I had these same questions being that ulead is not a company I had ever heard of before. I was accustomed to hearing the name adobe when it came to photo editing and the like. However, when shopping for the my parents and wondering what accessories they would enjoy now that they have figured out their digital camera, a salesman showed me ulead.

Ulead really does only two things, but it does them very well; digital photo organization and editing. Ulead helps answer the questions, "I took the photo and saved it, but now what"? Have you ever found yourself wondering where in the world you saved the photo? Too often you have saved the photos, but not with a recognizable name.

Ulead provides you with the ability to save your photos in a digital photo album. But that is just part of it. The software also allows you to access- via a strip on the left of your screen- any album you have saved from the same screen. In the middle of the screen you will find an area where you can view thumbnails of all the photos within the album you open.

This is all fine and dandy, but the real power of ulead is that you can search your photos not just by album, but also by resolution. Where this comes in to play is when you know you have a few really good photos and want to have them developed in order for framing. A nice touch that makes finding the best of your photos a lot easier.

In addition to the organization abilities that ulead brings to the table, there are the editing skills. The software can help you remove virtually all of the imperfections that appear in your photos. Took a picture that came out too dark? Not a problem. Or a picture that looks less clear than it should? Again, no problem. How about a blurred photo? Not even slightly a problem.

The best thing about the software is that it is easy to use and the settings can be saved. Being able to save the settings is a big deal. For instance, say you took 10 photos with the sun in the background and they all came out too dark. I would not want to be the one who has to go through each and every photo correcting the imperfections. Simply save the settings after the first change is made and the setting will apply itself to all the others that you direct it to. A time saving piece of technology that can be quite useful.

The PhotoImpact 8 software also allows you to share the photos that you have taken through the internet, TV, CD, or via email. The cool aspect here is that you can burn the photos onto CD's and then show them on your TV. A neat touch, but one that I am not sure will get a lot of use.

Finally, the software allows you truly make an artsy project out of your photos. Huh? Well, you have access to all the tools that allow you to make banners, create text and graphics, provide special effects, and paint and draw. In addition, you can do all of this and utilize the work on a web page. A web page utilizing JavaScript slideshows can allow you to really make a cool web site.

So, how do you get the ulead PhotoImpact 8 software? Well, you can pay $90 in stores or you can pay $80 for the online download version. As I understand it, there re no differences between the two products other than the price. Obviously, the download method is preferred given that you can save $10.

I have spent quite a number hours working with the PhotoImpact 8 as I help my parents get accustomed to using the software and get it set up. I should mention that the set up is as simple as any other download. Yes, even my parents were able to complete the download and registration process. Once you are ready to go, things flow smoothly and easily. You will find that the headings, categories, and tools are simple to learn and easier to use. Hey, if my techno-phobe parents can do it, then I will assume that you can as well.

The software truly does make your digital photo storage and editing experience better. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for an alternative to Adobe. Having used Adobe for the past three years, I find it to be inferior to the PhotoImpact 8. Give it a try. You can get a trial download from www.ulead.com and decide if the software is worth $80.



Recommended: Yes