Microsoft Digital Imaging Suite 9

Digital Image Suite comprises two programs - Digital Image Pro 9 and Microsoft Image Library 9. The first is an editing application with all the usual photo-manipulation tools, while Image Library is used to organise your images.

Some of the tools in this application are much easier to use than in rival software. Straightening a photo can mean multiple commands and intricate mouse work; in Digital Image Pro 9, just draw a straight line and the software does the rest.

We were also impressed with the 'smart erase' function that allows you to replace sections of an image with the background. This is great for getting rid of objects that intrude on your photos.

The Mini Lab allows you to edit multiple images at once, which is useful when a lot of your images suffer from the same problem. Once a batch of images is selected there are a host of automatic improvements to apply and 50 filters are also included for manual effects.

Image Library 9 allows you to view your photos all at once, even if they're stored in different folders. You can then drag-and-drop your images, enabling you to organise them into folders quickly.

If you have many photos, finding specific ones can be a pain. The keyword painter offers an excellent solution. Create a selection of categories, such as holiday or sport, then associate each image to a category. The images will then be tagged, allowing you to search by category rather than filename. You can also make a DVD slideshow and there's an excellent tool for adding commentary, music and transitions.

Microsoft has made an excellent attempt at doing away with the more complex issues surrounding photo editing, without sacrificing the functionality of the software.

Contact: Microsoft 0870 601 0100
www.microsoft.com/uk/homepc