PhotoImpact Pro 8.5

Rating:
Summary: Color Me Stupid--But Impressed
Review: After reading what other reviewers said about this product, I couldn't wait to get it. Well, it didn't take long after installation for me to realize what a total idiot I am. There's a whole lot of great effects that are fun to work with, but the basic editing tools seem unbelievably complex to me. It comes with a nice thick manual which is also as clear as mud to me. A good basic glossary would be helpful. I have been humbled, and will return to my simple Picture It and Adobe Photo Deluxe where I can crop a picture and adjust the tint without feeling helpless. I am sure this is a wonderful program, and will probably use it more when I have several free weeks to devote to clicking and dragging.

Several weeks after writing this review, I feel compelled to edit it to note that in response to my initial review, I was personally called by a Nova Development representative to offer technical assistance. I still haven't mastered the program, but am very impressed with this kind of customer service, enough to upgrade by rating by a star.

Rating:
Summary: Teaching a teacher is always difficult!
Review: After working with PhotoImpact Pro 8.5 for over 6 months I have decided that it is much smarter than this education specialist. I have been a photographer for over thirty years, am computer literate and considered a better than average math teacher of over 18 years, but this program is more difficult to master than any secondary school child could ever be :) I purchased PhotoImpact thinking that it would replace my Adobe Photo Deluxe edition, Picture it, and two other simple digital photo programs. I am somewhat disappointed but do not plan on giving up. I am going back to "school" after having this program sit on the shelf from frustration and hope to become a "master" graphics and photo developer by sheer determination.

Rating:
Summary: Ulead needs to work on Customer Service
Review: As a past buyer of Ulead products I have one note I would like to add. If you are considering buying this newest piece of software and expect to get good support and service for it - then buy a different product.

Although Ulead software is usually top notch, very user firendly, and intuitive their service department never answers emails and if you get them on the phone they are extremely rude and even insulting. There are hundreds of customers who are unhappy with their service, an easy Google search will show you that.

If all you're looking for is the software this is a great buy. If you're looking for the support to go along with it then shop around some more!

Rating:
Summary: Really Great Program
Review: I bought a Canon PowerShot and wasn't thrilled with the software I got free. Very limiting. So I got Photo Impact Pro, and it's just head and shoulders above what I had. I could spend months and still not uncover all the cool features in there ... it's just overwhelming the number of things you can do. But at the same time it's very easy to use. I'm a retired machinist with only 18 months experience even using computers, and it's a cinch for me ... so that says a lot. :-) A friend of mine turned me on to Photo Impact - a guy in our users' group - and he says it's more sophisticated than Photoshop Elements (the other program I was considering). From what I can see, he's right. I use Photo Impact to edit and print the photos I take. And I've added captions and some effects. Haven't made a CD slideshow yet, but I expect to. I hope this review is helpful to you. I don't think you can go wrong with this program.

Rating:
Summary: Can't say enough good things ...
Review: PhotoImpact Pro is simply outstanding software. It's the best thing I've found for organizing and fixing photos. Very powerful stuff. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT PROGRAM
Review: This is the best graphics program I have ever used, and I have used most of the programs that are available. The interface is easy to use, the effects are outstanding and included content makes this a great product. For print graphic creation, web graphic creation, web page creation and photo manipulation you can't go wrong.

Although I have other graphics programs loaded on my machine, I am now using PhotoImpact Pro every day, exclusively. The other programs are just taking up space on my drive at this point. Don't let the low price fool you, PhotoImpact Pro could easily sell for more than two-hundred dollars.

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT PROGRAM
Review: This is the best graphics program I have ever used, and I have used most of the programs that are available. The interface is easy to use, the effects are outstanding and included content makes this a great product. For print graphic creation, web graphic creation, web page creation and photo manipulation you can't go wrong.

Although I have other graphics programs loaded on my machine, I am now using PhotoImpact Pro every day, exclusively. The other programs are just taking up space on my drive at this point. Don't let the low price fool you, PhotoImpact Pro could easily sell for more than two-hundred dollars.

Rating:
Summary: Unexpected Heavyweight
Review: You might call me a collector of photo editing software. I seem to buy just about everything that becomes available; this area is kind of a hobby of mine.

I bought a copy of PhotoImpact Pro, having not heard all that much about it, and I was really surprised. I didn't expect the software to be so incredibly full-featured, but it puts even full-blown Photoshop to shame in many areas.

This program is brilliant when it comes to fixing and enhancing digital photos. But it's power-packed in so many ways. It's a veritable candy jar of special effects. I've been using it for two months and find cool new features hiding below the surface just about every time I run it. And it's every bit as phenomenal when it comes to creating original works from scratch as it is for editing existing photographs.

Slender Fungus (proof that all the good names are taken :-) is absolutely correct in the preceding review: You can't go wrong with this software.