Adobe PhotoDeluxe Home Edition 3.0

PhotoDeluxe needs 140 Megabytes for a full installation, but only a little over 50M if Adobe Type Manager, Acrobat Reader, and Microsoft Internet Explorer are already loaded. The installer plays a quick AVI introduction, a good idea that is well implemented. It has enough detail to get you interested, and is not so long that it becomes boring.
The software provides two modes of operation: normal and advanced. The former guides the user through different activities, and the latter includes the full set of menus. This is a viable alternative to Corel’s approach of keeping the menus accessible at all times and it has the option of onscreen guidance.
PhotoDeluxe simplifies the task of getting images into the computer from a scanner or digital camera, but a preview thumbnail is not always displayed when opening an existing file. The EasyPhoto module provides a visual index.
Tracing around the edge of an object is computer-assisted but there isn’t a way of making fine adjustments to the outline. Redeye removal works well, and there are the usual tools for cleaning up dust, scratches, and so on. Retouch Face is a bit different; if you can’t afford cosmetic surgery, you can look younger in your photos by using this tool to remove bags under the eyes, wrinkles and other blemishes. It takes a little practice to pick
exactly the right source points to get a smooth blend of skin tones, but it isn’t difficult. Another very good feature is the inclusion of Extensis’ InteliFix tool, which automatically adjusts the overall picture quality.
There is a broad selection of effects, and the coloured pencil and vignette worked particularly well. The tools for getting old fashioned sepia or hand-tinted effects are also good, although we do need more practice (see screenshot).
There is only one undo, but that’s not as much of a problem as it sounds, because you are applying effects to the whole picture or areas within it, rather than working at the pixel level. However, there are times when the program leads you to apply a sequence of two or more filters. In such cases, you can’t return to the starting point.
When the job is done, PhotoDeluxe will export to an assortment of formats, or you can use the image in a variety of projects such as greeting cards, calendars, picture frames or slideshows.