Price:
Available on the Internet for a low delivered price of $53. The package I received offers a $30 mail in rebate. The box states “Rebate valid only on specially marked packages featuring a rebate coupon on the front.” Check for a rebate coupon on the box before you order!

System Requirements:
Pentium 700 MHz or higher processor. Microsoft Windows 98SE, Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Windows XP, 256 MB of RAM (512 Recommended), 400 MB of available hard-disk space, Internet Explorer 6.0 software required and included. Up to an additional 75 MB of hard disk space may be required for Internet Explorer upgrade. Quad-speed CD-ROM drive or higher, Super VGA monitor (800x600, 16-bit color or better), 1 MB of Video RAM, Windows Media Player, mouse or compatible, Syncing to Devices and Photo Story 3.1 requires Windows XP and Windows Media Player 10.

Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way , Redmond WA 98052-6399 USA 1(800)426-9400  www.microsoft.com

Support: Unlimited email and phone support at no charge. 866-834-8317. www.microsoft.com/imaging Microsoft Knowledge Base at support.microsoft.com 

Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006

By Barton Koslow  

Microsoft Digital Image Suite (MDIS) is a comprehensive photo editing, photo organizing, photo sharing and photo projects program. MDIS comes with two CDs and a 276 page printed User’s Manual.  

An easy installation places two icons on your desktop, one for the Image Editor and one for the Image Library (album). The initial screen that appears on starting the Editor offers an extensive video Tour of all the suite’s features. This screen may be dispensed with once you no longer wish to see it on startup. When that screen is closed a Microsoft Digital Editor screen appears. Icons appear for Open, Import Pictures, Digital Image Library, Edit Multiple Pictures or Create a Project. Below those icons are selections Take a Tour, Instructional Videos, How To…, and Register Online. Next to that are pictures of recently opened files and a selection for more files, which when clicked on open those files. This second screen may also be dispensed with so it no longer appears on startup. All of these functions may be accessed from the main program screen which appears after the first two screens are closed.  

The amount of program information and help available is impressive. The program Help gives you access to the same User’s Manual on your computer, all of the Tours and Instructional Videos, a How To section that provides specific, step-by-step instructions to help you accomplish image-editing tasks, and more. The User’s Manual goes beyond the usual explanation of program features with Chapters on Taking Great Pictures, Successful Scanning, Optimizing Your Monitor for Pictures and Digital Photography Tips and Tricks. The User’s Manual has a chapter on using the library program. You will find much more detailed instructions under the Help tab of the library program.  

Photo editing is quick and easy. I am not a fan of the automatic editing controls of this or other photo programs, but using MDIS tools I was easily able to adjust exposure, lighting, and color cast. Using Smart Erase I quickly removed spots, blemishes and wrinkles. The picture straightening and cropping tools are among the better ones I have seen. Advanced editing tools include the ability to use layers although MDIS uses the terms “composite” and “Stack” instead of layers. There are tools to select part of a photo for editing and multiple effects that may be applied to all of the part of the picture as well as 200 filters that come with the program. In addition, you can use any Photoshop-compatible plug-in filters. MDIS has a clone brush, blending brush, distortion brush, and various other painting tools. An easy to use Levels and Curves Tool allows more precise light and color control. You can batch edit multiple pictures, add edges, mats and frames to your photos and create photo cards and calendars.  

The album program adds, organizes and helps you find your pictures. You can burn pictures and videos to a CD directly from MDIS. There is a powerful archiving tool to save picture files to a CD or other media. If you use Windows XP and have Windows Media Player 10 installed, MDIS will have installed Microsoft Photo Story. Using PhotoStory directly from MDIS you can create and edit a photo story by combining pictures, narration, a title page, and background music, and then saving your story with the audio quality setting that you want. After saving it, you can create a video CD (VCDVideo Compact Disc. A video CD or VCD allows video information to be added to audio elements found on traditional CDs.) that can be played on many DVD players.  

Microsoft Digital Image Suite (MDIS) is an excellent program, especially for beginners and intermediates. You will not need to buy a third party book to help you use this program, unlike most of its competitors. The manual, videos and detailed instructions include all you will require. It does not have all the advanced editing tools of its high end competitors, but it does have the tools most of us will need and has some other program features they do not have. I recommend this program for all but very advanced photo enthusiasts and professionals.