Best Graphics
Consider Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan or Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC to get the latest updates, and ensure that the software works with raw files from the newest cameras.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"There are four new features that are intended to convince version 5 users to upgrade: -Better performance. -Facial recognition. -Panorama merge. -HDR merge. I suspect what people care most about are Panorama and HDR. Here's the good news about these features: The output file for both the HDR and Panorama merge is Adobe DNG (RAW) so you can continue to modify the photo as a RAW film in Lightroom. Every program I've used for HDR and Panorama can only output a JPEG or TIFF even when they can accept a RAW files as an input (and of course, it's a major pain to have to convert your RAW files to TIFF or JPEG for programs that cannot accept RAW). Despite the lack of controls for HDR and Panoramic merge, there's a huge plus to having these features built into Lightroom and having the output file kept in RAW. But if you want the ability to control the process than the upgrade may not be worth it for you at this time (especially if you want that surreal look to your HDR images)."
"Like several other one-star reviewers I could not find the serial number to install the software, even after over an hour of browsing the Adobe www site and going in circles that always led to having me look on the box or the DVD sleeve."
"I was on the verge of purchasing the Lightroom 6 standalone product when I discovered the following: Adobe is in the process of moving its products to a subscription-only based business model."
Designed specifically for illustrating manga and comic art, specialized features provide a complete solution all in one program. Frame-by-frame animation - features include adjustable timeline, onion skinning display and light table for creating seamless transitions.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The learning curve is easy and if you get stuck there are many tutorials."
"Update 1 month later : I keep finding more and more reasons to love this program, its half the price of SAI but arguably stronger engine, there's so much power packed in this application, even if you don't use it, it's very easy to get into and fiddle with to learn the controls. If you are on the fence on finding an application for your digital drawing needs, this is a tough one to pass up on, I think most people who digital paint shy away from this thinking its only for manga, the brush engine and customization available in this application will more than cover your doodly needs!.I've only scratched the surface of what it has to offer from what I read and see on online tutorials, yet offers so much with the standard tools available from the get go."
"THIS IS AWESOME SOFTWARE !"
"Great, but had to return it because of my granddaughter's computer, otherwise fine, no problems with return at all."
"I love the brushes comes ready with Clip Studio.It gives more natural feel compare to Photoshop and illustrator, when its comes to painting."
"No problems downloading and Installing on both Windows and Mac."
"Got it for my daughter, she loves it and says it is a very very good piece of software."
"Working well."
Add effects to selected areas in your video with Mask Creator and over 2,000 customizable effects including 14 premium effect collections and layering options with Track Transparency.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Very powerful program."
"Had a little technical issue but i contacted customer support and they are assisting me."
"This software is great and the price is good too."
"Really well priced and you can do all of the basic editing + some more."
"Great product use it for my YouTube channel (Boss Plays Pokecraft) along with OBS and they work hand in hand with my iPod for a facecam as well I would highly recommend this if you don't want to pay 300 for camtasia."
"I was very surprised and concerned when I hadn't used the app in months, and suddenly, in Windows, I started experiencing a popup page advertising "Black Friday deals"."
"Oh and if you say no to that when u buy it, they ask you again a million times - when you install and again everytime you start it (with default box checked - just to make sure they can further you to having to uncheck it again) - because hey maybe u slip up and then they got you. 6) When you start any of those installed programs they suck up your hard disk space but are useless.. first they ask for serial numbers and you can buy it for ONLY USD 199 (sonicfire for example). 8) Then when you made it through all this - you notice that half the features in the program don't perform as advertised because you first have to buy them - so you thought you bought that PRO version which should have everything. 9) Then in the program the wonderful bait and then glorious switch continues... they list for FX effect.. some brand names, means nothing no idea what it does.. u get few simple things and then u need to buy the rest and real deal for effects. There's Triple Scoop Music - unfortunately it's all watermarked with every effect some lovely lady saying the brand.. then they have tons of Muserk Sound Effects great, except sorry same thing every single file is watermarked, some dude saying Muserk.. totally useless. So you payed a ton of money for ultimate version to fill up your hard drive with watermarked sound effects... great. - and then lucky you there's a very few that are not watermarked - but that stuff is - sorry - personal-use-only - so forget uploading to youtube and earning ad revenue.. if u end up making an amazing and wonderful video..with tons of clicks.. then you're screwwwedd again because it's just personal use only and all your work is lost - because you don't really have the license for those sound effects."
"This is not very user friendly."
Best Animation & 3D
Anime Studio Pro 11 is perfect for professionals looking for a more efficient alternative to traditional animation.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"You'll also save yourself a lot of time in learning because this one is by far, one of the easiest programs for me to understand and use. You will still have to spend some time learning how to work it, but I highly doubt you'll need to enroll yourself in a college class to understand it."
"Great Software, but have trouble running it on Win 10..."
"I only bought the Debut version because it was cheaper and I wanted to learn Anime Studio's original selling point it's bone feature. I recommend this version over the Debut version of Anime Studio 11 because you will find more tutorials for the bone feature and a webinar for the frame by frame feature."
"The included Tutorial and User Manuals (pdf format) are good and can be accessed in Anime Studio from the help menu."
"Excellent software with great tutorials on their youtube channel."
Best CAD
Consider Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan or Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC to get the latest updates, and ensure that the software works with raw files from the newest cameras.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"There are four new features that are intended to convince version 5 users to upgrade: -Better performance. -Facial recognition. -Panorama merge. -HDR merge. I suspect what people care most about are Panorama and HDR. Here's the good news about these features: The output file for both the HDR and Panorama merge is Adobe DNG (RAW) so you can continue to modify the photo as a RAW film in Lightroom. Every program I've used for HDR and Panorama can only output a JPEG or TIFF even when they can accept a RAW files as an input (and of course, it's a major pain to have to convert your RAW files to TIFF or JPEG for programs that cannot accept RAW). Despite the lack of controls for HDR and Panoramic merge, there's a huge plus to having these features built into Lightroom and having the output file kept in RAW. But if you want the ability to control the process than the upgrade may not be worth it for you at this time (especially if you want that surreal look to your HDR images)."
"Like several other one-star reviewers I could not find the serial number to install the software, even after over an hour of browsing the Adobe www site and going in circles that always led to having me look on the box or the DVD sleeve."
"I was on the verge of purchasing the Lightroom 6 standalone product when I discovered the following: Adobe is in the process of moving its products to a subscription-only based business model."
Best Home Design
Sweet Home 3D is aimed at people who wants to design their interior quickly, whether they are moving or they just want to redesign their existing home. View the changes in the plan simultaneously in a 3D view, in which you can navigate either from an aerial view point, or from a virtual visitor view point. PC Minimum System Requirements: PC Recommended System Requirements: Processor: Intel Core RAM: 1 GB Hard Disk: 280 MB Video Card: Any Supported OS: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP. Customize colors and texture of furniture, walls, floors and ceilings.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I say it is freeware because you can go to their home website and download the exact same program and furniture collections for free, but you have to download each and install the program and import the collections. By buying it through Amazon, you get the program and all available furniture collections packaged into one installation program and you provide the developers with a little cash for their efforts. If you can't find an item of furniture or a door or window you need, you can install the free Sketchup Make program, search the Sketchup 3D Warehouse and import any 3D model, or draw your own in Sketchup (steep learning curve, but worth it)."
"This software is not only VERY affordable but easy to use for ALL."
"Before purchasing this though, I played with a few free download program from various vendors ranging in price from $60-$200. I would not expect to use program to turn plans directly over to a builder, but it will save you thousands in architectural fees by laying out your own floor-plan first."
"This includes what we normally think of as furniture (tables, chairs, beds), and also doors, windows, staircases, appliances, cabinets, fixtures, tools and so on.). After a few hours of trial-and-error practice, I was able to produce respectable concept drawings (to show to a contractor) for a home addition, and for separate woodworking workshop and garden tractor garage buildings. The program author lives in Europe, so an American user may notice a few quirks."
Best Illustration
CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO, The #1 Comic & Manga Software Worldwide, is the most efficient and advanced all-in-one solution for drawing, laying out, illustrating and publishing manga and comics. Designed specifically for illustrating manga and comic art, specialized features provide a complete solution all in one program. Frame-by-frame animation - features include adjustable timeline, onion skinning display and light table for creating seamless transitions.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I found that drawing in paint tool sai is still far smoother than doing so in this program, and coloring, and shading, and etc. I still haven't figured out how to zoom in on the model but you can click and drag to move or rotate parts of the "doll" to get a pose you need. Well their website has you covered with a literal BUTTLOAD of individual and brush sets taht you can easily install into the program."
"Update 1 month later : I keep finding more and more reasons to love this program, its half the price of SAI but arguably stronger engine, there's so much power packed in this application, even if you don't use it, it's very easy to get into and fiddle with to learn the controls. If you are on the fence on finding an application for your digital drawing needs, this is a tough one to pass up on, I think most people who digital paint shy away from this thinking its only for manga, the brush engine and customization available in this application will more than cover your doodly needs!.I've only scratched the surface of what it has to offer from what I read and see on online tutorials, yet offers so much with the standard tools available from the get go."
"The learning curve is easy and if you get stuck there are many tutorials."
"No more awkward lines! Still easy to use, Has extra features that Sai tool did not have, and plethora of resources made by other users that adds expandability of the tool! If you are looking for a good paint tool that doesn't break your bank or cause awkward sensation while drawing, Clip studio paint is worth a try."
Best Photography
Platform: PC/Mac Disc. Consider Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan or Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC to get the latest updates, and ensure that the software works with raw files from the newest cameras.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Like several other one-star reviewers I could not find the serial number to install the software, even after over an hour of browsing the Adobe www site and going in circles that always led to having me look on the box or the DVD sleeve."
"There are four new features that are intended to convince version 5 users to upgrade: -Better performance. -Facial recognition. -Panorama merge. -HDR merge. I suspect what people care most about are Panorama and HDR. Here's the good news about these features: The output file for both the HDR and Panorama merge is Adobe DNG (RAW) so you can continue to modify the photo as a RAW film in Lightroom. Every program I've used for HDR and Panorama can only output a JPEG or TIFF even when they can accept a RAW files as an input (and of course, it's a major pain to have to convert your RAW files to TIFF or JPEG for programs that cannot accept RAW). Despite the lack of controls for HDR and Panoramic merge, there's a huge plus to having these features built into Lightroom and having the output file kept in RAW. But if you want the ability to control the process than the upgrade may not be worth it for you at this time (especially if you want that surreal look to your HDR images)."
"I was on the verge of purchasing the Lightroom 6 standalone product when I discovered the following: Adobe is in the process of moving its products to a subscription-only based business model."
Best Graphics Training & Tutorials
Best Arts & Culture
Whether they are design professionals on deadline or small business owners creating their own marketing materials, customers will enjoy a significant productivity boost from CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3. This significant update includes more than 40 new and enhanced features designed to directly benefit design professionals and occasional business users. CorelDRAW X3: An intuitive graphic design and page layout application that meets the demands of today's busy design professionals and occasional business users. Corel PowerTRACE X3: Professional designers often receive poor-quality bitmap images from clients and face the challenge of turning these into high-quality vector images for business cards, brochures, promotional items, or signs. The Image Adjustment Lab is a 'one stop shop' for adjusting photo colors and tones while the ability to create snapshots of your adjusted photos with one single click makes photo comparison simple and easy. See the product tour. Made for you CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 has been designed for both design professionals and occasional business users, with special new tools that are sure to ease the burden of both types of users. Likewise, if you need to create marketing collateral, flyers, newsletters, brochures, Web graphics, and other projects for your business, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 makes it easy to make it happen, fast. New Tools for Illustration With CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3, designers can take advantage of tons of new tools and features that increase their productivity without compromising on their creativity and flexibility. For instance, the new Star tool lets users quickly and easily draw perfect stars, while the new Complex Star tool makes it easy to create complex stars that have intersecting sides and produce unique results with an applied fill. Unlike conventional fill tools that fill only objects, the Smart Fill tool detects the edges of an area and creates a closed path so that the area can be filled. Design professionals typically face the challenge of turning bitmap images into high-quality vector images to create logos for business cards, brochures, signs, and promotional items. For control and flexibility, Corel PowerTRACE generates a color palette that lets you easily pick which colors appear in the traced result and quickly convert them to the appropriate color mode, including spot colors. Efficient Photo Editing CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 puts the focus on providing design professionals with more efficient, intuitive, and accurate photo editing. For maximum flexibility, users can choose to save the cutout object and discard the original image, save the cutout object and keep the original image, or save the cutout object as a clip mask added to the original image. CorelDRAW X3 – Now including Corel PowerTRACE, this intuitive graphic design, page layout, illustration, and tracing application meets the demands of today’s busy design professionals and business users.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"i could only load the 1st disk."
"I bought this software for the graphics capabilities and my husband is using Photo-Paint to edit our family pictures."
"With this program, u can do a lot of creation."
"in the past I used Microsoft publisher for all my menus and flyers for the restaurant, but this is so much better, I can edit my photos, apply special effects, re-size anything."
"CorelDraw was my first foray into vector graphics back when version 3 showed up on my desk at the small "Mom and Pop" screenprinting shop i worked at. Being already familiar with Adobe Photoshop's features, tools and "look and feel", Illustrator didn't present a huge, overbearing learning curve. Adobe's intuitive programs, and their ability to interact with one another ... seamlessly ... THAT is what won me over to Illustrator. (again ... i could go on) (EDIT: i learned this IS possible in Illustrator CS2 via the EDIT/Keyboard Shortcuts, or Alt+Shift+Ctrl+K). In regards to importing and exporting files from other applications, CorelDRAW wins, hands down."
"The package clearly should not say "Corel Draw" in bold black. Drawing should be simple."
"I bought this program and can't installed it!!!!!!"
Best Home Publishing Fonts
Inkers BEST selling CD... featured in award-winning publications and craft magazines, 'Super Fontastic' has 77 creative DJ Fonts to help you create to your heart's content! See additional image to view fonts included and samples made with this CD. True-Type Fonts.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It makes my Publisher documents more appealing."
"LOVE this product."
Best Home Publishing Mailing Labels
Enhanced photo quality printing and new borderless print features mean your projects will have the refined look you want! Photo Shop 21 Deluxe even helps you manage your time with Calender Creator Express, and its new address book and mail merge feature give you effortless mailings every time. Everything you need to create premium print and photo projects.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I am just starting a new business for myself and I am trusting amazon for most of my needs and so far I am very pleased with what I have received kudos to you I looked all over for this product and found it here I was a little leery of purchasing it because it was used and I needed it In a hurry but I got it and was very pleased thank you again."
"As someone who has bought several versions of Print Shop, 21 Deluxe is a great program which produces a quality product while still being user friendly."
"I love all the variation and the extra art discs that came with Printshop 21, and so far I have not needed the internet for any pictures the discs have more than enough."
"Yes, I was able to retrieve all files using this application."
"I would definitely order again."
"Save your self aggravation and get a program that will work."
"The above product I received was excellent and worked well with my Windows XP, however, I recently purchased a new computer with Vista Premium and had a little difficulty programing it into this system."
Best Web Page Editors
Microsoft FrontPage 2002 is a Web site creation-and-management solution that gives you the tools you need to create and control professional-quality Web sites.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is user friendly and allows you to work effortlessly and learn new things on your computer."
"The only reason to use this product is if you have an existing web page that was created in FrontPage and you need to make some changes."
"Just what I needed to get my Honor Guard website back on line."
"I use Frontpage to publish several non profit web sites and did not have the time to reconstruct."
"Excellent job, well done."
"This Microsoft Software came quickly and was exactly what I wanted for my old computer."
"I really love Microsoft Frontpage and I make all my websites using this version."
"No longer supported by microsoft."
Best Home Publishing Clip Art
Art Explosion products arewell-known for unparalleled variety andthe highest quality possible. Art Explosion products are well known for unparalleled variety and the highest quality possible. Art Explosion® 800,000 continues this tradition with exclusive vector illustrations, brand new photographs, professionally designed web graphics and more. 800,000 premium royalty-free graphics on 4 DVD-ROMs.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I was going to do the cash rebate, too many steps so I decided the online gift card, same long process."
"This package consists of 4 dvds and some addon software, including an image browser utillity."
"Works great for my graphics designs."
"love the many choices."
"Pros: As the title says "800,000" images is correct, it does contain more images then you can view."
"(not $5 like the paphlet inside says) for the book (which doesn't even show the fonts [one big reason I got it]). Bottom line: you need vectors and are willing to do a little "searching", this is for you, plenty of pictures. Fonts, ya there are a ton of them, but good luck looking for the one you want, it takes days. AND everything is pretty out dated (couple decades or so) Chevy Geo, and Mercury Capri?!"
"Used this years ago when I was in graphic design."
Best Professional Web Development
Follow your ideas anywhere with Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection software, a comprehensive creative environment featuring highly integrated, exceptionally productive tools. Master Collection is a value-packed offering that helps you meet deadlines while you express your creative vision in print, web, interactive, film, video, and mobile design. Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection software is a comprehensive creative environment that features highly integrated, all-new versions of professional design, web, video, and mobile tools from Adobe. It combines the best of Creative Suite 3 Design Premium, Web Premium, and Production Premium editions with productivity features that let you produce content for virtually all media--print, web, interactive, film, video, and mobile--in one value-packed offering. Design professionals --Expand your creative horizons and express your ideas in virtually any medium using Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection software. Creative Suite 3 Master Collection lets you design across media by combining all-new versions of essential tools for professional print, web, interactive, motion, film, video, and mobile design--plus Adobe PDF workflows--with features for exceptional productivity. Blur boundaries and break the rules as you explore and express your ideas with the highly integrated, productive tools in Creative Suite 3 Master Collection. Web design professionals --Take your content beyond the web and express your ideas in virtually any medium using Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection software. Creative Suite 3 Master Collection lets you design across media by combining all-new versions of essential tools for professional web, interactive, motion, film, video, and mobile design--and even print design and Adobe PDF workflows--with features for exceptional productivity. Blur boundaries and break the rules as you explore and express your ideas with the highly integrated, productive tools in Creative Suite 3 Master Collection. Film and video professionals --Tell compelling stories in virtually any medium using Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection software. Creative Suite 3 Master Collection lets you design across media by combining all-new versions of essential tools for professional film, video, motion, interactive, web, and mobile design--even print design and Adobe PDF workflows--with features for exceptional productivity. Blur boundaries and break the rules as you explore and express your ideas with the highly integrated, productive tools in Creative Suite 3 Master Collection. All the latest, greatest creative tools Discover new levels of creative opportunity and efficiency with all-new versions of professional Adobe tools for print, web, interactive, film, video, and mobile design. Adobe InDesign CS3 for professional page design Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended for new dimensions in digital imaging Adobe Illustrator CS3 for powerful vector graphics creation Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional for Adobe PDF creation and collaboration Adobe Flash CS3 Professional for creating rich interactive content Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 for developing standards-based websites and applications Adobe Fireworks CS3 for web prototyping and designing Adobe Contribute CS3 for updating websites and blogs Adobe After Effects CS3 Professional for industry-standard motion graphics and visual effects Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 for capturing, editing, and delivering video Adobe Encore CS3 for preparing DVD titles Adobe Soundbooth CS3 for creating and editing audio quickly and intuitively. Tools to take you beyond print Move beyond print design and begin to incorporate web, interactive, mobile, and even motion and video design and production into your repertoire. Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection offers the essential tools you need for professional design and print production as well as tools to expand into new disciplines--including learning resources and other support for quickly getting up to speed in the areas you're starting to explore. Master Collection combines everything you need for your core discipline as well as tools to grow your skills (and your business) in new directions, all at a great value. Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection combines the best of Adobe web and interactive tools--Flash CS3 Professional, Dreamweaver CS3, Contribute CS3, and Fireworks CS3--with the best of Adobe motion and video tools--After Effects CS3 Professional, Adobe Premiere Pro CS3, and Soundbooth CS3. Tools to take you beyond the web Move beyond web design and development and begin to incorporate print, video, and mobile design and production into your repertoire. Master Collection offers the essential tools you need for professional web design as well as tools to expand into new disciplines--including learning resources and other support for quickly getting up to speed in the areas you're starting to explore. Master Collection combines everything you need for your core discipline as well as tools to grow your skills (and your business) in new directions, all at a great value. Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection offers the essential tools you need to put your ideas in motion as well as tools to expand into print, web, and mobile publishing, so you can promote your projects and grow your business. Combines the latest versions of Adobe InDesign, Photoshop Extended, Illustrator, Acrobat 8 Professional, Flash Professional, Dreamweaver, Also Fireworks, Contribute, After Effects Professional, Premiere Pro, Encore, and Soundbooth.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"You enter the S/N that comes with this download version and the web site gives you a new S/N."
"Excellent product."
"This program is still good, it feels weird to not use CS5 or CS6, but it works wonders!"
"No negative comments at all."
"Works well in good condition, serial number is valid."
"Thanks to used items being allowed fore sale, expensive software can be in reach of a tight budget."
"This will get you all you really need at an affordable cost."
"Once we got all the parts of the set we were very happy with the results of the product."