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Ulead PhotoImpact XL 8.5 |
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To round it out is an Angle wheel, which directs the angle you wish the filter to take on an image. Each of these settings are adjustable via a numerical value, of which you manipulate until you get the desired look of the filter. Again, what is nice is the included dual view window that enables you to preview the effect's change to the image before you actually apply the effect to the image. When you change one of the setting's numerical values, the image preview automatically gives you a look of what the image will look like with the changed value. If you like it, you can further preview it on the original image via the preview button. When you push the preview button, the effect renders onto the image, the Diffraction window goes away and a new dialog appears, giving you the choice of selecting OK, cancel, undo, or continue. Selecting OK applies the filter to the image, cancel and undo does just that, and continue brings you back to the Diffraction Filter Window for more tweaking. Most of the other filters behave in the same manner. When you are finished, you can save as and save your completed image.[an error occurred while processing this directive]High Dynamic Range When you have a series of the same image that have different types of exposure issues, PhotoImpact XL can attempt to fix the issue by analyzing the best attributes of each image and combining them into one image. Digital cameras are limited in their capability to capture an image in difficult lighting conditions, such as those in shaded or dark areas, PhotoImpact XL has a new tool, called High Dynamic Range, that attempts to address this. To test High Dynamic Range, I used a Canon Digital Rebel SLR camera and shot a black piano in front of a white wall, indoors, using only available light from a blind that was half open. I took a series of shots and varied the exposure values. Most were too dark and several were too light, with the available light coming from the window totally washing out that area of the image.
After uploading them into the computer via a card reader (I was unable to get PhotoImpact XL or Photo Explorer to recognize the Canon camera), I launched High Dynamic Range, curious as to what the application would compose. The High Dynamic Range Window details your selected images at the bottom in contact sheet like format. You then select the camera curve profile, of which you have the choice of Auto-generate, and curve profiles from various camera manufacturers. I chose Auto-generate and selected the f-stop intervals.
I then clicked the compose button and let the application churn through until it came up with an HDR image. The final image, while not perfect, came pretty close to an acceptable image. While the light emanating from behind the shutters was still a bit washed out, the rest of the objects in the image, the piano, the bench, and the picture frames on top of the piano came out with good tonal quality. This feature deserves further testing, as you really need to keep track of your exposure settings so you are certain what the application is working with. First Impressions PhotoImpact XL, at $89.95 is arguably the best image editing application in the category in which it competes. The company has spent many years ensuring that the application is powerful, feature laden, and most important in my opinion, easy to use with great results. There are a few quirks, such as the inability to recognize my digital camera right off the bat, but these can be easily overseen for the output that you get. For tweaking images to look great, or if you wish to tweak images with special effects, all in an easy fashion with a minimal learning curve using everything from its auto-process features to the new ExpressFix, this version of PhotoImpact does not disappoint. Also included with PhotoImpact XL is Gif Animator 5.0, Cool 360, PhotoImpact Album XL, Alien Skin filters, and Photo Explorer 8.0, a 45-minute video tutorial on how to get the most out of the application, and a bonus CD full of images, web animations, and other royalty-free artwork. For small or large corporations that need a r
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