Mac

Windows

Evaluation version

Use Advanced JPEG Compressor to make smaller files from your images, ideal for use on Web pages and in email. While still retaining the original image size, and with minimal loss of quality, smaller file sizes means your Web pages will load faster and your visitors will be happier. Very handy is the ability to setup compression profiles, which can then be batch applied to different types of image.

Until you purchase a licence, this evaluation version is save-disabled.

Web link: www.winsoftmagic.com

Trial version

Quickie Web Albums lets you quickly transfer images from your PC to a Web page. It includes options for custom formatting the output HTML. It also includes an index page with thumbnails and the ability to create an HTML page for each image.

Email link: lajdesign@mac.com

Evaluation version

Smart Image Server is a Web version of the searching functionality within Xequte Software's Smart Pix Manager (see below), allowing visitors to your Internet or Intranet page to perform keyword and text searches for images and multimedia within your collection. A list of links (optionally with thumbnails and descriptions) will be displayed matching the search. These links can be clicked to display the original file. The program works with nearly all Web servers.

Web link: www.xequte.com

Latest evaluation version

Smart Pix Manager is an excellent solution for the management and viewing of all common image, multimedia (AVI, MPEG, MP3, etc.), Office, text and Web files. Smart Pix allows you rapidly to search and categorise files in your multimedia collection using keywords and descriptions (which can be generated automatically).

There is advanced file security including encryption, password protection and even browsing of files in encrypted ZIPs. Databases can be shared across a network and support for off-line sources is included (e.g. prompting for the correct CD-ROM). The program includes slideshow options and batch image conversion. There have been scores of bug fixes, improvements and additions since version 5.0.

Web link: www.xequte.com

Free

CBN Assistant is an enhanced system colour picker. It runs standalone or as a PhotoShop plug-in. The tabbed interface has just about everything you'd ever want from a colour picker. You can rotate and zoom a 16.7 million colour sphere to select colours, choose from manufacturer swatches, create your own custom colours, create your own colour library, as well as print a colour choice list. The Coordinate tab lets you create complementary colour schemes by applying selection techniques and variations to a colour wheel. A conversion tool displays colours as hex, RGB or HSB values and a handy colour picker lets you select and save any colour displayed on your screen.

Web link: www.cbnsystem.com

15-day trial version

Note: you may need to be connected to the Internet during installation as additional files could be required.

Xara Webstyle is a template-based utility for creating Web graphics. The professional templates allow you easily to create all the Web graphics you need – NavBars, buttons, banners, bullets, dividers, backgrounds and 2D and 3D headings. This is not complex software and you will not require great graphics expertise. Xara Webstyle now includes Dreamweaver and FrontPage integration.

There is a limited number of templates in this evaluation version – you will get many more extras on CD when you purchase the software.

Web link: www.xara.com

Anniversary Edition – 30-day trial

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of their highly popular digital imaging application, Jasc Software have released a special edition of Paint Shop Pro packed with even more free extras.

Paint Shop Pro keeps getting better – it's a long way from its origins as a fine, cheap and cheerful shareware package, but is still relatively inexpensive and certainly great value for money. PSP includes most of the features of Adobe's Photoshop and now also includes more Web orientated graphics functions. It's a great all-round graphics application offering fantastic image creation, editing and manipulation possibilities. Now you also get Animation Shop v3.04, a great tool for creating and editing animations, particularly for use on your Web sites.

This latest update includes many fixes and performance enhancements as well as loads of new tools and resources.

Web link: www.jasc.com

Mac OS

NOTE: The Mac programs on this CD are mostly in archived 'HQX' (BinHex) files – they can be extracted with several applications, including Stuffit Expander (which is on the CD...). Clicking on the links below should set the process in motion. You may receive a message that the file cannot be loaded into Simple Text — if so, start Stuffit and then open the HQX file you want from within Stuffit.

Quickie Web Albums
v2.2.1
(OS 8+)
Evaluation version

Quickie Web Albums allows you to transfer images to a Web page quickly and easily. It lets you customise the output HTML, provides an index page with thumbnails, and automatically generates HTML pages for each individual image.

Email link: lajdesign@mac.com

GraphicConverter
v4.4
(PPC)
Shareware – new version

GraphicConverter is an essential Web tool and indispensable in any other situation where you might be handling lots of graphics files. It will open and convert most file types. The program imports about 145 and exports about 45 graphic file formats.

GraphicConverter offers batch conversion with additional actions; slide shows; easy creation of optimised images for the Internet; image manipulation; compatibility with Photoshop plug-ins; and more. This update includes bug fixes and all sorts of minor enhancements and additions.

Web link: www.graphicconverter.net

Shareware

Note: requires OS 8.1 or higher with CarbonLib or OS X.

DropIcon is a utility for adding custom preview icons to image files, working with a wide variety of image formats and capable of batch operations. Also use DropIcon to create Finder window images and convert between different image file formats.

Web link: www.abbotsoftware.com