May 2005
Photo-editing software:
Features that count
Specific functions that make for well-rounded packages.
As a rule, the more features, the more versatile the software. But numbers alone don't tell the full story. Ease of use also matters. Some full-featured programs are easy to use, but others aren't.
Editing features
Repair damage involves the ability to easily remove scratches and dust specks.
Creative tools let you alter a photograph through blurring, sharpening, adding textures, substituting colors, and the like.
Drawing tools allow you to add lines, shapes, and text and to fill shapes with colors, blends of two colors, or patterns.
Layers let you “stack” multiple images or effects, then combine them into one original.
Adjust saturation lets you can make the colors in an image more or less vibrant overall.
Adjust compression means you can easily adjust the trade-off between image quality and file size when saving images.
Estimate file size tells you how big the image file will be when you save it.
Organizing features
Slide shows let you assemble a group of images and display them in sequence on
the computer.
CD album lets you store your files in a “photo album” you can transfer to a CD for viewing on a TV set or computer.
Web album sets up a photo album to upload to a Web site or for offline browsing.
Web upload lets you transfer your images to the software maker’s Web site, a site you’ve created, or both.
Features that count
Specific functions that make for well-rounded packages.
As a rule, the more features, the more versatile the software. But numbers alone don't tell the full story. Ease of use also matters. Some full-featured programs are easy to use, but others aren't.
Editing features
Repair damage involves the ability to easily remove scratches and dust specks.
Creative tools let you alter a photograph through blurring, sharpening, adding textures, substituting colors, and the like.
Drawing tools allow you to add lines, shapes, and text and to fill shapes with colors, blends of two colors, or patterns.
Layers let you “stack” multiple images or effects, then combine them into one original.
Adjust saturation lets you can make the colors in an image more or less vibrant overall.
Adjust compression means you can easily adjust the trade-off between image quality and file size when saving images.
Estimate file size tells you how big the image file will be when you save it.
Organizing features
Slide shows let you assemble a group of images and display them in sequence on
the computer.
CD album lets you store your files in a “photo album” you can transfer to a CD for viewing on a TV set or computer.
Web album sets up a photo album to upload to a Web site or for offline browsing.
Web upload lets you transfer your images to the software maker’s Web site, a site you’ve created, or both.
