PhotoShine for Windows

PhotoShine allows users to insert photos into 700 different templates. The trial limits that number to 100. The templates are grouped into categories (Baby, Frame, Festival, etc.), which helps in browsing, though the interface is a bit busy.

Pros

Easy to use: PhotoShine's templates perform as promised. The controls are easy to understand and use and importing photos is quick and facile.

Variety: The variety of templates is impressive, with the full version including 700.

Cons

Garish display: The work area is garishly designed. Background colors are not solid, but instead appear pixelated and filled with static, which can be distracting when tweaking photos in their frames.

Template quality: While PhotoShine offers plenty of templates, many of them are tacky, and several contain serious errors. Templates for magazine covers, for example, have several spelling and grammatical errors.

Bottom Line

PhotoShine lets you create elementary photo displays using standardized templates. While the program works well, the design will only appeal to users with a love for chintz and airbrushed hearts.

Editors' note: This is a review of the trial version of PhotoShine 4.9.