- Quick specs
- Price: Free to try (15-day trial); $39.95 to buy (Buy it now)
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows XP
- Date added: February 03, 2009
- Total Downloads: 7,305
- Downloads last week: 67
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 5 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt on February 03, 2009
Play With Pictures takes one of the most essential image-editing features and expands it into an entire program. It is not a photo editor, at least not in the mold of Photoshop. Play With Pictures takes the cut-and-paste feature and simplifies the process while building out supplementary features for creating online avatars, greetings cards, and other projects that require image mash-ups.
The interface presents a reimagining of the image-editing toolset, gearing users towards projects instead of stand-alone edits. The left nav toolbar even notes the steps needed to take a user from start to finish. Tools are categorized as Start, Create, and Finish, clarifying the recommended work flow. Click the Canvas Settings button to begin a project and open a new window from which you can import images, determine background colors, and adjust the image size via slider or by entering specific dimensions. From there, you can add a Cut-Out, Text, or a comic book-style Speech Bubble. The Cut-Out feature lets you import an image, cut foreground objects from it, and paste them into the background you created in Canvas Settings. Finishing tools include Previewing, Saving, and Printing.
If you're looking to remove lens flare or make fine color-corrective adjustments, Play With Pictures is not for you. Children, however, or those who prefer making image collages, will likely get the most mileage out of this image editor, which aims to inject fun into the post-production process.
Publisher's description
From Vertus :Play With Pictures is a highly-entertaining picture creator that is so fun and easy to use that anyone can cut out people and objects from their pictures and turn them into unique and imaginative creations, which are perfect for livening up a social network profile, making greeting cards and invitations, or letting school projects come alive. The software automates the process of cutting out an unlimited number of people and props from images, seamlessly layering them onto a background of choice, and then applying additional effects, all with simple and user-friendly controls. Using Play With Pictures, imaginations comes alive.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 5 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 5 user reviewsSee all 5 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Play With Pictures 1.0.1
"Simple and powerful way to make picture collages..."
Pros: wow - the hair extraction. Was looking for something like this for a party invitation I was doing the other day...wish I had it then.
Cons: Not enough features to satisfy me - still need my Photoshop
Summary: It is v simple way of doing a v difficult job - making collages of my images. I do this a lot, making pics of my friends in compromising situations! lol. There was no manual but I picked it up quickly and was surprised by the results.
Co... read more >> -
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Play With Pictures 1.0.1
Pros: Not difficult to use...
Cons: $39.95? Seriously? Not worth that at all, especially when there is freeware that does this and much more.
Summary: If you want to have this ability and so much more, use GIMP. It is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
http://gimp.org
It takes a bit of getting used to, but there is a ton of documentation. Just Google whatever you need... read more >> -
Version: Play With Pictures 1.0.1
"Easy and Quick! Stop using MS Paint to Cut Out Images!"
Pros: As a MS Paint user, cutting out images is really a PITA. This tool works really well on images that are taken with proper backgrounds and lighting. Working with poorly lit images with backgrounds of monotonous colors will still requires manual work.
Cons: Not able to adjust line drawing characteristics. The line drawing this program does is pretty good, but it would be best to be able to adjust it as the specific image requires.
Summary: Overall, this is a tool that any do-it-yourself image editor needs. Take it from someone who does their image editing in MS Paint, no matter how intense the job... lol. This saves a lot of time when working with the right image. Highly recommended t... read more >>
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Play With Pictures 1.0.1
"Easy and fun, painless cutting out and layering."
Pros: Simple, easy interface. I found it easy to cut out pictures, layer and adjust basic object properies. I particularly liked the canvas slider which allows you to adjust the size of the image based on megapixels.
Cons: I'd like to see more editing features.
Summary: What it lacks in an abundance of features it more than makes up for with a really powerful extraction tool and incredibly simple layering.
I can see myself and my children having hours of fun cutting out and creating fun pictures.
No... read more >> -
4 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Version: Play With Pictures 1.0.1
"Not ready for sale or if it is, not worth it"
Pros: Seems simple, but that isn't really anything to brag about if it is lacking.
Cons: Nothing special. The hype for ease of use is not true. You seen these same tools before. It is lacking functions. After doing a cutout, there was not way to edit There was no instructions with the program or on the site. I would not buy.
Summary: when a product does not provide a way to edit your cutout, it is not well thought out. You will waste a lot of time if you can not edit a cutout by having to start over. There should be a way to edit a cutout at all times during the process, even wh... read more >>
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