Serif PhotoPlus X3

by Serif

Product Features

• Fix common photo flaws quickly - straighten horizons, adjust color saturation, correct lens distortion, and more.
• Bring photos back to life! Remove damage and recover texture to undo years of fading.
• Turn photos into art instantly! Mimic styles like Impressionist, Van Gogh, Oil, Pencil, and Watercolor.
• Open 24 different image types including JPG, PNG, TIFF, and Adobe® Photoshop® files with layers!
• Process and adjust Raw images straight from your digital camera and export as 48-bit images.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.6 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B002A2VD2U
• Item model number: PHPX3USMBRT
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 1, 2009
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (96 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #897 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #52 in Software > Graphics > Photo Editing

Product Description

PhotoPlus X3 Digital Studio is Serif’s professional digital image editing solution. PhotoPlus X3 brings you an unrivalled combination of easy-to-use photo enhancement Studios, on-screen automated help, and a rich collection of professional-level tools and adjustments. Whether you’re resizing holiday snaps, removing flaws from portraits, adjusting exposure and color levels, restoring old images, importing Photoshop documents, or transforming photos with unique effects and artistic styles, PhotoPlus X3 Digital Studio has everything you need to achieve the highest quality results - fast.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good First Experience ..., September 21, 2009

By 

Roberta Karchner (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Serif PhotoPlus X3 (DVD-ROM)

(What's this?)

Length:: 0:56 Mins

This is a fully-functional, highly professional Photo Editor. I have attached a short video with some of the photos I have edited during my learning process.

For those who have never used a photo-editing software before, all of the choices can actually be quite intimidating. Since I had been away from working with Photo-editing for awhile, I chose to go through the tutorials, which were very helpful in getting me back up to speed. Even so, I found myself picking up the manual to look up things.

Since I will be using the software mostly for photos, I focused on that aspect, however it includes animations, panoramas, and a very nice photo file called "Serif Album Plus."

There is one thing you should know (which marked down the software a bit in stars) - getting your software installed and registered is a two-step process. After you install, you have to either go out to the web site or call an 800 number in order to finish. At that time you will be given a registration code.
The registration process says to call the 800 number, but I was aware that Serif could be registered online.

I chose to register online, and it worked, but was a bit clunky (I had to write down information to type into the registration - then do the reverse to get the number into the program). It might have gone better on the 800 number.

There was a document in the box offering a MontagePlus for free if you registered. When I did not see it in the online registration process, I contacted Customer support via the WebSite. They were prompt and courteous in their response and stated they were mailing me the software ... however it never arrived. I believe that you had to register using the 800 number in order to qualify.

During the installation process, I was asked which types of photos I wanted to open in PhotoPlusX3. I chose some that I was unable to open in other editors (including Kodak Raw Images). When I export a file as a jpg - it automatically reopens in the software I have designated for jpgs. Saving a file in PhotoPlusX3 automatically saves it as a SPP file. In order to save a new file into a jpg, you need to export, rather than save the file.

I also encountered a problem when the program stopped working while I was creating a new file. Windows notified me that there was a patch available (which I installed), but I was disappointed I wasn't notified of the patch automatically when I installed the product. (I am used to software checking for updates as a part of the installation process) The patch worked, and I was able to create the file I needed to create.

I rated the software 4 stars for the reasons that follow:
3 stars for the extra steps required for installation/registration
3 stars because I wasn't notified of the patch
3 stars because this isn't as intuitive as some of the competitors
5 stars for the tutorials - really well done and comprehensive
5 stars for the number of features
5 stars for customer service - even on a weekend!!!

If you are a beginner who just wants a few touch-ups on your pictures, you might want to go with some simpler software. However, this is really a very nice product, and can do a great deal. I do recommend it for those who are experienced or those who wish to do more with their photo projects than just simple adjustments.

EDIT ON REVIEW:

*** Since I registered with Serif, I have received a significant number of e-mails concerning offerings on other software. It appears that Serif is more interested in generating sales than in being perceived as customer oriented. The software is great, but I continue to find the aspects of dealing with the company difficult.

Since the price of many of its competitors is similar, you may wish to consider whether to go that route. I stand behind the 4 stars because of the features inside of the program, BUT wanted to alert future users as to the continued issues related to the company itself.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good alternative to Elements, November 8, 2009

By 

Timothy B. Riley (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Serif PhotoPlus X3 (DVD-ROM)

(What's this?)

Although I don't consider myself a "power user" of Photoshop CS4, I do use it often for semi-commercial purposes and I am very comfortable with it's features and applications and have it installed on my desktop computer for major projects. However I use my laptop for more casual photo editing and use Photoshop Elements on it. When I got the opportunity to get PhotoPlus X3 I decided to give it a try for at least a month before I reviewed it since you are always more likely to prefer the program that you are the most familiar with. The more I used it the more impressed I was. Here are some of my thoughts:

Installation was easy and I was able to register it on the phone right away. I must say that I did not enjoy the effort to sell me other products by the phone rep. He was professional, friendly and had an English accent right out of central casting but he was REALLY try to sell me something else when all I wanted to do was register what I had. I was put on hold several times and for what I don't know. I understand that they are going to make the phone registration optional and that would be an improvement.

Once installed I found the program easy to use. Many of the applications are similar to PhotoShop and this programs fill the gap between the two PS products that I own. I mostly shoot photos of wild birds but I also do portraits (the field that I was trained for and worked in for many years) for family and friends. X3 has some great, quick applications for portraits that I really like.

One thing that I should point out is that really like the fact that a very nice (although not exhaustive) instruction book is included. Over 200 pages, all in English, that explains the basics of almost all of the features of PhotoPlus X3. This is something that is seen so seldom now that I was very impressed. There is also a more detailed instruction book on the disc if you need it.

This program is a really good value for what you get. Still, it won't replace my professional version of PhotoShop on my desktop computer, however I took Elements off of my laptop and will be using PhotoPlus instead. All in all a very good product and a great value. I would give it 4 1/2 stars if I could (no half stars on Amazon) so 4 stars it is.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I like the new version. X3 is excellent., July 10, 2009

By 

Jo Anne Harrison "Lady Hawkwind" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Serif PhotoPlus X3 (DVD-ROM)

I've been using Serif Photoplus since the first version many years ago, and I downloaded the free version sometime ago, when I got a call from Serif, telling me I could upgrade to X2 for about $40. I did and was very impressed with it. I have been using Photoshop 6 for years, and the transition to Photoplus X2 was smooth, much smoother than I had anticipated. Then, I got a call from Serif again, extolling the virtues of the new X3 version, so I bought the upgrade. Even though it's an upgrade, it's a full-blown version.

I'm not sure what the two other reviewers are talking about. My installation was effortless, and registration was without incident. All they are talking about is the problems with software installation, which I am perplexed at. I installed it, and entered the appropriate information, and it was up and running in no time.

I like the ease of use, especially if you have used Photoshop (any version) in the past. In fact, Photoplus will use Photoshop plugins, which the amount is almost limitless. I really like the RAW photo import and editor. It allows you to do some major pre-editing of RAW photos.

I also like the HDR Photo Merge editor. You don't need RAW photos only. But also, if you don't have three photos at EV-2, EV0, and EV+2, you can use the Photography Macro to do the same thing as if you have three photos at different exposures. I have done that with some success.

I love the feel of the program, especially after using Photoshop for years. You can even use the books on Photoshop to do much the same things as Photoshop with some minor differences (Like Photoshop calls reverese photos invert, where Photoplus used Negative Image.) Of course, Photoplus X3 does not have everything Photoshop does, but instead of paying $115.00 for Photoshop Elements, and $650.00 for Photoshop C4, you pay less than $80 for a great program that both the amateur and professional will find use for.

I am delighted with the program. I would also recommend the Resource guide, which gives you some great examples of how to use the various features as well as the Studios extras set, which includes some awesome royalty-free photos, but also goes far beyond the tutorials included on the installation disk.

I will be purchasing upgrades from now on. If you have any doubts, download the free version, use it for a bit, then buy the full and latest version. I can almost guarantee you'll enjoy it.