ACDSee 8 Photo Manager builds on the powerful batch-processing functions and adequate image editing tools of version 7.0 and adds others. In fact, two things clearly stood out in the shipping version: its faster interface and its pumped-up photo-archiving capabilities. The latter offers the most compelling reason for current ACDSee users to upgrade.

ACDSee 8's new Burn Basket archiving feature works well. Besides letting you drag and drop files that you want to archive, it enables you to create new folders and to quickly reorganise the photos you are burning to disc.

Another added feature is Sync, which provides an alternate way to back up photos. You define the source and the destination of your files (a network server, an external hard drive, or another connected PC), and specify what the application should do in the event of a file conflict. Though primarily an archiving tool, Sync also helps you avoid storing duplicate files if you use two PCs for photo editing.

A new quick-search bar lets you speedily hunt through keywords, file names, and other fields. To search a photo's metadata, however, you have to use the full-search pane. Meanwhile, the Task Pane provides faster access to key tools such as rotate and resize. You can swiftly tab between the Task Pane and Properties, and drop-down menus permit you to expand or contract the extensive list of tasks. Unfortunately, the Task Pane is not customisable.