rather than less, intimating. As well intentioned as these efforts are, if you are not familiar with the software ahead of time, all of these little niceties can turn into a cacophony of images, bells and useless whistles.
Although not a household name, Stoik’s Picture Man 4.2 offers the best balance of function, ease of use and wizards that simplify the tasks at hand. Rather than befuddle the end user, the help items and instructions are truly helpful. The layout, workspace and feature set in Picture Man may not break any new ground in visually stimulating software interfaces, the parts taken as a whole make for easier computing. Considering that this application is billed as professional software, I seriously doubt that dedicated Adobe Photoshop users are ever going to rush out and exchange programs. The level of detail and sophistication needed in serious image editing are still confined to applications like Photoshop 7 and CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 11. However, for occasional users, and those who do not need precise detailed sometimes overwhelming feature sets, Picture Man could be an economical logical solution to image editing within fixed price points.
What makes Picture Man 4.2 such a stand out application for beginners are the excellent wizards. Instead of long and boring documentation to plow through, the wizards show you on screen, and in real time, how to use the various tools and effects. Once a wizard is played, the viewer is shown which buttons to select, which windows to open visually. As opposed to being told what to do, the unobtrusive wizards show you where to go and what to do. The pacing is slow, but not painfully such. For novice users, this is without question the best approach. This is particularly true if you have neither the time nor the inclination to learn complex software.
What struck me about Picture Man 4.2 is that it offers a real wealth of features. Layers, support for scanners, plug-in support, special effects and paintbrush tools are all included. The deceptively simple interface hides a slew of options. Unlike some basic applications that just offer a few features, this one is actually packed with some of the more useful ones.
Although the software package on the site is billed as a “professional image processing” application, do not let that deceive you into thinking that it is a demanding application. As soon as it is installed, there are many wizards and well placed buttons to take the frustrations out of manipulating images.
Here is just a run down of the basic functions:
With regard to artistic filters, there are 37 special effects, as well as 36 text effects, included in the program. Taken together this is respectable feature set. There are also enhancement tools, advanced painting tools and the standard features most users would expect to find in a competent image editing application.
The only possible drawback for Picture Man is that is very easy to accumulate a number of open windows. The configurability of the application means that one can have any number of windows sitting wide open. This is not altogether bad, but something that new users may have to keep in mind.
This application does not have the striking visual interface of many other competitors in the field of image editing software, which is unfortunate since there is much here that works. On the positive side, Picture Man also lacks a huge price tag. When one considers the wizards, ease of use and all out configurability of the program, not to mention the features included, Picture Man 4.2 starts to look all the more attractive. For end users looking for an application that is simple to use, but not poor in features, this imaging software title starts to merit some consideration. For those wanting more features, and have the time to invest in more comprehensive offerings, Ulead’s Photoimpact 8, or even the soon to be revamped Jasc Paint Shop Pro, could be more appropriate. For those starting out, and not sure if they really want to invest that fully in learning difficult software, Picture Man could be well worth considering. A free trial download is available to discern if the application is suited to your needs without risk at the Stoik web site.
In order to obtain the special upgrade price, below are the titles one has to already own to receive the special discount.
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