Reviewed by
Bevan Ramsden , Casual

Price Paid
$0.00 at came with computer m

Summary
This is a great product for beginners. I have previously used PSP, and have found PW very user friendly. It is very easily navigatable through the tool or menu bars. It has a number of editing manipulation techniques, that is useful for beginners to play around with. For basic work without too much expertise, this is an ideal programme to start off.

Strengths
It is very user friendly, without too musch screen clutter.

Weaknesses
The major weakness with PW especially 2.5 is the clone tool. It took me a fair while how to use it. It also lacks different types of clone brushes, which is limited to the Radius. It tooked some time for me to understand how to use it effectively. Once mastered, it was alright.

Similar Products Used
Paint Shop Pro

Reviewed by
Arthur , Intermediate

Price Paid
$50.00 at direct

Summary
This is a true photographer's editor. It is optimized for performing operations or corrections on a particular photography without the gimmicky features found on many other packages. It is as powerful as any application when it comes to pure photo editing, once you get used to working with it. It does not have much in the way of effects or compositional features. It allows for image compositing but does not really allow for multi-layering as with Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro. Picture Window is best positioned as a companion product to a package like PS or PSP, but for the photo editing task of any project, this is where PW excels. Highly recommended

Strengths
Intuitive photo editing at an affordable price.

Weaknesses
None really. No layering or effects but this is not the intent of PW.

Similar Products Used
Paint Shop Pro, PS Elements

Customer Service
Outstanding support via the DL-C web site. The author/owner answers most posts the same day on the companies message board. On line documentation is superb, especially for the photographer looking to

Reviewed by
William Duggleby , Intermediate , from Williamsville NY

Price Paid
$20.00 at Web Site

Summary
This program is oriented toward the photographer who either does (or would like to) print their photos and exercise control over the process. It is NOT oriented toward the printing trade or the graphics professional (although the professional photographer would probably find most of the things THEY wanted). It's not a product you would use to produce a rock album cover or a cover for a science fiction novel.
It's possible to do nearly every purely photographic step that's suggested (e.g. in Photoshop Artistry) in standard Photoshop books. And the perspective controls are unique.
I just purchased the upgrade mentioned (hence the price, so I haven't recieved or used it yet) but have used v.2 for several years and used v.1 before that.
It isn't necessary to do fancy tricks, as most pictures can be dealt with in relatively few (and automatic) steps. A minority will require a little more work (and learning), but that's half the fun.

Strengths
The program is reasonably intuitive and the learning curve is MUCH less steep than Photoshop (not to mention the steep price!). There's an abundance of documentation of the web site, and questions are answered almost immediately by either the owner/developer or his chief programmer! (great support!) Unlike the "lite" version of Photoshop, you actually have access to and control over the color channels (Red, Green and Blue). Plus you can make a cyanotype or sepia print from those old B&W pictures!















Some of the techniques, e.g. involving correction by filtration, dodging and burning, might require quite a bit of experimentation if you

Weaknesses
Some of the techniques, e.g. involving correction by filtration, dodging and burning, might require quite a bit of experimentation if you never did darkroom work. But there ARE work-arounds for many "problems". I would have liked being able to do a ring-around with those Color Correction filters, though.
Doesn't allow the use of Photshop compatible plug-ins (actually a plus for me).

Similar Products Used
Photoshop LE & 4
Paint Shop Pro

Customer Service
Just direct any question to the web site as mentioned above.

Reviewed by
Devin Drayton , Intermediate , from Whitehall, MT

Summary
Picture Window is a poor boy's Photoshop. I believe it has many advantages not found in Photoshop. The basics are very easy to learn and pretty straight forward. The more advanced functions may take a little longer to grasp.

Strengths
Picture Window uses familiar terms and techniques, and lets you do perspective correction, color balancing, retouching, and tonal adjusments quickly and easily.
There isn't much you can't do to a photo with this program. I purchased PW Pro 3.0 for $89.95 its worth every penny. You can ask any question you would like on there web site "messages" and Jonathan Sachs the owner will answer usually within that day. This program is a jewel!
Try it free for 30 days and decide for yourself.

Weaknesses
Advanced technics take a while to learn. Although learning the program is half the fun.

Similar Products Used
Ulead Photo Express
Microsoft Picture it
Corel Print House Magic 4
Irfan Viewer

Customer Service
Excellent

Reviewed by
Ross Russo , Beginner , from Buffalo, New York

Summary
Being an admittedly inept novice. It didn't take me very long to realize this is a very complex feature packed application. And for someone with a vast knowledge of photography. This would probably be "THE" one. And for the price they're getting for it. It's got to be one of the best deals out there. It might even be "THE" one for me in a year or two. Judging from what I've seen. This may even parrallel Adobe PhotoShop. If you want to surgically rebuild a pic to optimum quality. But for right now I'm interested in much simpler software. It's definately a slick, well put together application. But I'm not up to it yet. It would've taken me all of the 30 day free trial period just to get it set up right..lol.. Definately worth trying though. If you have even the slightest clue of digital photography & computers..........Good Luck!!

Strengths
None

Weaknesses
None

Similar Products Used
None