Software Review of:
Photo/Graphic Edges 
10,000 

What I liked most about the program was the ease of use once it was installed. The basic aspect of the program is to add borders or framing around the images or photos you are working with. There was a bit of a glitch when I installed it as the installation seemed to go smoothly until I registered the product online. The online registration worked, but when it returned me from the Auto F/X web site  I was at a point where I thought I was finished installing the program but I was not. Also, if you want to install the program as an Adobe Photoshop plug-in, that is a separate installation from the stand-alone application. So, if you choose to use it both as an application and as a Photoshop plug-in, then you have to install it both ways (two separate installations) so be sure that you pay attention as you install the program.

The power of the program comes in its flexibility and ease of use, which I have previously pointed out. Once you master the use of this program, there are 10,000 different “edges” or borders to choose from. This is a huge number but there are so many different shapes, styles and designs that there were four discs provided to hold all of them. Disc 1 holds the application and “Edges Volumes” 1 through 4, Disc 2 holds Volumes 5 – 7, Disc 3 contains Volumes 7 – 9 and Disc 4 includes Volumes 10 – 17. If you have used frames in other photo-editing programs in the past, you might think “there is no way I could go through that many examples to choose what I want to use, it would take too long.” You would be right, too except for the fact that Auto F/X Corporation provides a book, which pictures and chronicles each design by Volume and Edge name/number. I chose a design using the book, selected the correct CD, edited my photo and applied the design, and that was all there was to it. 

The stand-alone program is also easy to use and quite potent. While you would be limited in your editing scope if you used this program as your only photo editor, with this program alone, you can generate and add special effects to the edge effects you are working with. The program’s Power Bar includes the “Tabs,” which are the meat of this application. Tabs allow you to enhance the “edge” you are working with. You can combine effects using your choice of the Lighting Tab, Shadow Tab, Bevel Tab, Distort Tab, Glow, Carve, Burn, Grain, Sepia, Matte Texture or Matte Color Tabs. Altering the vertical or horizontal scale of the edge is another way to achieve your desired effect. You can rotate, soften, scale or move the edge effects once you have created them. There is also the ability to manage the opaque appearance of some of the edges. The Power Bar provides overall control of the effects on your photo edge. Slider bars control the softness, scale, opacity, and width of the border edge. The Effects Log records the transactions as you make them and tracks which effects are active (applied) or inactive. You may also choose to turn individual effects on or off from the Effects Log. This is a unique but very useful feature found in this program. 

This product may be purchased online for $199.00 from Auto FX Software and may also be found at several other online store sites. For example, PC Mall sells it for $189.99. Users of earlier versions may receive a discount with the program costing them $129.00. Auto FX Software is located at 31 Inverness Center Parkway, Suite 270, Birmingham, Alabama 35242. Contact the company by telephone at (205) 980-0056. Technical support is also provided free to registered users of the program. This program is on the expensive side but works independently or with a long list of other programs as a plug-in feature. I would recommend this program for those who are serious about graphics and image editing.