Provided By: Cyberlink
No compensation was received for review of this product.
Price: $119.99 (www.cyberlink.com)
Reviewer’s Opinion
I have long used Photoshop for my photo editing. I am an advanced user that has kind of grown up using that tool, so I know the extent of its ability. While it is just about the best editing software out there, Photoshop has many menus to navigate and more tools than you really need for basic editing, and it's extremely expensive, unless you're upgrading from a previous version, or a student. Honestly, I was impressed with the ease of use and the editing extent with Cyberlink PhotoDirector 3. All of the tools were laid out in easy to read, and find, menus. The software is very intuitive.
Many of the portrait tools are similar to what has been seen in Photoshop, just renamed. As such, you can use them just the same, even though they have new labels. The tooth brush and one of the eye blinger tools act like a dodge tool. The eye dark enhancer acts as a burn tool. The wrinkle remover and object remover work like the clone stamp. You get some high function, common use, enhancement tools with an easier interface.
One feature that may seem trivial, but had a big impact on my use, was the mouse button scheme. With almost every tool, the mouse wheel had some kind of functionality that made the tools easier to use. I was a big fan of using the mouse wheel to increase and decrease the pen selection size for the portrait tools, on the fly. The HSL tool will also highlight specific colors as you mouse over them. Using the mouse wheel can increase or decrease the intensity of that specific color's slider. When using the zoom tool, left click zooms in, right click zooms out. These little things make quick adjustments and selections much faster.
The only real thing I can fault Cyberlink PhotoDirector 3 for is the price. There are alternative programs out there at a sub $100 price that promote having many of the same features that can be found in PhotoDirector. However, I cannot speak to the ease of their use or design. My use is limited to the expensive Photoshop software, and Windows Paint. I've hit both ends of the spectrum, but nothing in between.
Cyberlink PhotoDirector 3 is very good software. They've put lots of power into easy to use tools. You get in-depth editing that is geared specifically for photo enhancements. Everything is neatly labeled and instructions are easy to follow. Even a novice can pick up PhotoDirector 3 and immediately start making professional looking photos.
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