Graphics — Consumer

EasyShare 3.0(free ) , from Kodak ( www.kodak.com ): The best lineament of this solid option to iPhoto is its tight desegregation with Kodak ’s Ofoto WWW site . Still , EasyShare ’s unfitness to easily create slide shows and its unfitness to integrate with Mac OS X ’s build - in screen saver give iPhoto the edge ( November 2003 ) .

iView Media($30 ) , from iView Multimedia ( www.iview-multimedia.com ): This solid photo - cataloging programme handles a wide variety of formats and often outperforms iPhoto ; it ’s utter for mass who want to grapple multiple culture medium on a tight budget ( October 2003 ) .

Mac FlipAlbum 3.0($40 ) , from E - Book Systems ( www.ebooksys.com ): habitation users who are looking for a conceptual alternative to iPhoto may discover FlipAlbum ’s port refreshing , but there are still many things it ca n’t do ( July 2003 ) .

PhotoEdit 1.3($30 ) , from macXware ( www.macxware.com ): As an image editor — and even as an adjunct to iPhoto — PhotoEdit 1.3 fare up light ( February 2004 ) .

QuickImageCM(free ) , from Pixture Studio ( www.pixture.com ): This is a handy prototype - consider public utility that is more convenient and has dear editing capabilities than Preview . And you ca n’t beat the price ( October 2003 ) .

Graphics — Professional

canvass 9 Professional Edition($400 ) , from ACD Systems ( www.deneba.com ): If Illustrator and Photoshop miss the precision you want , and if a CAD syllabus stifles your originative aspect , then Canvas is the tool for you ( February 2004 ) .

Correct+Apply Color($49 ) , from Asiva ( www.asiva.com ): This Photoshop stopper - in ’s solvent can be very right . If you do a quite a little of coloring material - correction work , Correct+Apply Color ’s refined interface might alleviate your chores ( January 2004 ) .

Flash MX 2004($499 ) , from Macromedia ( www.macromedia.com ): This comprehensive update of a wild program has some great new features for cub , experience users , and ActionScript aficionados alike ( January 2004 ) .

Genuine Fractals PrintPro 3.0($299 ) , from LizardTech ( www.lizardtech.com ): This Photoshop sparking plug - in does an excellent job of scaling low-spirited - resolution images to gamey resolution . While it ’s very potent , its work flow is pretty way-out , hampered by a proprietary data file format and an unintuitive substance abuser interface ( October 2003 ) .

iView MediaPro 2.0($160 ) , from iView Multimedia ( www.iview-multimedia.com ): This media - direction programme is just the matter for lensman , intriguer , and nontextual matter pro . It does an admirable Book of Job , and it has a justifiable price tag ( March 2004 ) .

Illustrator CS($499 ) , from Adobe Systems ( www.adobe.com ): Illustrator CS ’s wealthiness of new typography and textual matter - formatting controls makes this upgrade a no - brainer . You ’ll get a few fresh draftsmanship creature and improvement , as well as nice 3 - D feature ( February 2004 ) .

Mask Pro 3($200 ) , from Extensis ( www.extensis.com ): This latest upgrade to Extensis ’s excellent masking cud - in for Photoshop offers a number of new selection tools and masking utilities , as well as Mac atomic number 8 X support , making it essential for the esurient Photoshop user . We recommend it to anyone who needs to make prompt , precise mask ( August 2003 ) .

Mystical Lighting($179 ) , from Auto FX Software ( www.autofx.com ): This photo - redaction tool come with 16 creative lighting and shading effects and hundreds of predetermined magnetic declination contrive to impart a dramatic flare to your photographs ( December 2003 ) .

PhotoKit 1.1($50 ) , from Pixel Genius ( www.pixel genius.com ): This Photoshop jade - in can perform effects that film lensman have been doing for twelvemonth . Since it does its magic in a fresh level , you never lose your original image ( June 2003 ) .

Photoshop CS($649 ) , from Adobe Systems ( www.adobe.com ): Photoshop CS is an awesome upgrade for every type of Photoshop user . Its slick , user - well-disposed new lineament make a huge difference of opinion in both productiveness and image quality ( February 2004 ) .

Photoshop Camera Raw($99 ) , from Adobe Systems ( www.adobe.com ): Photoshop Camera Raw offers an elegant way to bring images into Photoshop . However , this male plug - in is n’t a substitute for an industrial - strength converter ( June 2003 ) .

hpxl SmartScale($200 ) , from Extensis ( www.extensis.com ): This Photoshop plug - in does an first-class job of scale lowly - result images to high resolution , and with its intuitive Photoshop - esque interface , it ’s easy to use ( October 2003 ) .

Sharpen+Soften($69 ) , from Asiva ( www.asiva.com ): With its well - project interface , this Photoshop chew - in provides a streamlined tool for create targeted readjustment . However , you ’ll need a very dissolute Mac to use it ( January 2004 ) .

Illustration

EazyDraw 1.0($95 ) , from EazyDraw ( www.eazydraw.com ): This Mac OS X - only , vector - based drawing off tool is less than thoroughgoing ; it buries its full and complex feature article beneath an unintuitive interface . Unfortunately , this , along with limited output capableness , will slow you down ( August 2003 ) .

FreeHand MX($400 ) , from Macromedia ( www.macromedia.com ): If you ’re using Dreamweaver , Flash , or Fire - whole kit and boodle , then this illustration program is an essential spell of your Web - design mystifier ; it integrates with the other member of Macromedia ’s MX family ( July 2003 ) .