ArcSoft PhotoStudio
An easy-to-use photo editor, ArcSoft PhotoStudio is suitable for beginners, but has several more advanced functions too, including layers support. There are the standard controls for adjusting exposure, color and sharpness. It has good selection tools such as Magnetic Lasso and Magic Cut for separating objects and people from their surroundings. If you make a mistake there are 99 levels of Undo. Red-eye removal is well-implemented: click on the eye to remove the redness automatically.
The developer has added some advanced retouching tools to PhotoStudio, including one called Face Beautify that reduces blemishes on the face such as wrinkles, moles, spots, and freckles -- and another called Magic-Cut that quickly extracts an object from its background in three steps (define the object and background, fine-tune the edges, and cut it out).
ArcSoft PhotoStudio is big on special effects, with Oil Painting, Watercolor, Charcoal, Wet brush, Pastel, Impressionistic, Neon Edges, Bulge, Pinch, Stretch, Magic Mirror, Mosaic, Splash, Texture, Cool, Moonlight, Solarization, Exposure, Wind, Frost, and more besides. The software also lets you add 3D titles to your photos, presentations, slides and web pages.
Comment
Well established in the market and sold under the banner "Working with digital pictures has never been so easy," ArcSoft PhotoStudio is a good all-round performer. It has certain features that make it unusual, one example being its ability to handle large image files (maximum: 30,000 x 30,000 pixels). Reviewers have criticized a lack of tutorials, hints and tips, although there is an extensive manual available online.
ArcSoft PhotoStudio supports popular RAW file formats by Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Adobe (DNG), Sony, Kodak, Olympus, Sigma, Mamiya, and Epson -- and is therefore likely to appeal to serious photographers. It even lets you edit 48-bit images.
ArcSoft PhotoStudio is constantly being improved, is reliable and stable, and is certainly great value.
Tech info
- OS: Windows 2000 onwards; Macintosh OS X
- Price level: Approx. $80
ArcSoft
ArcSoft, Inc. is one of the leading software developers of multimedia technologies and applications, both for the desktop and embedded platforms. It has over 200 OEM clients worldwide.
From the same vendor:
- PhotoStudio Darkroom
- Panorama Maker
- PhotoMontage
- Print Creations
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