THE old adage that the camera never lies is no longer true. To be honest, I'm not so sure it was ever true. Almost from the moment photography was invented nearly 200 years ago people have been looking for ways to improve the pictures they take.

Before the advent of digital photography, image manipulation was fiendishly difficult. The photographer could improve a picture by using a filter over a lens or touch up a poor composition in the darkroom.

Today's image manipulation software makes this process as simple as clicking your mouse a few times.

If you buy a digital camera, the chances are that it will come with some kind of digital darkroom programme. So why bother spending more money on another piece of software?

The programmes that come bundled with all but the most expensive digital cameras are usually cut-down versions of the software you can buy at the shops.

They may be missing crucial features like the ability to layer your photos - placing new images over a base image and creating a collage effect - or manipulate it with digital filters. Some freebie programmes are nothing more than a way of cataloguing the pictures you have taken.

The biggest and best photo manipulation programme is Adobe Photoshop. Now in version 7.0, this programme is the one used by the professionals.

There is almost nothing it can't do to make your pictures better. Unfortunately it also costs over £500 - a price that puts it beyond all but the most dedicated digital snappers.

There's no need to give up if your budget doesn't stretch to Photoshop. All of the programmes reviewed here can achieve similar results:

REVIEWS

Jasc Paint Shop Pro 7.0. Price: from £45.

Billed as the poor man's Photoshop this programme started life as shareware (you tried it out and only paid up if you decided to keep it) but from version 5.0 the programme has gone retail.

This latest version is a substantial improvement over previous versions if you happen to own a digital camera.

Useful tools include a simple method of removing red eye from your portraits, scratches on old photos, even that patterning effect you can get when scanning printed pictures onto your PC. It can also automatically enhance the sharpness of soft images.

PSP 7.0 launches much faster than Photoshop, too. Even though it has many of the same tools the PC hardware requires are lower so even digital developers with older equipment can join in the fun.

Criticisms? This is a programme for image manipulators who know what they are doing. There is very little hand holding and PC users new to the world of digital photography may be better off with a more user-friendly title like Photosuite.

It also comes bundled with Animation Shop 3, a nifty little programme that enables you to animate your graphics for use on the web. When it hit the stores a year ago PSP 7 was selling for close to £100.

Competition has subsequently forced that down and your local Jessop's will be selling it for half that price - which makes PSP a real bargain.

RATING: **** (out of ten)

Adobe Photoshop Elements. Publisher: Adobe. Price: £69.90

JUST because you can't afford the full blown programme doesn't mean you can't enjoy the clear, straightforward interface of Photoshop.

Newest of all the software reviewed here; Photoshop Elements is Adobe's stab at the mid-market imaging programme.

Essentially a cut-down version of big brother Photoshop, Elements has kept most of the tools you need for making excellent pictures and ditched the stuff only professionals need.

As you'd expect it's very similar to Photoshop in use - although there's some excellent help files (called recipes) to get you started - and the tool palettes can be "docked" at the top of the screen to make for a cleaner interface.

There are some tools that you don't even get with Photoshop although these tend to be of the "red eye removal" variety and can be accomplished in the bigger programme just as easily.

As with PSP 7.0 and Ulead's PhotoImpact 7, Elements can also use Photoshop compatible add-ons that give you even more control of your pictures. Elements can also utilise "layer styles" that make tasks like creating snazzy text effects a real breeze.

It's an excellent programme and never feels cut down or lacking compared to the immediate competition. Another top notch Adobe product.

RATING: ****

Ulead PhotoImpact 7. Publisher: Ulead. Price: £88.90.

Despite being around before Paint Shop Pro, Ulead's PhotoImpact has always lived in its rival's shadow. For version seven Ulead has gone for broke throwing in a host of tools and special effects that can top either PSP or Elements.

As with all the others you can also work with layers, make colour adjustments and apply effects to your masterpieces.

In other ways PhotoImpact is ahead of the game. It's the only programme here to save in the Jpeg 2000 format that promises better quality pictures sent via the web.

A handy little tool is the ability to correct lens distortion in your photographs.

PhotoImpact also makes it easy to see what kind of effect your filters will have by displaying a serious of thumbnail images on screen before you click "OK".

The interface is still a little cluttered though, and sometimes it's a bit confusing, especially compared to the clean screens of Photoshop Elements.

RATING: ***

Photosuite 4.0. Publisher: Roxio. Price: £34.90.

It may cost half as much as PhotoImpact but Photosuite 4.0 is so big it comes on two CD ROMs so you get a lot of bang for your buck.

One disc contains the programme, including a version for Palm hand-held PCs, and the other is packed with "extras" including a raft of stock photos to get you started.

Simplicity is the word that springs to mind when using this software. The screen holds you by the hand every step of the way.

Don't be fooled, though. The tools working behind the scenes are just as impressive and powerful as the more "professional-looking" programmes in this round up.

The panorama stitch tool - that enables a series of pictures to be stitched together in one giant widescreen-style pic - is particularly good.

That price makes it excellent value, too. If you are new to photo manipulation then this is the one to go for; you can always move up to Elements et al as your confidence improves.

RATING: ***

Fotoefex Pro. Publisher: Lastolite. Price: £49.99

If you are lucky enough to own Photoshop or one of the top three programmes in this round up already then you'll be forgiven for believing they couldn't be improved.

This little product from photo supplier Lastolite begs to differ.

The disc is a collection of small add-ons that help turn poor pictures into something fit for framing. These include an easy method of adding a summer sky to brighten up the dullest of shots, a variety of vignettes, and a series of warm up filters.

Experts will be able to replicate this collection by delving deep into their software; the rest of us will welcome the clear, straightforward interface and reckon life's too short for "nuts 'n bolts" tinkering in Photoshop. Not exactly indispensable, but useful all the same.

RATING: **

Our thanks to Jessops for providing software for review. In case you didn't already know, Jessops is Europe's leading specialist photo retailer with over 200 stores in the UK that carry more than 20,000 photo and imaging products. Call 0800 652 6400 or click on www.jessops.com for more info.

Published: 28/06/2002