Auto FX Software has improved an already excellent product, Photo/Graphic Edges 7.0 Platinum Edition. They have added 32 new effects and a large number of presets to an already large number as well as revamped their interface making it incredibly easy to use. I love the Auto FX Software plug-ins and have used version 6 of Photo/Graphic Edges a lot in the past. These additions make it even more powerful and versatile.

The best way to look at it is to look at examples and download the Demo.

Let's start by looking at the differences between the interface of version 6 and version 7. Pictured below is version 6 in its default color scheme. I could have changed this.

Version 7 has a cleaner more streamlined look about it. You can, also, see the huge number of Effects that were added. The types of effects have been further delineated making it much easier to choose how you want to "frame" your image.

The Effects palette has been streamlined, also. I like the way some of the different options are no longer just symbols.

Throughout the program, when you hover over a tool or function, a fly-out menu will appear describing that particular function.

You can change the look of the palettes as well as the interface through the Preferences menu. I, however, like the default look of Photo/Graphic Edges 7.

A lot of presets come with version 7 making it easy and quick to use an "Effect". Then, you can save that preset in Favorites.

The Layers palette has two sets of options for accessing different functions. You can click on the right top arrow head or choose from the symbols on the bottom.

In the following examples, I will show some of the new "Effects" in version 7 as well as some of those that were already in version 6. This is the original I used to demonstrate some of the new effects.

The first is under Frames and is the Grunge frame preset GE003. Of course, I didn't have to use presets, but could have created my own frame from the Basic Grunge Frame. The tools to use will vary depending on the Effect chosen.

Below I modified preset AF011 of Painted Edges After choosing a preset, you can still perform modifications.

Below is a traditional frame. This was available in version 6. Once you select the frame and it is placed, you can alter its size as well as how the image fits into it.

There are 1,000 presets for Abstract Edges. This one is AF041

The image below lent itself to the Effect called Abstract Edges. By applying some of the Effects, you can change the whole image.

The next two examples are just a few more showing the infinite number of "Edges" and "Effects" you can produce.

The program comes both as a plug-in as well as a standalone on 1 disk. The purchase prices are $249.00 for the full version and $129.00 for the upgrade. For more information and to see examples go to: http://www.autofx.com/products/pge/detail.html. Further, for information about all their wonderful products go to: http://www.autofx.com. In addition, I have reviewed most of their other products. These can be found on perpetualvisions.com.

The requirements are:

Windows


OS: 2000 / XP / Vista
Memory: 512 MB
Disk Space: 4 GB
Photoshop Support: CS4 - CS3 - CS2 - CS - 7.0
 

Macintosh


OS: OS X / PPC or Intel
Memory: 512 MB
Disk Space: 4 GB
Photoshop Support: CS4 - CS3 - CS2 - CS - 7.0

I have loved using their previous products. Since I use Photoshop all the time, I have used all as plug-ins. This review is being written using a Vista 64-bit system and it is plugged into the 32-bit version of Photoshop CS4.

This is a great program. It is easy to use and indispensable if you want to create "Edges" for your images or distortion type "Effects." The new interface is much clearer than the old, although I didn't find the previous interface hard to use. The number of presets is almost overwhelming. That is why I love the category where I can save particular ones as Favorites. In addition, the small or large changes I can make using the various Effects, Mood, Lighting, and Background panels are wonderful. This program needs to be in every toolbox.