ArcSoft PhotoFantasy 2.0

ArcSoft PhotoFantasy 2.0

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ArcSoft PhotoFantasy 2.0 is your personal studio for creating the wackiest and wildest "photo fantasies." This imaging entertainment application gives you all the tools you'll need to send your boss on a bungee-jumping adventure, place your face on the cover of a popular magazine and even let your kids travel back in time to the fabulous 50's. You just choose a fantasy template from hundreds of fictional characters, classic works of art, sports figures, nostalgia, bathing beauties and muscle men. Then pick a photo of yourself or someone else. Then with a click of a button, your chosen fantasy and photo will be combined together seamlessly. Finished photo fantasies make entertaining greeting cards, websites, calendars, posters, invitations, signs, buttons, banners and much more. Price: $49.95. There is only a Windows version available at this time. The ArcSoft Web site has tutorials, updates, and other free goodies.You can take a look at the full line of ArcSoft software products on their Web site: http://www.arcsoft.com

Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced. This product would be appropriate for just about any level. It has a simple and intuitive interface that is easy to learn.

Choose from over 200 hilarious fantasy templates included on your CD-ROM
Create customized fantasy templates using your own images
Include up to three photos in your photo fantasy
Make slow or fast adjustments to your photo fantasy using the Flip, Rotate, Move, Resize and Zoom In/Out commands
Instantly match the color of your photo with that of your fantasy template using the one-click Color Match Adjustment Button
Enhance the brightness and contrast of your photo fantasy, all in real time
Personalize your photo fantasy with a title, caption or other text
Acquire images from digital cameras, scanners and other TWAIN-compliant devices
Supports most popular file formats including BMP, TIF, JPG, PCD (read-only), GIF, PCX, TGA, EPS (write-only) and FlashPix

Installation and Manual: Installation is a no-brainer. There isn't much of a manual, only a small 25 page booklet that serves as the CD cover, but you really don't need anything more elaborate. There is an excellent Help section in the program if you do need more information.

Interface and Screens: You just have four screens in PhotoFantasy and they all are simply laid out and intuitive: Main Screen, Get Fantasy Screen, Create Fantasy Background Screen, and Get Photo Screen

Main Screen--The Main Screen acts as your "homebase" in PhotoFantasy. It contains controls that allow you to access the other program screens as well as make final adjustments and enhancements to your photo fantasy.You have access to adjustment tools such as: flip, move, resize, rotate, add text, match color, brightness, contrast, saturation, zoom in, and zoom out. In the Main Screen, you can also save, print and email your finished photo fantasy.

Get Fantasy Screen--Clicking the Get Fantasy Button in the Main Screen takes you to the Get Fantasy Screen. Here you can select the fantasy template for your photo fantasy and create your own fantasy templates. When you choose to select the My Fantasy category, you have the option for adding and editing your own fantasy backgrounds.

Create Fantasy Background Screen--Clicking on the Edit Button from the Get Fantasy Screen opens the Create Fantasy Template Screen. This screen allows the creation and editing of new fantasy templates created from your own photos. This is accomplished by creating a "mask" which shows where your photos will appear on the fantasy template. Up to three masks can be included on a single template. You can draw your mask; subtract the portion you want to remove; paint your mask like a paintbrush; blur or soften the edges of your mask; erase parts of the mask; and change brush sizes. There is a Brightness tool, Contrast tool, Saturation tool, and Zoom In and Zoom Out tools.

Get Photo Screen--Clicking on one of the Get Photo buttons from the Main Screen opens the Get Photo Screen. From this screen, you can add and organize photos to be used in PhotoFantasy.

Creating a PhotoFantasy: Once you get familiar with the screens, making a fantasy is easy.

Choosing A Fantasy Template--You just click on the down arrow at the left of the Get Fantasy Category Menu and choose one of the fantasy categories. With the arrow buttons at the top and bottom of the thumbnail images, you can scroll among the available fantasy templates. Click on one to select it, and it will appear in the display area.Then click on the Okay Button.

Choosing A Photo--You will be back at the Main Screen, with the selected template in the Main Display Area. You click on the Get Photo Button and choose one of the sample photos, or you can use one of your own photos by clicking on Add, and selecting one of your own photos from your system.) Once a photo is selected, you just click on the Okay button.

Adjusting Your Photo Fantasy--Your photo will now be visible on the fantasy mask. You can use the Move Buttons (the hands pointing various directions on the right side) to position the face from your photo so it shows through. You may also want to use the Resize or Flip buttons to make it fit the template better. Also, you can adjust the color so it matches better by clicking on the Color Match button. (You can also manually adjust it further using the various sliders.)

Finishing Your Photo Fantasy--Once your photo fantasy is complete, choose Save As to save your fantasy, or Print to print it out. If you don't want to save it, click on Start Over to create a new one.

ArcSoft makes a variety of products for the whole family, from novice to expert computer user. They are inexpensive, fun, and great for personalized cards, screen savers, calendars, and more. This would be a great program for a teenager just starting out with scanning, digital photography, and computers.

Processor: 486 PC (Pentium recommended)
Operating System: Windows 95, 98 or NT 4.0
Memory: 16MB (32MB recommended)
Hard Disk Space: 20MB
CD-ROM drive
VGA monitor w/16-bit color display

Graphics: Extensis PhotoGraphics & Adobe Photoshop
Web Page Editor: Symantec Visual Page
Scanner: Hewlett Packard ScanJet 6250C Professional Series

ArcSoft PhotoFantasy 2.0
Click on a thumbnail to enlarge it. Use your browser's "BACK" button to return to this review when done.


ArcSoft PhotoFantasy 2.0 is your personal studio for creating the wackiest and wildest "photo fantasies." This imaging entertainment application gives you all the tools you'll need to send your boss on a bungee-jumping adventure, place your face on the cover of a popular magazine and even let your kids travel back in time to the fabulous 50's. You just choose a fantasy template from hundreds of fictional characters, classic works of art, sports figures, nostalgia, bathing beauties and muscle men. Then pick a photo of yourself or someone else. Then with a click of a button, your chosen fantasy and photo will be combined together seamlessly. Finished photo fantasies make entertaining greeting cards, websites, calendars, posters, invitations, signs, buttons, banners and much more. Price: $49.95. There is only a Windows version available at this time. The ArcSoft Web site has tutorials, updates, and other free goodies.You can take a look at the full line of ArcSoft software products on their Web site: http://www.arcsoft.com


Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced. This product would be appropriate for just about any level. It has a simple and intuitive interface that is easy to learn.


Choose from over 200 hilarious fantasy templates included on your CD-ROM Create customized fantasy templates using your own images Include up to three photos in your photo fantasy Make slow or fast adjustments to your photo fantasy using the Flip, Rotate, Move, Resize and Zoom In/Out commands Instantly match the color of your photo with that of your fantasy template using the one-click Color Match Adjustment Button Enhance the brightness and contrast of your photo fantasy, all in real time Personalize your photo fantasy with a title, caption or other text Acquire images from digital cameras, scanners and other TWAIN-compliant devices Supports most popular file formats including BMP, TIF, JPG, PCD (read-only), GIF, PCX, TGA, EPS (write-only) and FlashPix


Installation and Manual: Installation is a no-brainer. There isn't much of a manual, only a small 25 page booklet that serves as the CD cover, but you really don't need anything more elaborate. There is an excellent Help section in the program if you do need more information. Interface and Screens: You just have four screens in PhotoFantasy and they all are simply laid out and intuitive: Main Screen, Get Fantasy Screen, Create Fantasy Background Screen, and Get Photo Screen Main Screen--The Main Screen acts as your "homebase" in PhotoFantasy. It contains controls that allow you to access the other program screens as well as make final adjustments and enhancements to your photo fantasy.You have access to adjustment tools such as: flip, move, resize, rotate, add text, match color, brightness, contrast, saturation, zoom in, and zoom out. In the Main Screen, you can also save, print and email your finished photo fantasy. Get Fantasy Screen--Clicking the Get Fantasy Button in the Main Screen takes you to the Get Fantasy Screen. Here you can select the fantasy template for your photo fantasy and create your own fantasy templates. When you choose to select the My Fantasy category, you have the option for adding and editing your own fantasy backgrounds. Create Fantasy Background Screen--Clicking on the Edit Button from the Get Fantasy Screen opens the Create Fantasy Template Screen. This screen allows the creation and editing of new fantasy templates created from your own photos. This is accomplished by creating a "mask" which shows where your photos will appear on the fantasy template. Up to three masks can be included on a single template. You can draw your mask; subtract the portion you want to remove; paint your mask like a paintbrush; blur or soften the edges of your mask; erase parts of the mask; and change brush sizes. There is a Brightness tool, Contrast tool, Saturation tool, and Zoom In and Zoom Out tools. Get Photo Screen--Clicking on one of the Get Photo buttons from the Main Screen opens the Get Photo Screen. From this screen, you can add and organize photos to be used in PhotoFantasy. Creating a PhotoFantasy: Once you get familiar with the screens, making a fantasy is easy. Choosing A Fantasy Template--You just click on the down arrow at the left of the Get Fantasy Category Menu and choose one of the fantasy categories. With the arrow buttons at the top and bottom of the thumbnail images, you can scroll among the available fantasy templates. Click on one to select it, and it will appear in the display area.Then click on the Okay Button. Choosing A Photo--You will be back at the Main Screen, with the selected template in the Main Display Area. You click on the Get Photo Button and choose one of the sample photos, or you can use one of your own photos by clicking on Add, and selecting one of your own photos from your system.) Once a photo is selected, you just click on the Okay button. Adjusting Your Photo Fantasy--Your photo will now be visible on the fantasy mask. You can use the Move Buttons (the hands pointing various directions on the right side) to position the face from your photo so it shows through. You may also want to use the Resize or Flip buttons to make it fit the template better. Also, you can adjust the color so it matches better by clicking on the Color Match button. (You can also manually adjust it further using the various sliders.) Finishing Your Photo Fantasy--Once your photo fantasy is complete, choose Save As to save your fantasy, or Print to print it out. If you don't want to save it, click on Start Over to create a new one.


ArcSoft makes a variety of products for the whole family, from novice to expert computer user. They are inexpensive, fun, and great for personalized cards, screen savers, calendars, and more. This would be a great program for a teenager just starting out with scanning, digital photography, and computers.


Processor: 486 PC (Pentium recommended) Operating System: Windows 95, 98 or NT 4.0 Memory: 16MB (32MB recommended) Hard Disk Space: 20MB CD-ROM drive VGA monitor w/16-bit color display

Graphics: Extensis PhotoGraphics & Adobe Photoshop Web Page Editor: Symantec Visual Page Scanner: Hewlett Packard ScanJet 6250C Professional Series