Ulead Systems has just announced the release of PhotoImpact 12, its flagship image-editing software.

 

September 23, 2006: Ulead Systems has just announced the release of PhotoImpact 12, its flagship image-editing software.
The latest version of this comprehensive image editing suite adds innovative features that allow beginners to enjoy editing their digital photos and sharing images in creative projects. New features include an ExpressFix mode, which includes automated fixes for common shooting problems. A large preview screen with before and after views lets users adjust colour, exposure and focus using intelligent one-click presets. A new SmartCurves function provides one-click tonal adjustment, while the Reduce Noise control automatically suppresses digital artefacts in photos shot in low light conditions or at high ISO settings.
Portrait photographers can also remove red-eye effects and enhance subjects with a Beautify Skin option. The ExpressFix mode also provides direct links to PhotoImpact 12’s enhanced White Balance correction feature as well as options to rotate, print, and e-mail photos. PhotoImpact 12 also adds a new SmartGuide “How-to” help panel to assist users in completing a range of photo, Web and video and DVD-oriented tasks. In addition to step-by-step instructions, links in the SmartGuide automatically select the correct tools to perform the action described.
PhotoImpact 12 also adds features to meet the needs of high-end users. Raw file format support has been extended to cover more camera models. Editing at high colour depth now includes support for selection tools and objects plus the ability to save 16-bit colour depth objects in PhotoImpact’s native UFO file format. A new White Balance correction tool automatically analyses photo colours and suggests appropriate correction settings and employs advanced perceptual technology to make photos look more natural, even in mixed lighting situations. The Reduce Noise function, based on new anisotropic diffusion algorithms, is more powerful and much faster. Noise reduction is provided as an automatic feature in ExpressFix mode and as a stand-alone function with adjustable settings for advanced users.
PhotoImpact comes with a comprehensive set of montage, painting, graphics, text and tools, along with an extensive collection of filters and effects. New in version 12 is a three-step Photo Project wizard which provides customisable templates for adding photos to greeting cards and CD or DVD labels. The new Share menu also includes options for sharing photos in calendars, Web albums, Web slideshows and on mobile devices. The PhotoImpact Component Designer now includes video title graphics and DVD navigation buttons in addition to Web page graphics. Also new in PhotoImpact 12 are templates for Web blogs and DVD menus compatible with Ulead’s latest video editing and DVD authoring packages.
In addition to the main editor, the package includes Ulead Photo Explorer 8.6 for managing and browsing photos, video and other digital media; Ulead PhotoImpact Album 12, a database-driven photo management tool; Ulead COOL 360 for composing panoramic images; and Ulead GIF Animator 5.05, a widely acclaimed GIF animation tool. PhotoImpact 12 also comes with more than 1,300 royalty-free images, 2,200 Web elements, 1,000 objects and 3,250 customisable effects to serve as a starting point for creative projects. Box and electronic download versions and upgrades of PhotoImpact 12 will be available in October starting at $US 49.99. For more information, visit www.ulead.com.