Description:
Affordable feature-rich software is a rare thing; even when it surfaces, it's perceived as something incapable of yielding professional results. Micrografx Picture Publisher 8.0 proves this perception wrong by providing a complete tool set for image editing at a cost that's far below that of the competition. In addition to the usual assortment of filters, selection tools, and masking tools that commonly are found in all bitmap editors, Picture Publisher 8.0 features several integrated tools for the Web designer. A built-in GIF animation tool allows for easy painting or editing on each frame of a GIF, and a palette optimization tool helps reduce the size of a Web graphic without having to sacrifice quality. A favorite tool--worth the cost of the entire program--is an interactive pattern maker. Making seamless tiles for Web graphics, 2-D graphics, or as a decal for 3-D graphics is sometimes difficult, but this tool allows you to view the tiled pattern in a larger window, while a smaller window contains the source tile that is being edited. Updates in the larger window occur automatically as changes are made to the small tile. There are drawbacks to using Picture Publisher 8.0. For example, while it can do many of the things that Adobe Photoshop--the industry standard--can do, it is not Photoshop. While this isn't a problem for someone who needs a good tool for image editing and graphics, it might be a problem for someone who hopes to use the tool in a large shop. Some shops don't like to spend time or money on training; and, if you don't use what they use, you're out of luck. However, Picture Publisher 8.0 is an economical alternative to higher-priced graphics software. It is a rich, full-featured package that meets the needs of the vast majority of Windows graphics designers. Built-in file-format compatibility with Adobe Photoshop means that compatibility is a minor issue, and its ability to use Photoshop plug-ins provides a means of expansion. Picture Publisher 8.0 is indeed a worthwhile, affordable, and alternative image-editing application. --Mike Caputo
| 
