An excellent release that reworks Photoshop’s core colour-correction capabilities, making them even more powerful

Improved handling of templates, tracing, text and layers along with new table support, but ultimately X4 disappoints

Macromedia Flash (May 2002, page 60), Dreamweaver, Fireworks and FreeHand (Studio MX, November 2002, page 71), have all been given the MX treatment, and now it's Director's turn.

A new interface, smart albums, guided editing and photo merging keep Photoshop Elements ahead of the pack

What makes Publisher different is its automated approach to design through its colour and font schemes and huge range of publication templates. These are handled via the redesigned Task Pane, which now has a simplified Start panel offering drill-down access to project types split into print, Web and themed sets. Another ten attractive master sets increase the total to 45.

Non-destructive image processing and creative filters feature in this comprehensive upgrade to the market leader.

With its enhanced interface, support for transparency and new collaboration features, it’s the best release in years.

Piranesi gets the major overhaul of interface and tools that its extraordinary creative power deserves

Piranesi gets the major overhaul of interface and tools that its extraordinary creative power deserves

Macromedia Contribute (March 2003, page 57) caused considerable excitement with its ability to keep site content up-to-date, under control and within budget.

Adobe Photoshop is so dominant when it comes to print and Web-based bitmap-editing that, in many ways, it has come to define the whole field...

Microsoft prepares to march into Adobe territory with its forthcoming suite of graphics and web development software.

A simplified interface, strong photo-to-art Focus and the low price make painter essentials a great buy.

A shift of focus to advanced CSS and JavaScript handling, but Dreamweaver is beginning to look old-fashioned

With Flash media handling and integration with Acrobat.com the Acrobat platform embraces the Internet – at last

Some reasonable hands-on editing power, but image management and sharing are disappointing.

Efficient photo management and sharing, but let down by some surprisingly underpowered editing.

With its improved interface, colour handling, image adjustments and brush-based artistic creativity, DrawPlus moves onto a new level.

What makes PDF (Portable Document Format) unique is that it can provide an exact electronic replica of any document from any application on all major platforms, including all text, graphics and fonts. It’s an amazingly flexible format with a myriad of uses ranging from electronic manuals and e-books, through secure document exchange and archiving, to multimedia presentation and high-end commercial print.

A new focus on animation, better video support and deeper integration, but not the core authoring package it once was.