Painter, Version 5, like all its predecessors is an improvement on what I thought could never get better. It installed flawlessly and quickly. I did get stuck once, - because it would not take the serial number that was printed on the CD jacket, but that was because I had an older version, and it required the older serial number. Once I understood what it wanted, I had no problem.

The application comes with a tutorial, as well as a Quick Reference Card that shows all of the palettes, i.e. tools, paper, color, grad, pattern, weave, etc., and can be used on both the Macintosh and Windows platform. It is probably one of the most creative design programs, and Fractal Design has put in tools that simulate traditional artist materials.

I should start somewhere to describe the vastness of this application, so I will start with the color palette. In this area you can specify that the brush paints with colors from a clone source, or a secondary color. You can change the hue, saturation (depth of color) and value components of the selected color. There are color variability sliders which control the variation in color. You can click and drag the marker around the circle that is on the screen, to change the hue. If you click and drag the marker inside the triangle you can change the saturation and the value - simultaneously. They give you a gradation palette, so that you can choose of 'grads' from the pop up menu or by clicking the icon. You can change the angle of 'grads' by clicking and dragging. They have also included different size pens, pencils, charcoal, brush tips and widths.

Fractal Design also gives you many different art papers and patterns to use as backgrounds, and then when you use water colors, or paint with different types of brushes or materials, they all look different, so the amount of variation is almost incalculable.

They have put in gooey brushes and super cloners that turn boring photos into eye-popping designs. Some particular brushes let you paint with fire, flames and neon laser beams. Real exciting stuff. The Dynamic Floaters that Fractal Design has included in the application, perform awesome special effects that can be changed and adjusted on a whim. You can burn the edge of a logo, make it strong for effect, or reduce it for subtlety. From looks like metallic paint to practical effects like brightness and contract, the Dynamic Floaters give you power to create and change - and change again and again.

It should be mentioned that on the Painter application, - (which comes in a Paint Can), it says that Painter works hand in hand with your favorite graphics programs. A broad range of file support, including Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator means Painter is the ultimate integrator - and they really are. They have hundreds of tools, effects and materials.

It certainly is warranted to mention that this application is wonderful for Web design. Painter 6 has just been released at a cost of $399.00. The upgrade from Painter 5 to Painter 6 is retailed at $149.00.