Before I tell you about Version 3, I must tell you that I reviewed Version 2, and it was published in our January l998 newsletter, and I thought that Version 2 was THE last word! NOW, however...

Unbelievable, fantastic, astounding and incredible. Adobe has done it again......they have made this great application even greater. One must hope their developers never stop making their products greater, but I have to wonder how much better can this get. I have been playing with the new version of Adobe PhotoDeluxe for several months, and it seems that there is nothing it can’t do.

Installation was a breeze. Of course, you must remember to shut down everything that is running so that you don’t hit any glitches. It requires Win 95 or Win 98; 32MB RAM, 140MG free disk space, 256 color display, and, of course, CD ROM drive. You can choose how much software you want installed. You can choose a typical installation which automatically installs all software components, or you can choose a Custom installation which lets you choose not to install the CD version of ATM (Adobe Type Manager) and Adobe fonts, Acrobat Reader and IE 4.0. If you aren’t sure, choose Typical. Follow the onscreen directions, and BINGO - you can start having fun!

As in the last version, they have true step by step guided instruction on screen. If you can read, you can change the size of the pictures, the orientation, fix the color, remove red eye, retouch the face, alter appearances, like air brushing wrinkles away, remove unwanted elements and/or insert others. You can hand color or tint your picture or change it to look like a sketch. The ‘‘fun’ area is where you can distort a picture, or have it look like the picture is in motion. You can go into the ”Collage” area and disguise a person in the photo by putting on a mustache and glasses, or putting a human face on a puppy. Can you just see the possibilities?

In this new version, you can take your digital camera images more easily onto your computer with the direct access software. You can trim and print your photos to fit into standard frame sizes; fix photo quality problems using the built-in, easy to use Extensis “Instant Fix” options; create a series of photos using a 35mm camera, and then create a panorama; you can access special features from your CD as the seasons and holidays change; download additional photos, clip art, etc., for your more creative side.

In additional to all the special effects, you can make cards, calendars, certificates, labels, frames.etc., with pictures of your choice.

And most wonderful, this application works in many formats...i.e. Flashpix, Tiff, JPEG, Gif, Eps, Bmp, Pict, Png.

Go! - Buy! - Enjoy!! - Have Fun!!!