 With the popularity of digital photography, a plethora of photo-editing and organizing software has suddenly appeared. The choices range from programs that are simple to those that are complex.
Nero PhotoShow Elite fits very well on the simple side of the scale. It provides uncomplicated tools that will help you edit and organize your photographs as well as create spectacular slideshows that you can share with others.
The thing I like best about this program is that it is easy to use. Installation is a snap. The program automatically finds all the photos on your hard drive and puts them into albums. Just installing the program will help you organize your photos. Click on any photo and add comments and keywords. The program even allows you to rate your photos. You can then use these criteria to search for photos.
The interface is clean and clear. The workspace has a white/ivory background, surrounded by a black backround. Large orange buttons marks the main choices, Manage, Make, and Share. Other buttons like help, search, and sort have bold text and are easy-to-read.
Manage takes you to a screen where you can easily sort, rename, print, and search for photos. With a few clicks you can also import images from your camera or card reader. Make takes you to the area where you can create musical slide shows, screen savers, and Video CDs. You can also purchase photo gifts, DVDs, and calendars that you create right from the program. This area also lets you choose and order prints from Snapfish or Shutterfly. The last area is called Share. This section makes is easy to share your photos and slide shows with others. If you choose to e-mail a link to a slideshow or photo album, PhotoShow will automatically upload your photos to their free Web site and send your friend a link. The program also helps you upload your photos to the Smapfish or Shutterfly Web sites, burn them to a CD, make a screen saver, or upload them to your own Web site. You can even turn your slideshows into an executable file that can be played on other computers.
PhotoShow includes basic image editing tools. You can easily rotate, crop, auto-fix, and correct red eye. You can add effects like swirl, blur, and emboss. A variety of frames and captions are also provided. The program even includes simple tools for photo touch ups. Although these tools are not as customizable as in some programs like Photoshop Elements or Paint Shop Pro, they provide basic editing and are clean and easy-to-use….perfect for anyone just getting started photo editing or anyone who want to make simple, yet enjoyable changes to their photos.
Creating impressive slide shows is easy with PhotoShow. This part of the program is just plain fun. You simply choose the photos you want to use. Then pick out transitions, special effects, speed of the slides, and a soundtrack. To make it even easier, the program includes templates are based on pre-defined variables. You can add clip art and captions to any photo by simply dragging and dropping. The clip art is animated. So if you drag the stars onto your picture, they will twinkle and a star effect will be added to your transitions. There are many fun pieces of clip art to choose from. Add falling snow, a yellow swimming fish, a glowing light bulb, or jumping frogs. You can even add clip art hats and hair to your photos. Let yourself go and you’ll have fun with this.
The program has no real drawbacks, but there are a few things that could be improved. It’s great to be able to create and order photo mugs, puzzles, and playing cards. I don’t mind paying for those things that I cannot create at home. The program helped me construct a great photo calendar, but it only allowed me to order it for $19.95. The same thing applied to DVDs and T-shirts. I would like to be able to print out the calendars, burn DVDs, and print my own T-shirt transfers. I would also like to be able to sync the slide duration to the background music and have a little more control over the slide show transitions. Last, but not least, when you add an extra photo to a slide show that you have already chosen the photos for, you are taken to Windows Explorer rather than the program’s Manage area which is much easier to navigate. If Nero heeds requests like this, the next version of this program will be dynamite.
Even with its slight flaws, I loved this program. It’s great for beginners and easy enough for an older child, but not boring for adults. Using it makes organizing and showing off your photos fun and easy.
Manufacturer: Ahead Software
Price: $49
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