Several years ago, ArcSoft PhotoStudio was one of several journeymen image editing software programs that offered a few tools and features to allow users to touch-up old photos and maybe share them on the then-newfangled Internet. In the years that have followed, ArcSoft PhotoStudio continued humming along nicely, but seems to have peaked when DSL was still seemed Formula-1 fast.
In its defense, ArcSoft PhotoStudio does have tools and features to meet basic needs like cropping images, removing red-eye, applying filters and effects, among others. However, “meets basic needs” has hardly ever been redemptive (or positive, for that matter).
Weighing its features (as well as, yes, lack thereof) against its price tag and you will likely see that the bang-to-buck ratio isn’t as favorable as other programs like, say, Pixelmator and Paint Shop Pro Photo.
ArcSoft PhotoStudio covers the basics when it comes to editing tools and features, providing standards like red-eye removal and image optimizer tools along with a few crop tools, including an actually-decent lasso tool that intuitively outlines and extracts objects. The quantity of filters and effects is impressive. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of many of the filters and effects’ quality.
Aside from some visual embellishments and 3D text, the only true design features available in ArcSoft PhotoStudio is the photo cloner tool, which also doubles up as a blemish remover for photo and image editing. The “Magic Cut” crop tools can also be used, ostensibly, for image and graphic design as well.
ArcSoft PhotoStudio is fairly easy to use. Whether this is by deign of its limited functionality or efficient programming is up for debate. Nevertheless, the tools and features are intuitive and user-friendly, which, unfortunately, do not always translate to favorable results.
ArcSoft PhotoStudio is pretty standard in its available modes of import, allowing users to upload images located on the hard drive and other devices connected to it. There is no RAW compatibility or camera tethering to speak of. Again, not surprising.
Save it, print it and, in some cases, convert it for use in another program: these are your export options for ArcSoft PhotoStudio. Pretty standard, but, again, somehow amiss nonetheless.
ArcSoft PhotoStudio works well with the gold standard file formats like JPEG, PNG, TIFF and others, as well as PSF. No RAW support, though, which is becoming de rigueur among image editing software programs.
ArcSoft hosts an FAQ section for PhotoStudio and offers technical support through email and phone. There are user forums and knowledge bases available as well, but these include all ArcSoft software programs, making navigation somewhat difficult.
ArcSoft PhotoStudio might be mediocre and middle-of-the-road in terms of image editing software programs, but it shouldn’t be dismissed outright. With an expansion of its image/graphic design features, an interface overhaul and a few polishes to existing tools, ArcSoft PhotoStudio could return to form as a contender, leaving behind the ranks of the also-rans.
