ArcSoft PhotoStudio 5.5

ArcSoft PhotoStudio is a capable image editor that would suit either the beginner or intermediate user looking for something that is easy to use.

It has a clean, uncluttered interface that takes more than a few leaves out of Photoshop's book. Colourful icons add to the friendliness of the program.

Image support is limited to JPG, BMP, TIF, PNG, PCX, TGA, FPX and EPS formats. The omission of GIF support is surprising, especially given the popularity of the format and the retail price of PhotoStudio.

A good range of effects is included, ranging from motion blur to fine art effects; and plug-in support allows for plenty of expansion.

All the basic functions you would expect from an image editor (crop, rotate, red-eye removal etc.) are present, and macro support lets you automate repetitive tasks.

It also has handy features such as 'PDA Sync', which automatically prepares images for installation onto a PDA.

Panoramic photos are catered for with a stitch tool that acts as a helper for joining images.