Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this product, free of charge, from Amazon, via their Amazon Vine program, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it.
Are you in a panic for last minute gifts?
I've got a couple of items today that are perfect for last minute gifts, for the person you have no idea what to buy for!
One of the things I've had to adjust to switching from Windows XP to Windows 8, is the loss of some of my favorite programs, that I've been using for the past 7 years! This included my favorite graphic/photo editing program, which is NOT compitable, so therefore, I don't have it anymore!
So when the chance came to review a new program, made for Windows 7 and 8 systems, I was quite happy to give it a try.
Meet
This new program is made for Windows (including XP and Vista!) and Mac users, and you can even DOWNLOAD it straight from Amazon, so you can have it on the new computer/laptop you're giving to a loved one for Christmas!
If you're afraid of Photoshop (too many controls), but need something more than Paint, this may be THE photo editing program for you! The program combines everything you need for photo editing in a single efficient program: photo management, pro quality adjustments and creative photo editing. With native 64 bit support, non destructive tools, RAW support for popular DSLRs and Ultra 4K slideshow output, PhotoDirector can turn your photos into works of art, easily and at home!
AND it is super easy to install- you just load the cd, click yes to run, and yes to have permission for internet access (for updates), and wait for it to load! Once it loads, you submit the key from the cd sleeve, and you;re ready to go! And wait for the BEST part- there is a small PAPER MANUAL included. I know, a real manual- how odd is that nowadays? But it really is super easy to find what you need and to use the program, the manual just lets you know how to use the more refined features!
This video shows what all the program can do:
It truly is just THAT easy to edit your photos! I love how you can see the original on one side, and the changes on the other. So you can see exactly what was changed. This is because unlike the complicated programs, it doesn't use layers, but actually changes the picture itself (don't worry, it saves the changes as a secondary picture, so you can always go back to your original). The presents are super and I have made extensive use of them, as frequently the presets are all that is needed to make my photos look 100% better, or to give them just enough 'oomph' to make them look more professional! And the people beautifier tool is just downright AMAZINGLY easy to use and to see professional results!
I was actually surprised at how SIMPLE and intuitive the program is to use. Within minutes I was able to load photos, assign them into a group, and start editing them! I didn't really need the manual until it came time for the refinements, which included watermarking my photos! Yes, it can even watermark your photos! As all bloggers and professional photographers know, this is a MUST! But pictures tell a thousand words, so look at some before and afters:
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Softer focus, more light and watermark,
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Look at the curls and jacket definition!
and
ARTISTIC PAINT MODE:
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Bye bye shadows and hello goodness!
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Color correction and tone!
All of the above were done very quickly- I wasn't looking for printing the photos, or including them in a contest, say, so I just needed them to look BETTER, be more appealing, and in the 1st 2, to add the watermark. All of which was easily done! Now if I took my time and went back and played more with the program, the pictures would improve even more!
I am SO in love with this program, I am recommending it to everybody!
You can even create your own slideshow! AND you can make a CD or DVD of the pictures you're working with and burn them right in the same program! You can also email pictures straight from the program, and even upload them onto Facebook, Flickr or YouTube directly. I do wish I could upload to my Twitter or Picasa albums, but I'm sure with the forum users bringing items like that up, they will release an update later that will allow that too! The user forums are a great way to get more advice on using the program too! AND they have uploaded over 425,000 (yes you read that right) presets, that you can download into the program, for even more editing flexibility!
AND if you aren't soo sure about the program, you can download a 30 day trial! When was the last time you got a 30 DAY free trial? But trust me, after a couple of days, you'll be convinced and want to buy the full program! With this program, your friends and family will be asking 'WHO, took these great photos?"< and you'll be able to say proudly "I did!".
So check it out today- you won't be sorry you did!
That' a great looking project. Thanks for sharing the photo altering program.
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