CNET Editors' review
Perhaps a touch less powerful than the most elaborate photo-editing packages, Corel has expanded Ulead's PhotoImpact and blown it up. The download file is nearly double the size of the last version, but PhotoImpact X3 makes a concerted effort to compete with Adobe. Positioned between Elements and Photoshop, this app delivers everything most users need: editing tools, effects, and ready-made elements for creations.
The wide variety of textures, frames, effects, animations, and brushes wouldn't necessarily justify the download, but the app is more or less a snap to use. Wizard dialogs let you instantly create attractive and functional Web-page objects, including buttons, image maps, bullets, and backgrounds. The program works with layers, too. The traditional photo-editing interface has only one peculiarity: the main docked panel, which can hold all the other panels and quickly hide and show them. It also lets you quickly switch among work-space layouts. Beginners, for instance, can display just the controls for basic editing.
All in all, this powerful graphics program will appeal to photographers and Web designers who need a significantly cheaper alternative to monster packages such as Photoshop.
Publisher's Description
From Corel:
Corel PhotoImpact X3 combines full-featured photo editing with inspiring photo projects and amazing digital art to make digital photography and image creativity fun, fast and easy. Easy & Fast ExpressFix Mode: Automated enhancements and easy-to-understand options put the tools you need at your fingertips. Instantly fix exposure, color, and composition. Beginners like the simplicity, experienced users like the efficiency. Take Your Photos to New Places Use easy wizards to create fun photo projects and gifts. Choose from over 200 customizable templates for a wide range of ways to share your pictures. Collages Comic strips Calendars Greeting cards Create Amazing Digital Art: Paint realistic looking clouds with the cloud pen, Enhance your photos with creative filters, and draw and paint like a pro.
Version X3 includes Corel Painter Essentials 3 Full Version, Slideshow Prep Wizard, and new crop tools.
What's new in this version: Version X3 includes Corel Painter Essentials 3 Full Version, Slideshow Prep Wizard, and new crop tools.
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All versions:
3.5 starsout of 131 votes
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Current version:
3.3 starsout of 62 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Easy to use"
Version: Corel PhotoImpact X3
Pros
Simple easy to understand even for kids!
Cons
You have to click double when Save as is in use till you get nameimage.ufo or when you need another of the same image again nameimage.gif click till the .gif is showing after the name. Otherwise it doesn't work and it will leave a blanc on the filetype. To correct it open with Ulead Photoimapct again and do the steps Save as nameimage.(filetype you need)over!
Summary
I use it for several years now and you don't have to take classes for it ;-)
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"works well"
Version: Corel PhotoImpact X3
Pros
intuitative operation,
Cons
networking
Summary
good product to have for photo needs
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"Simple but rich image editor"
Version: Corel PhotoImpact X3
Pros
Very similar to previous versions
WorksCons
None I can find so far
Summary
Easy to use app, much simpler than Photoshop,
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"Limited in the file types it supports."
Version: Corel PhotoImpact X3
Pros
Lots of automated fixes.
Cons
It does not support any raw fikes other thah DNG. Also will not load TIF fikes if they're layered.
Summary
Sorry, but i have no desire to convert my library of raw files nor am I willing to convert my TIF file to something else like PNG or JPG. I tried to do that and i lost the layering in the TIFs and all the meta data when I converted the TIFs. It just wasn't for me. Fortunately Corel refunded the purchase price with no hassle, and refunded quickly.
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"I use it for all my websites I create and photo editing"
Version: Corel PhotoImpact X3
Pros
Photo Compression
Cons
It is not free software
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"worst photoimpact ever"
Version: Corel PhotoImpact X3
Pros
started with ver 6, upgraded to xl, they were easy and fast to learn,great gui, after downloading trial ver x3 i saw many improvements
Cons
after 1st day it locked up, loads too slow, many features will stop working and you have to reboot, there download system would not let registered user's download another copy
Summary
not same quality of older versions when ULEAD was there own company
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"Great program but..."
Version: Corel PhotoImpact X3
Pros
The program is intuitive, easily mastered without tutorials. Good for beginners... way easier to understand then Adobe Illustrator.
Cons
Customer support, memory hog (but most Design softwares are)
Summary
The problem is Corel... they don't support any product that isn't Corel. Don't expect any decent customer service and this program is being discontinued says 'Kris' from Corel customer service (2/4/11). It won't run on Windows 7 and they are not going to make any patches. Corel bought ULead and has planned on phasing out the PhotoImpact software.
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"great software! easy to download too!"
Version: Corel PhotoImpact X3
Pros
User friendly. Fun to use too!
Cons
a little more memory consumption compared to other software. but its worth the s.pace
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"It's pretty fair at what it does"
Version: Corel PhotoImpact X3
Pros
ease of use is important to me as an older user, this seems to me to be O.K. but I may have missed something !
Cons
The constant demands for review are annoying, people who download, are meaning to try the product "in the near future", not that day. So I, for one, wished that they would wait until I have had a fuller look, and not ask me for a review, until then.
Summary
I like the idea of being able to access this program, and given a little time might try some more of this type, when I get a bit more acqauinted with graphics and photo manipulation skills.
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"Legendary software deserves better support from Corel"
Version: Corel PhotoImpact X3
Pros
Ultra intuitive, friendly, great features and superb effects, easy manipulation and one of a kind filter integrations, fast to complete intermediate jobs
Cons
Used to be in better hands with Ulead support, tools just miss the mark compared to photoshop elegance or Magix Graphics Designer smoothness. Eats memory and drains CPU on advanced renders. Not fit for publishing, no vector development
Summary
I have been a super loyal fan of PhotoImpact since PhotoImpact 3. It is easy to learn, and gets excellent results editing photos. It is a brilliant texture creating and bitmap art application with a full set of effects to distort and add futuristic textures as well as animate. Its blend filters are better than any other drawing software.
There are flaws with memory and cpu use and the tools lack the refinement of Photoshop or Magix Graphics Designer.
For photographers, web artists and designers and intermediate to advanced graphics this is the ultimate tool to have in your arsenal. The web page utilities include auto and manual slicing, graphics optimization, html text and flash movie insertion, plus a huge assortment of great templates for buttons, icons, borders, objects, headers, thirds and banners.
I hope Corel decides to revamp the Photoimpact code and develop the next generation of this classic software. I am sure I speak for the thousands of Photoimpact fans who are searching for the next, new and improved build.
Chris Mar
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