The installer is a simple VISE installation, and looks like Mac OS 9 even on OS X systems. While this installation is simple, this is not a good start.

I'm really big on user interfaces. For a program to be really good, it needs a really good user interface. PhotoStudio's major problem is the user interface just isn't all that great. First off, it mixes OS 9 and OS X looking windows. This is just bad, and confusing. Also, there is a non-movable button bar at the top of the screen that looks very Windows-ish. But the cosmetic problems are not the only place where the user interface lags.

This application uses palettes like most other graphics applications. However, it uses them in an odd fashion. For instance, when you highlight a tool to use in the tools palette, its name does not pop up as a tool tip, but rather it shows up in a different palette altogether. Also, when using various tools you have to use blobs that somehow represent scroll arrows to scroll through the list of brushes. There should at least be the ability to pop up a small window with all brushes available, where you can quickly choose which one you want to use.

Guess what, this still is not where the problems with the user interface end. Many of the effects have sliders in which to choose attributes such as intensity. There is no text box to manually select an arbitrary number (does anyone know what some of these numbers mean?). However, once you get past these anomalies (hard to do I might add), this is an OK image editing app.

Not only does it allow you to touch up your photos in various ways, but you can add some nice looking text. easily put in some speaking or thinking bubbles (like in comics), and do some nice effects. PhotoStudio comes with various effects like Emboss, RedEye Reduction, Automatic Image Enhancement, and various other to give life to your pictures.

Some other notable image editing features include the ability to stitch two photographs together, add a shadow to the whole photo or an entire layer, soften the edges of the photo for a unique look, and more. One of the better things this program handles is transparency. Most everything you do has some type of transparency control. You can really make a photo, or group of photos look snazzy by using the right transparency effects.

Another nice feature to this software is the Macros function. You can record and use macros that will run through various filters, effects, etc.; possibly saving you time doing the same action to a bunch of different images. Of course, as with everything else in this program, figuring out how to actually record the macros can be a challenge. But once figured out, it can potentially be a very useful tool.

To really use this software, I think it has to be part of a bigger scheme. It would make a good editing option for iPhoto, and a good text and effects/filters addition for Graphic Converter. Neither of these programs always have what I want, and this software can aid in filling that void (without shelling out big bucks for Photoshop).

The software didn't crash or create any system problems, but was a problem to use at times. Some of the tools don't work intuitively, and there was a noticeable lack of controls for many of the effects.

This is ok software for light digital photo work, but no good for professional work. Luckily, the price for this software is not too high, and it makes a good companion for Graphic Converter or iPhoto.

Pros	Cons
Allows for simple editing of photos Has some nice effects/filters Multiple undos and layers Nice transparency effects Macros can come in handy	Mac OS 9 looking windows in a Mac OS X application Hard to use user interface Very few file format options Icons used for tools are hard to understand Top bar is too Windows like Shape and text tools are sub par Options for various actions (saving, creating a new image, resizing, etc.) are sub par Nearly complete lack of preferences A file browser that looks like a combination between Mac OS 9 and Windows Lack of expected printing options
5/10 stars