Roxio PhotoSuite 7.0

Roxio's PhotoSuite 7.0 allows you to import, organise, edit and share digital photos. You can enhance or modify images, and create slideshows with music, transitions and special effects - with minimum fuss.

Other key enhancements include the ability to quickly import photos and video clips from a digital camera or camcorder, as well as the way you can alter a collection of photos simultaneously. PhotoSuite 7.0 can now turn multiple photos of a landscape into a panoramic scene and burn pictures, video clips and audio files to a CD, DVD or video CDs (with animated menus, buttons, chapters and background themes). Unfortunately, the software's core image-editing features are very limited. Inexperienced users will probably welcome PhotoSuite's task-driven interface, because you can apply a range of special effects quickly with a simple mouse-click.

Those familiar with image-editing apps will be disappointed, however, when they discover that they cannot access colour properties, add or delete layers or extend the workspace. In addition, there are no Web-optimisation controls for preparing photos for the internet, no support for plug-in filters and no HTML or JavaScript tools. These limitations, and a general lack of features, don't help PhotoSuite 7.0. As a result, other similarly priced competitors such as Adobe's Photoshop Elements, Ulead Systems' PhotoImpact XL or Jasc's Paint Shop Pro might suit your needs better.