Microsoft Picture It! 2.0
Reviewed by Sara Payne
Published by Microsoft

Age Group: Age 8 and Up, Adults Type: Art & Creativity Price: $49.95 USD

Description:

Microsoft Picture It! is a comprehensive photo-editing software package. Using digital images from a digital camera, scanner, diskette or other source, Picture It! provides powerful tools to improve and enhance photos and to make a wide range of photo creations.

Features:

• "wizard-guided" scanner and digital camera interface;
• cataloging to help organize and search for photo files;
• workbench filled with photo editing tools, including easy-to-use photo restoration features;
• artistic/special effects tools to creatively enhance or transform photos
• "Projects," guided by "wizards," for making cards, calendars, photo business cards, flyers, labels, collages, etc.
• more than 500 photo backgrounds, cutouts and templates;
• E-mail postcard and slide shows with sound; interface with Kodak for special printing/projects; option to use Kodak Picture Network for online sharing and archiving (for additional fee; internet access required)

Technical Aspects:

Picture It! installed easily and operates smoothly. Minimum memory requirements are just that; if you plan to work on larger photo collages, you'll want to have at least double the suggested memory. Also, your printer will need to be able to handle large files. After some initial system "max-outs" encountered with Picture It! 1.0, we significantly upgraded both our PC and printer and have had no problems with Picture It! 2.0. The software is extremely easy to use. Most procedures and projects are guided by "wizards." A 12 year old computer-literate neighbor learned to scan, edit and create collages for his history report with only 10 minutes of hands-on instruction.

Report and Conclusions:

If you think that your family might enjoy photo editing software, one caution: using it can become addicting! We purchased Picture It! with the idea of making photo calendars for the long-distance grandparents and relatives. In the first month of its residency, we made 10 calendars and the holiday greeting cards. The positive feedback was overwhelming! In the past 2 months, we've used Picture It! to make birthday cards, invitations, valentines, personalized books, stationery, school report collages and posters. We've restored old photos (very slick), sent slide shows via the Internet to our friends and family overseas, and used prints of Picture It! creations in arts and crafts projects. The editing features and the well-organized and easy-to-use interfaces are superb. The endless creative possibilities make Picture It! 2.0 the most heavily used software in our home. Even family members too young to do photo editing can help design cards, etc., and they'll love seeing their photos on the creations!

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