> Software Tutorials> PhotoImpact & GIF Animator> Photo Fixes and Effects

Create a Vignette (Soft Fade) Effect
A vignette, or soft fade, is a popular photo effect where the photo gradually fades into the background, usually in an oval shape. Using mask mode in PhotoImpact, you can preview the effect before applying it.

How To Apply a Sepia Tone to a Photo
Step-by-step instructions for tinting a photo with a sepia tone in PhotoImpact.

Add a Text Watermark to a Photo in PhotoImpact
Placing a watermark on images that you plan to post on the Web will identify them as your own work and discourage people from copying them or claiming them as their own. Here's a simple way to add a watermark in Ulead PhotoImpact where the text remains editable.

Use Grayscale Masks For Edge Effects in PhotoImpact
Learn how to use the free grayscale masks on this site with PhotoImpact's mask feature to create interesting edge effects for your photos.

Quick Portrait Enhancement - Method 1
This simple technique produces a warm glow, softening details and diminishing noise and artifacts. It works especially well on portraits, but don't hesitate to try it on other types of images.

Quick Portrait Enhancement - Method 2
This technique mimics a diffusion filter, softening the photo, reducing harsh lines and wrinkles, and intesifying the colors. It's great for portraits and also works well for reducing JPEG artifacts.

How to Touch-up Facial Features With PhotoImpact
PhotoImpact's Retouch tools allow you to perform many different types of correction to digital images. Here's how to remove red eye, whiten teeth, conceal blemishes, and smooth skin tones with these tools.

Adjusting Color & Tone
"Photographs that look flat or dull can often be improved significantly by adjusting their tonality... PhotoImpact 8 has a number of tools to achieve this and this tutorial gives a brief overview of them, focusing on brightness, contrast and image tonality."

Almost Black Light
"Create a black-light image with almost any photo in a few easy steps using PI effects and tools." Intermediate level for PhotoImpact 8

Artistic Selections
"Use selections and various effects to give your photos and other images a creative and modernistic look." Beginner level for PhotoImpact 8

Blend over Big Time!
From Ulead: Meet two of PhotoImpact's new chameleon functions: Match Background Color and Defringe. Version 8.

Blended Images
"Blended images can be fun to make and even more fun to show off. This tutorial will show you how to take two unrelated images and combine them into one so they look like they were taken that way with the camera."

Bubble/Slatted Head
Create an unusual photo effects with PhotoImpact 8. Intermediate Level.

Color Adjustment Tools
"PI8 has a number of ways to adjust colour, ranging from simple pre set effects to more sophisticated controls." PhotoImpact 8

Color Spots
Take any color photo, change it to monochrome with color spots to give a dramatic effect. In this tutorial, you will learn how to accomplish this technique in just a few easy steps. Version 6.

Color Spots Plus!
"Use spots of color to emphasize the central focus of your photos. This tutorial will show you two different methods to get some very dramatic results on a monochrome background with a minimum of effort." Beginner level for PhotoImpact 8

Displaying Photos
Explore several imaginative ways of displaying your photos using PhotoImpact 4's tools.

Dyna-mite!
From Ulead: Get the best of both dark and light worlds with PhotoImpact's Dynamic Range Extension. Version 8.

Enhancing Portrait Skin Tones
"PhotoImpact 8 has two new filter effects, Flatten Uneven Areas and Diffuse Glow, that combine well for enhancing portrait photographs. The effects produce a soft, smooth finish to the skin, with nice highlights."

Fancy Frames
Create fancy frames using the Path Tool, Continue Draw, and the Button Designer. PI 6.

Frames in PhotoImpact
Working with the Frame Designer in PhotoImpact, part one. Part two.

Fun with Frames
Create a variety of interesting frames with PhotoImpact 4.

Highlights, Midtones and Shadows
"It can be so disappointing to take a picture of an important event only to find the picture has been overexposed and you can't see a thing. This tutorial will show you how to save those bad images!" Beginner level for PhotoImpact 8

Masks Made Easy
Learn to use masks for adding edge effects to photos with PhotoImpact 6.

Old Time Photo Corners
"Dress up your photos with trimmings from yester-year! Add an old time zig-zag edge to your photo, mount it with some old fashioned photo corners, add a drop shadow and your're done. It's easy, it's fun, and the results are images to be admired." Beginner level for PhotoImpact 8

Photo Corners Kit
Dress up your photos with trimmings from yesteryear! Add an old time zigzag edge to your photo, mount it with some old fashioned photo corners, add a drop shadow and you're done. It's easy, it's fun, and the results are images to be admired. Version 6.

Photo Correction - Forgot the Flash
This photo looked pretty hopeless, but was able to be salvaged with the use of Tone Map, Light effects and a contrast adjustment.

Photo Correction - Too Dark, Too Much Stuff
See how the clone tool and tone map was used to fix up a dark photo with a lot of background distractions.

Photo Correction - Weeds Everywhere
Here's one approach to solving the problem of obstructions blocking the subject of a photo.

Photo Sketching Technique
Create a sketch-type drawing from any part or all of a photograph. A variety of possible effects can be achieved by changing backgrounds and brushes. For PhotoImpact 6 or 7.

Rosie's Photo Fun
Experiment with several artistic effects for your photos. Beginner level for PhotoImpact 8

Souvenir Dome Kit
Make a Souvenir Dome like those you find in the tourist stops when you're on vacation. Put your favorite city, building, etc in the dome. Add a name and you've got a great display image. The kit is already done so the rest is pretty easy. Version 6.

Spot Filter
From Ulead: Create artistic and glamorous effects using the Spot Filter. Version 8.

Stamp Masking Technique
This is a fun technique to create your very own unique mask for photographs, or portion of a photograph. By applying different stamps, backgrounds and textures, you can achieve some very nice results. For Ulead PhotoImpact 6 and 7.

Star Filter
From Ulead: Add a sparkling highlight to your photos using the Star Filter. Version 8.

Straighten Horizon, Crop, Adjust Levels
"Many photographs can be improved considerably with just a few basic adjustments using image editing software. This tutorial uses three PhotoImpact 8 tools: Transform Tool, Crop Tool, and Levels." PhotoImpact 8

Straightening a Photograph
How to correct a crooked photograph using the transform and rectangular selection tools in PhotoImpact 5.

Type Gallery Cross-stitch
Apply a cross stitch effects to photos. "This tutorial can be applied to pictures and photographs but works best on those that have large blocks of colour rather than a lot of detail... it can be applied to free-floating objects created in PI as well as complete pictures and like most 'Effects' it will work better on some pictures and objects than others." Beginner level for PhotoImpact 8

Working with Zoom Blur
From Ulead: Create a sensation of movement in your images with the Zoom Blur effect. Version 7.

Window Frame
A snapshot tutorial for creating a window frame in PI 6.

Zoom Blur
From Stephanie Baker-Thomas: "The wonderful new Zoom Blur filter can help you zero in on an important part of an image, or create a feeling of motion."