Micrografx Picture Publisher 8 Reviewer's Guide

Feature	What does it do?	Why is it important?
Exclusive Command CenterÖ	The Command Center records every action applied to an image, allowing extensive command organization.	The feature allows the user to have infinite undo and redo at any time, editable command properties, branching, grouping, and locating control.
Object Layers	Object Layers are the basis for which users create and composite images without affecting the base image.	Objects can be easily moved, selected, or individual object alpha channels can be modified for precise transparency control.
Object Manager	The Object Manager provides a central location for working with Objects, allowing re-ordering, hiding, locking, grouping, cropping, and modifying transparency in the object alpha.	This assists the user when using multiple floating object layers and provides enhanced control when creating composite images.
Professional Masking Tools	Users are able to paint masks, draw rectangular or circular masks, draw freehand masks, or draw and modify masks to create paths. Paths can also be exported to clipping paths for use in EPS files.	Picture Publisher's masking tools allow for precise selection areas to affect objects or the base image with effects or retouch operations.
On Screen Editable Text	The text tool offers real-time compositing aspects by allowing direct, on-screen edits and allows for re-editing if necessary.	Users can edit the placement, the size, color, or angle relative to other image components without having to edit in a separate dialog box.
Macro Recording and Playback	Macros are the use of recorded scripts of commands by marking every action the user is performing during the recording process and then are used for playback.	Macros give the user unlimited possibilities and speed since common operations can be fully recorded and played back at any time.
Image Warping	Users can easily warp images via the Image Warp wizard, or use the special Image Warp brush to paint surreal warped effects on their images.	Warping images lets the user easily go to a new level of digital graphic manipulation.
Camera Aperture	The Camera Aperture wizard is a unique, US patent-pending feature which allows the user to change lens length, aperture, and light fall-off interactively.	Photos can automatically be given a new depth of field, giving flat, dimensionless photos a bolder look.
Light Studio	The user can start off with one of many preset lighting styles, and interactively reposition lights or add new ones to create unique lighting effects.	Special professional lighting effects can give digital images a dramatic edge.
Digimarc Digital Watermarking	Digital watermarking allows a user to store personal copyright information in their images, and track misappropriated images across the internet,	Keeps track of digital copywriting of images, and helps prevent image theft and misuse.
Advanced CMS (Color Management System) Support	Support of Kodak's Color Management System allows a user to know that their images will look identical whether on screen or printed.	Assures accurate color reproduction for print output.
FlashPix Technology	FlashPix allows the user to work with one image in multiple resolutions. It supports different low and high resolution formats within the same file, making it faster to edit, but maintaining the original image accuracy (both colors and resolution).	FlashPix allows the user to quickly preview images on the internet (in the low resolution format) but also be able to print the same image in the larger resolution format.
LowRez and FastBits Post Processing	All commands are recorded during LowRez mode and played back on the HighRez image. Fastbits is the modification of "chunks' when images are too large to be edited at one time.	The use of the LowRez and Fastbits tools allow users to speed up workflow instead of waiting on processes to apply on images that are extremely large.
Layout Tools- Grids, Guidelines, and Snap Points	The new layout tools offer alignment controls to quickly plot out locations of objects, masks, brush strokes, and other common image editing operations.	Layout tools give the user more power when positioning objects or operations by giving correct spacing amounts and by aiding in alignment.