14 DAY TRIAL // Image editing seems such a long practice that it is almost inconceivable to have a computer without a tool to alter images installed on it. In fact, there isn't a computer without an image editor on it. MS Paint (although it is not the best of examples) is the one that comes with Windows package. Despite the fact that it doesn't make available too many options, it comes handy every once in a while.
Enhancing the images for the better or worse is also an appealing task not to be practiced by more and more users. And removing a blemish or two, making the skin look brighter or stretching a smile on one's face are now commonalities.
I remember how my parents always talked about framing special pictures. Of course, they had to be really something to deserve such attention, I mean framing a picture meant that it was there for everybody to see. The same may happen to digital images. Enhancing them is not enough to make them stand out from the crowd and an additional editing tool may do the trick. And I have just the application to do it with.
Framing Studio is a $24 application that will apply frames to any of your pictures. The trial period is extended to a total of 30 runs, but don't worry as all the features are unlocked and there is enough time to test every option available.
The interface is plain and simple, with no complicated functions or options around. The most important and used options are running down in the left hand side of the screen, but do not neglect the menu bar or toolbar as there are some useful alternatives there as well.
Framing Studio supports all popular and light image formats (PNG, GIF, JPG) but gets along quite well with heavier artillery like BMP and handles very well EMF, ICO or WMF formats. There are six categories of frames available in the application (with the possibility of downloading 150 new ones after registration) ranging from artistic, vector frames, masks, simple or relief borders to simple frames.
Each of these categories will bring up more options and customization settings to better suit your needs. For simple borders, you can tune the thickness, colors, create gradients or use patterns. Relief borders are not as generous with options allowing only thickness correction, direction of the frame (outside or inside) and its color.
Simple frames are exactly what they sound like: simple. A collection of 12 frames is at your service and the only tweaking available is setting the zoom level of the image behind the frame. Masks are my favorite elements as they combine different shapes (14 of them) with colors, textures and patterns. These offer enough freedom to create your own frame (unfortunately, you cannot save them for later use).
Image effects are also present in Framing Studio, although it is not what you would expect. The nine different effects let you blur, sharpen, add noise, grayscale, colorize (and the color palette is sufficiently generous), invert colors, add sepia effect, spray it or turn it into a mosaic. There is plenty to play with for about ten minutes and very few of them let you define the amount of effect to be added.
From what I've noticed, Undo option works only once, which is a bit unpleasant as some users take the image to the extreme and decide to go back two or three steps.
Additional options in the application let the user fiddle with the color balance, set the perfect amount of brightness and contrast as well as flipping (both horizontally and vertically) and rotating the image. And if you want to frame just the face of your loved one, there is nothing easier to employ but the crop function. You can take out of the picture exactly as you want and work with that.
When it comes to saving the picture in a specific format, Framing Studio offers few alternatives. Only BMP, JPG, GIF and PNG are available. But if you come to think of it, these formats are enough for every average user.
Considering the price, the application is a bit poor in options, but does a good job with framing. There are plenty of frames to choose from and the fact that you can customize some of them in terms of color, thickness and pattern used makes it only more flexible.
The Good
Extremely easy to use, Framing Studio comes with enough frames for an average user. You can customize some of them so that they fit perfectly.
In effects, those standing out are Sepia, Grayscale and Invert.
The Bad
Comparing the price with the list of features, something's just not right. Either the price is too much or there aren't enough options to justify it. The promise of 150 new frames once registered does not justify it either.
The two skins available are pretty similar. At the beginning I could not notice the difference, but here's a hint: take a look at the buttons running down on the left side of the window.
The Truth
The application is not bad, it just does not have enough for $24. I suggest you give it a try as well. Who knows? You may even like it and pay for it.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
