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Graphic Design with Photo Pos Pro
Pros
Cons
Pixel-based image editors obviously aren't designed for the purpose of producing complete pieces of graphic design, but I feel it's a reasonable test of such applications to see how they can cope with such a task. In fact, some people do prefer to use image editors in this way, and for pieces that don't contain great amounts of text, it can be an option.
One feature of Photo Pos Pro that immediately helps in this respect is the fact that text flows within a frame. This means if the font size is adjusted, the text automatically reflows without the need for adding manual line breaks. Text is applied through a dialog rather than being typed directly onto the image. Other than size and color, there are few options for controlling text, such as leading. However, the application does have a tool for applying text to a path, and that does add a further degree of flexibility for users.
I do like the Layer Effects offered in Photoshop and, indeed, in Serif PhotoPlus SE as these are a very neat way to add useful effects such as drop shadows, but Photo Pos Pro doesn't have such an option. There are other ways to achieve similar effects, but they can interfere a little with your workflow.
Sharing Your Files
Photo Pos Pro uses its own file format called .fpos, but can also save to other common file formats, including GIF, JPEG and TIFF. None of these formats support layers though, so if you wish to save a version of your work with layers included for others to work with, they will need to use Photo Pos Pro also.
Conclusion
Photo Pos Pro is a powerful, free pixel-based image editor with a lot to offer, but I'm a little concerned that, as a previously paid for application now offered for no charge, it may not enjoy significant further development and improvement as the company behind it concentrate more on their commercial products. Ultimately it just doesn't set my world alight, despite its extensive feature set, including:
Some of the niggles and negative aspects include:
I wanted to like Photo Pos Pro more and have no doubt that the application has more than its fair share of dedicated fans. It is a well-featured application and is presented in a more conventional, though slightly dated-looking, interface compared to GIMP. However, at times I felt the user experience lacked complete coherency and, while I know this would improve with increased familiarity, I felt that some simple tasks took more input than should be necessary.
If you haven't yet tied your colors to the mast of a free pixel-based image editor and are prepared to invest time in getting the most from it, then do take a look at Photo Pos Pro. If you're one of those who becomes a fan, you will have added a very powerful tool to your design arsenal. If, on the other hand, you're a bit more of a casual image editor user, there are more user-friendly options out there which may better serve you.
Visit Their Website
About.com Rating
Visit Their Website
Graphic Design with Photo Pos Pro
Pros
- Text flows within a frame
- Text can be applied to a path
Cons
- Lacks layer effects
- Limited control over text
Pixel-based image editors obviously aren't designed for the purpose of producing complete pieces of graphic design, but I feel it's a reasonable test of such applications to see how they can cope with such a task. In fact, some people do prefer to use image editors in this way, and for pieces that don't contain great amounts of text, it can be an option.
One feature of Photo Pos Pro that immediately helps in this respect is the fact that text flows within a frame. This means if the font size is adjusted, the text automatically reflows without the need for adding manual line breaks. Text is applied through a dialog rather than being typed directly onto the image. Other than size and color, there are few options for controlling text, such as leading. However, the application does have a tool for applying text to a path, and that does add a further degree of flexibility for users.
I do like the Layer Effects offered in Photoshop and, indeed, in Serif PhotoPlus SE as these are a very neat way to add useful effects such as drop shadows, but Photo Pos Pro doesn't have such an option. There are other ways to achieve similar effects, but they can interfere a little with your workflow.
Sharing Your Files
Photo Pos Pro uses its own file format called .fpos, but can also save to other common file formats, including GIF, JPEG and TIFF. None of these formats support layers though, so if you wish to save a version of your work with layers included for others to work with, they will need to use Photo Pos Pro also.
Conclusion
Photo Pos Pro is a powerful, free pixel-based image editor with a lot to offer, but I'm a little concerned that, as a previously paid for application now offered for no charge, it may not enjoy significant further development and improvement as the company behind it concentrate more on their commercial products. Ultimately it just doesn't set my world alight, despite its extensive feature set, including:
- Preset common image enhancing options
- Good selection of effects and filters
- Broad range of customizable brushes
- Text flows within text frames
Some of the niggles and negative aspects include:
- Duplicating layers seems convoluted
- No Dodge and Burn tools
- Editing layer masks could be more intuitive
- No keyboard shortcuts for the tools palette or zoom
I wanted to like Photo Pos Pro more and have no doubt that the application has more than its fair share of dedicated fans. It is a well-featured application and is presented in a more conventional, though slightly dated-looking, interface compared to GIMP. However, at times I felt the user experience lacked complete coherency and, while I know this would improve with increased familiarity, I felt that some simple tasks took more input than should be necessary.
If you haven't yet tied your colors to the mast of a free pixel-based image editor and are prepared to invest time in getting the most from it, then do take a look at Photo Pos Pro. If you're one of those who becomes a fan, you will have added a very powerful tool to your design arsenal. If, on the other hand, you're a bit more of a casual image editor user, there are more user-friendly options out there which may better serve you.
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