PhotoImpact SmartSaver

PhotoImpact SmartSaver is another new graphics client designed specifically for webmasters. This cool new app has been released with one goal in mind -- to be the fastest and easiest way to optimize GIF and JPEG images for web use. SmartSaver works its magic by giving you an extensive set of tools for saving GIFs and JPEGs in a variety of formats, including transparency and interlacing modes, various dithering and palette options, smoothing levels, and reduced colors for GIFs, as well as progressive and standardized modes, various subsampling options, compression/quality trade-off levels (from 1 to 100), and smoothing schemes for JPEGs. SmartSaver presents you with a preview of both images side-by-side in "before and after" panes, allowing you to see exactly how big the file will be and how it will look compared to the old image. In this manner, users are saved the trouble of modifying an image, saving it, and then reopening it, only to find that the changes are undesirable. SmartSaver will also perform batch processing of files and compression scaling to a specific file size for JPEG images. SmartSaver is available for trial on the web, but you will need to have either the commercial PhotoImpact client, Adobe Photoshop, or a client that can make use of Photoshop 32-bit plug-ins in order to use the demo release. Purchasing the client ($29.95) will give you unlimited access to the standalone version as well. Using SmartSaver with either Photoshop or PhotoImpact will give you the ability to export any image supported by these applications into the SmartSaver client and then save it as a smaller GIF or JPEG graphic. There are a few features lacking in SmartSaver that would make it a better client, which should come as no surprise, considering SmartSaver's recent release from beta status. Most notably, SmartSaver lacks an option for changing the screen size of the application. When reducing images to a suitable file size, you're usually working with large graphics, therefore it would make sense to be able to view the before and after shots using the entire real estate of the screen. Another feature that would increase SmartSaver's overall value is optimization of animated GIFs -- these tend to be the graphics most in need of smaller file sizes. Despite these minor setbacks and the fact that only web designers will be able to realize the full benefits of SmartSaver, if you do design web pages and you host a site with anything less than a T3 connection, SmartSaver will definitely make your users a whole lot happier. Pros: Excellent GIF/JPEG optimization tools, great for reducing image sizes on websites Cons: Lacks full screen capabilities and animated GIF optimization, mainly limited to web use Version Reviewed: 1.1a Date of Review: 10/2/96 For the latest information on SmartSaver, check out http://www.stroud.com/95image.html#photisav apps conference Main Menu