MGI PhotoSuite II

Richard Price
January 1999

MGI PhotoSuite II, the completely redesigned, MGI PhotoSuite, aims to differentiate itself from the rest of the graphics pack by relying on a web browser interface.

Wisely or not, PhotoSuite II needs Microsoft Internet Explorer 4. Don't worry if you don't have it, the install program gives it to you. It will also install or update Microsoft DirectX drivers and the latest Windows Media Player. Not that the manual mentions this.

The whole program appears to have been engineered around DHTML and Active X controls to enable MGI to more easily provide updates over the Internet.

PhotoSuite II, is an interesting program and it certainly has some powerful tools for touching up your family snaps to entertain friends and workmates.

PhotoSuite II consists of 6 basic modules. A Photos module for touching up and editing photos. The Projects module, where you can turn your pictures into calenders or greeting cards using the many templates provided. The Albums module lets you to organize your pictures. The Slide Show module allows you to create presentations with sound and transition effects. The Internet module connects to the Internet without leaving the program. While the Guides module gives you a set of tutorials on PhotoSuite II.

I have been playing with PhotoSuite II for some time now, and to tell the truth, I am still trying to get used to the quirky, interface. For instance, to touch up a photograph, you open it up in the Photos module, where you can do your edits, or apply some rather snazzy special effects.

Hey, I have used a lot of graphics packages. and I was beginning to be impressed --- until I tried to add a little bit of text. Where was the text tool? Not where I thought it would be.

To add text, you need to be in the Projects module, so you have to get your image into the correct module. Strange, I thought computers were supposed to make our lives easier.

The text editor only gives you very basic text editing facilities. You cannot specify point size. You change the size by stretching the text box.

Internet
The Internet module sounded more promising, but in my case left everything to be desired. This is the part of the program that provides "a seamless connection to new content, professional templates, and a world of exciting photos on the Internet". It sounds good in the manual, but the closest I got to the net was an Internet Explorer script error message.

Guides
The guides module, which helps you get acquainted with the program, takes you step by step, through various activities. The only activities I could step through were the "Get Photo Guides". The others where inaccessible for some reason.

A few years ago I may have fiddled around to find the solutions. Now, I just expect the program to do what it claims. Neither the manual, nor the on-line help provide any trouble-shooting tips.

If you are really interested visit their web site at www.mgisoft.com. Most sites let you download demo versions of software. MGI gives you a 3 MB commercial. Wow! I wouldn't suggest buying anything without trying it out.

http://www.mgisoft.com

By Richard Price, Editor, EnergyME.com

For information on getting a product reviewed email richard@energyme.com