Friday, September 05, 2008

best photo collage software review

Wondershare Photo Collage Studio 4.2.8 review

by webzap.net

I am always impressed with Wondershare softwares like flash gallery, DVD Slideshow Builder, Photo Story... Today I installed and tested another great software from them: Photo Collage Studio Version 4.2.8


From their website, it claims:


Wondershare Photo Collage Studio 4.2.8 is a simple yet powerful tool that makes amazing photo collages and digital scrapbooks for print. With plenty design templates, clip arts, photo frames. You’ll assemble your precious photos into an artistic compilation in no time!

Features:


Turn photos into collage and scrapbook
Plenty collage templates and layouts
Multiple-page Designs
Wordart, cliparts, stamps & more
Photo retouching and effects
Magic doodle drawing
DIY personalized calendar
Print & share anywhere
Quick and helpful online support
Installation: smooth, no error, no warning is found from my Anvir Task Manager and A-Squared Background Guard




Once you launch the software, you can choose between working with a template or work with a blank collage. My suggestion is to choose an existing template, as it will make your life easier.


There are many templates for you to choose: from normal templates to Calendar, Greeting Card, Poster or Letter. You can also select between Collage and Layout.

Step 1: Add photo


You can choose the size (resolution) of your layout. It can be predefined size or customized size. Then you can select the background of your layout whether it is transparent, color-filled or photo background.


Adding photos is easy. On the left hand side there is a folder tree, and the content is showed below. You choose your desired folder/photos then click and drag each of them to the template on the right.



You can even move, resize or even delete each and every small photo frame on the layout. Once you click on the frame, an editting toolbar for that frame appears.



Edit toolbar

Here are the items on the edit toolbar:
Zoom icons: if your photo is too big or too small, you can zoom in/out to make it fit the frame.
Set shadow: used to set shadow of the whole image.
Crop photo
Rotate 90 degree
Flip horizontally/vertically
Delete Frame
Lock layer: once you satisfy with the result of each frame, you can lock that frame so that you can't accidentally modify it.
Delete Layer: used to delete whole frame and photo in that frame.
If you want to move photo in any frame, click on that photo, an green arrow appears. Click and drag that green arrow to move your photo.

Step 2: Edit photo
In this step, you can modify frame, apply mask and add effects on the photo. Remember to click the photo first, then choose any effect from the left by double clicking it. Play around these effects to choose the ones you like most.

Step 3: Decorate Collage
You can add Text, Clipart, Stamp to your layout. There is also a "Doodle" section. Check it out.

Step 4: Save Collage
You can save as image or save as wallpaper. If you choose save as image, you will be asked for location and file type. If you choose save as wallpaper, you will be asked for style (center, tile or stretch).

Step 5: Print Collage
You can even print out the final product if you like.

Final product




My overall evaluation:
User doesn't need huge knowledge of photoshop or image editing process to use this software. User can create a nice collage even at first time usage.

Pros:
Smooth installation
Usage: easy and straighforward.
Wide selection of templates.
Huge library of decorations.
Can choose a resolution up to 12"x8" (predefine) or up to 4200x4200 pixels (custom)

Cons:
So far so good, I haven't found any drawback from this software.

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