SmartMorph

Although it really only handles one photo-editing job, this free program nevertheless makes a handy tool. True to its name, SmartMorph lets you blend pictures in several ways. You can superimpose one image over another, or you can create an animation where one shot gradually morphs into the other. However, the program only lets you save your animations in the proprietary SMO format; we would have liked to been able to create them as animated GIFs or SWFs. In addition to its main duty, SmartMorph also lets you resize and rotate shots, as well as apply several very simple filters for sharpening and smoothing. The interface isn't overly cluttered with needless icons, but it could be more clear-cut, as we had to consult the help menu to figure out how to create animations. SmartMorph may be a one-trick pony, but anyone who routinely works with images will likely find it useful in certain situations.