14 DAY TRIAL // The set of features offered by Preview, Apple’s default image viewer, might satisfy the needs of most Mac users, but, if you want a faster, more complex application, then ArcSoft Photo+ is the app for you.
ArcSoft Photo+ is a practical, well-designed OS X application that sits somewhere between Apple’s iPhoto and Aperture. The app enables its users to view their photo collection, edit photos and share them with just a few mouse clicks.
ArcSoft Photo+ also comes with a simple and easy-to-use interface, slideshow features and compatibility for Retina displays.
Moreover, ArcSoft Photo+ is able to load over 35 different image formats, including animated GIFs and RAW files.
On top of that, ArcSoft Photo+’s installation process is simple and fast: you can install it via the App Store with just a mouse click.
The application's 15-day trial version is available on the developer´s website, while the full version can be bought from the App Store for $1.99.
The Looks
The minimalist user interface puts the focus on the loaded pictures and helps you make the most out of your Mac’s screen.
ArcSoft Photo+’s thumbnail strip is a very useful interface element designed to provide a quick overview of all the loaded pictures.
In the bottom toolbar, you can easily view the resolution of the currently opened picture, its size and the date it was taken. However, the Preferences window helps you choose what type of info can be displayed, ranging from the camera maker, the F number to the ISO value and metering mode.
The Works
ArcSoft Photo+ is simple and easy to use. Once launched, you just have to drag and drop a photo or a folder containing images onto its interface. During the testing process, the app managed to quickly load all the photos from our test folder and generate thumbnails for each and every one of them.
The thumbnail strip will also help you browse all loaded images by using the arrow keys or your mouse's scroll-wheel if you're not a keyboard aficionado.
From the bottom toolbar, you will have the option of zooming in and out, enter in the full screen mode and delete or share the selected photo. The Play button, located in the center of the toolbar, helps you start the slideshow presentation.
Additionally, we were able to set ArcSoft Photo+ to play a song of our choice in the background, during the slideshow presentation, and chose between 13 different transition types, including fade, page turn, ripple and more.
While zooming in, a navigation box will be displayed to help users identify which part of the picture they're looking at.
Thanks to the Favorite tag, you can mark all the photos you like and view them in a separate window. In order to tag a photo, you just have to click on the heart icon or press the SPACE key.
After sorting your images and deciding which ones you like more, you will also be able to upload your favorite ones on Flickr, Facebook, Tumblr or add them to your iPhoto library using the Sharing slide menu.
Another smart feature provided by ArcSoft Photo+ which sets it apart from other competing apps in the same category is its capability to auto-rotate all pictures using the orientation flag set by the digital photo camera. In other words, ArcSoft Photo+ is capable to automatically rotate your vertical photos during the import process.
Furthermore, ArcSoft Photo+ comes with support for a wide variety of image formats such as JPG, PSD, ICO, XBM, TIFF, PNG, GIF and even RAW files.
As it turns out from our test, ArcSoft Photo+ proves to be quick, simple and flexible. What's more, with the help of a standard mouse or a trackpad, such as Apple’s Magic Trackpad, you can use multi-touch and finger gestures to browse, rotate and zoom your pictures in and out.
Within this suite of features, you can also find the batch rename and resize tools, proving that this app has got you completely covered. From the Edit menu, you will be able to resize or rename all loaded pictures in just a few seconds.
However, all ArcSoft Photo+’s features and quick response come at a price. We observed high CPU and RAM usage, especially during slideshows accompanied by background music. The CPU usage spiked up to 100% for one core, while the RAM usage fluctuated between 400 and 950 MB.
The Good
Also, its simple, yet customizable interface ensures a smooth and elegant photo viewing experience, regardless of the number of photos loaded for viewing.
Although ArcSoft Photo+ is not a replacement for iPhoto or Aperture, its wide set of features and low price make it a better alternative to Preview, the OS X default picture viewer.
The Bad
In addition, it would be nice if ArcSoft Photo+ would feature a series of image enhancement tools and photo filters allowing users to make small adjustments to the pictures while viewing them
The Truth
All in all, ArcSoft Photo+ might come as a solution for all users who need to quickly preview, resize and rename their photos before importing them to their iPhoto or Aperture library.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
