. The size of distributive is only 7.5 MB.

Corel Photo-Paint X3 This graphics editor is not a separate product, and is supplied as one of the components of the most powerful package CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3. But, in spite of this, we can not ignore in our review Corel Photo X3, because it is one of the best editors of raster graphics. In some features Corel Photo-Paint surpasses the competitors. There are a large number of filters and the “non-standard” tools. For example, the function text-to-path allows you to place a text on pre-selected trajectory (curve, straight line, form). The interface is simple and intuitive - in the working area, all the necessary elements are presented. At the same time, some elements of the interface will seem to new users unusual. The right-hand part of the working “Dockers” are located - elements, designed in a separate toolbar with inlays. If you wish, you can remove or add the necessary Dockers. I think that the organization of the workspace, in some of the points, is designed even better than in Photoshop. In terms of learning system, the biggest of advantages is the hints system. It is designed as a separate tab on the toolbar. When the user selects any item of image editing, then in the hints field appears a detailed explanation of functioning of the selected element. In the early stages of the work with programme, this help is just irreplaceable because of the “originality” of the interface. One of the “attractions” of Photo-Paint X3 is the module of color and tone correction - Image Adjustment Lab. This module is a good container for all possible types of correction: contrast, brightness, color depth. One can note also the function of a highlight of innovations. In the help menu there is an item that allows you to illuminate control elements, appeared after older versions: 9, 10, 11, 12 (for choice). One cannot help noticing that the programme has a lot of “smart” control elements, which significantly reduce the waste of time on performance. For example, the zoom function is perfectly realized, which centers images by the cursor on the approach, regardless of its location. As it was mentioned above, Photo-Paint X3 is only one of the components of a comprehensive package to work with the graphics CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3. The package includes: vector graphics editor CorelDRAW X3, raster graphics editor PHOTO-PAINT X3, an application for work with images in Raw Pixmantec RawShooter format, a program for creating screenshots Corel CAPTURE X3 and electronic book on the work with package CorelDRAW Handbook. Consequently, because of the abundance of available programs, the cost of the package is rather high - $ 353. But for the abundance of functions they provide, you`ll not fine cheaper. GIMP GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) - graphics editor, built on open codes, and thus is distributed for free. This program is suitable for editing photographs and other digital images. It is the most powerful among free graphics editors. They provided an opportunity for performing all types of tasks, beginning from the simplest and ending in complex graphics procedures using hook worksheet. You will hardly find in other free program such an abundance of functions, which are provided in GIMP. An important feature of GIMP is that it is built on a modular system, so there is a potential for expansion. In the Internet you can find additional modules and install them through a special manager. GIMP has a quite unique interface, which initially may seem inconvenient. But there is the possibility of setting up a user interface. You can either create additional toolbars, or edit their content, setting the interface for yourself. The function of hot keys is implemented interestingly. In the menu “File” - “Setting” - “Interface” there is an option of “Use hot-keys”. After the user enables it, the process of appointment of hot-keys becomes much easier - you are just to visit any menu and illuminate by the mouse cursor the desired item, and then click the convenient key combination. Initially GIMP is supplied with a set of 48 brushes and the opportunity to create your own; multilayer images are supported, gradients functions are realized. In GIMP 150 standard effects are provided, which can be placed on the images, including shade, images erosion, noise addition, and many others. In fact, the program has very much functions and the scope of their use is broad, as in any valuable graphics editor. And this is the GIMP, in spite of the fact that it is free. At the same time, of course, one can`t to compare this application with commercial one, with the same Photoshop - levels are absolutely different. Summarizing the received impressions it can be concluded that the main disadvantage, which may discourage the potential user is the uncommon interface, but a few days of work with the editor is enough to get fully used to it and get a free orientation. GIMP is a cross platform application, supported by all major systems (Windows, MacOS, Linux). Version for Windows can be downloaded from Alternative graphical editors In one of the discussions about Photoshop, in the Internet, I have come across the following quotation of the user of this program: “The purchase of Photoshop can be compared with the purchase of a car. And after you have bought it, it turns out that the wheels are additional accessories! And the engine, do you think, is a companion?” If you interpret this statement seriously, it turns out that Adobe Photoshop, if you purchase all the components for professional work, is of great cost. Indeed, the graphic editor itself costs, to put it mildly, not cheap. But, the expensiveness made Photoshop so famous. “It is illogical”, - you think. And you are wrong. It is the programs with great potential benefit, at the same time with enormous cost, become victims of the piracy. I think it is not the issue to be considered too deeply. But note, that because of the general distribution of Adobe Photoshop, due to pirates, other noteworthy products were “moved away”. Graphics editor Ulead PhotoImpact 12 offers its users to combine the abundance of professional functions with ease of their use. Indeed, even looking through the program menu, you can immediately understand the depth of developmental work. To the major strengths of this software one can note the capability of “upgrade”. The program is supplied with a limited number of libraries and all kinds of templates, but you can easily download additional from developer`s site. Nevertheless, filters gallery is widely represented, many of which are unique. Workspace of PhotoImpact is worthy of individual notice. When starting the program the user is provided with a choice of working space, depending on the type of work performed. Additionally, in the upper right-hand corner there is the control button that allows you at any time to switch between accessible modes of elements location: Full Edit Mode - mode, which is used by default when downloading the program. It is a standard interface, in which, according to the developers, the most ergonomic use of basic functions of graphics editors is possible. ExpressFix Mode - a mode that allows saving time when editing photographs, with the most common defects: color defects, unbalanced exposition, wrong focus, etc. The interface in this mode is intuitive and is easy to understand even to those who for the first time confronted with such programs. The number of elements is minimized at all. There is a window of viewing the image in the form “before and after correction”, and effects controlling bar. Video & DVD Mode - changes control elements in such a way, that the working area becomes convenient for editing appropriate functions on creation of video-menu. Web Mode - similar to DVD & Video Mode changes the location of control elements for easy editing of Web-images. The situations are frequently occurring when you edit several pictures at once. Ulead attentively has come to the solution of the problem of “skipping” from window to window. At the bottom of the workspace Document Man is represented - a helper to switch to other open images. Document Man is designed in the form of a ribbon, which resembles story board of videotape depicting miniature of graphics files that are open at the time. As it can be seen, the interface is presented in the most convenient variants, for each function they selected the best location of control elements. But developers from Ulead in an attempt to help inexperienced user went further, by embedding to the program feature SmartGuide. This element is an assistant, located in asingle window in the working space. SmartGuide contains step-by-step instructions on performing the most common types of image editing: image editing, web editing, editing of DVD-menu and polygraphy. Referring to the theme of supported templates, Ulead PhotoImpact 12 supports rapid creation of calendars with the selected background images, creation of Web-albums, creating of slideshows. There provided the function of quick resizing of the image for download to the mobile device (PPC, mobile phone). And the developers have set the sizes of about twenty mobile devices and they considered the possibility of adding user sizes. One of the drawbacks of the interface is the performance of previewing of overlay effects. It should seem, the master itself is developed very ergonomic but icons, depicting the effect, display it on tiny static images different from editing at the moment. Accordingly, being faced with the program effects, for the first time, it will be very difficult to understand how will be changed your image afterwards. Of course, the functionality of Ulead PhotoImpact is much higher than one may think, basing upon this brief review. This product is undoubtedly worthy of rapt attention. The cost of this product is $ 90. We will not say the cost of the competing Adobe Photoshop, saying only that it is many times higher. In the kit with Ulead PhotoImpact 12 four additional components are supplied: Ulead Photo Explorer 8.6 - a program for viewing images, Ulead COOL 360 - creation of panoramas, Ulead PhotoImpact Album 12 - creation of albums and Ulead GIF Animator 5.05 - creation of animated images. Nevertheless, the developer provides the user with the program with full functionality, which will work 30 days for free. The size of the distributive is 93Mb and you can download it at the developer`s site: