Avengers - The Old Order Changeth Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I haven't had a chance to read all the issues yet but I just want to say I really enjoy the option of having a small library of comics at your disposal with the click of the mouse. Single issues get to be a nuisance to maintain and store. Trade paperback and hardcover editions of the comics omit part some charm of reading the single issues, like the bulletin page, house ads or letters pages (when they still have them). I really don't care for "renting" the comics from Marvel's digital site and the library is still a work in progress, with gaps in many runs. Until something better comes along that merges the best of both formats, this will do nicely. I also have one of the Fantastic Four and for me that was a "must have".

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The Avengers, Earth's Mightiest Heroes Collector's Edition DVD-Rom provides more than 3000 pages of comics. Contains over 100 individual comic book issues ranging from January 1998-December 2006: Vol. III: 1-84, 500--503, New Avengers 1-25, and annuals 1998-2001, including advertisements, exactly as originally issued by Marvel Comics.

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Comic Life Deluxe Hybrid Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I suppose you could do everything here from scratch in photoshop or MS Publisher, but it's so simple with the provided templates. The user interface is very easy to learn and use. There are a fair amount of options and choices, although not an overwhelming number. All in all, I'm very happy with this and will have fun using it. I took off one star because it is a little slow, particularly if you use large images (ie right out of your camera) without resizing them for a smaller size.

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Your Live In A Comic!Expand what you can do with your digital photos! With a comprehensive set of features, Comic Life gives you numerous ways to explore your creativity - liven up holiday snaps, tell a story, even create birthday cards and invites.Add a word balloon to your photos with Comic Life and voila`: comic genius!Tons of uses, not only comics: Annotated family photos, Holiday photo albums, Children's story books, How-to Guides, Posters, Greeting cards, and Scrapbooking.

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Comic Book Creator 2.0 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Comic Book Creator 2.0 has a ton of stuff for those of us who want to put together our projects. But it has one huge flaw...
its Activation Key expires after 3 install uses. So if you have to reinstall, and you probably will, the database seems to trunch itself every so often, causing you to either constantly repath every folder each time you want to find something, or reinstall to fix it, after the third time, your lovely Activation Key... no longer registers through their servers. There are a lot of ways they could have done this to prevent pirating or people using your key too much, but they took the low road and after 3 installiations and registrations with that Key, your $40 software from Planet Wide Media is worthless.
If this thing hadn't been given to me as a gift, I would be all over them like flies to.. you know... but it's not worth it now.
Anyone who buys this product, BE WARNED! 3 Registrations with that Key, and you'll be REBUYING this just to use it again! They don't give replacement Keys out for free, they charge 39.99 for a new one! No Exceptions!

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TELL YOUR STORY . . . YOUR WAY. DRAG AND DROP PICTURES, MUSIC AND VIDEO FROM JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE-EVEN THE INTERNET!If you've been looking for the best tool to mix your favorite media, look no further! Easy-to-use drag-and-drop software and photo, video, and audio editors give you everything you need to tell your story your way. Create personalized comics!Add video to comic books, set your pictures to music, or blend original art with sound effects to make action-packed comics. An ideal tool for creative peopleComic Book Creator 2.0 is a dream toolkit for self-publishing, whether you're making photo comics or classic comics from your scanned artwork or video game screenshots.Make amazing photo comicsComic Book Creator 2.0 makes photo comics better than ever! Imagine adding the video of your helicopter tour to the photo comic of your Hawaiian vacation, or making a birthday comic with the video of your child blowing out the candles. You can even use the audio tool to record your own unforgettable voiceovers, use the audio editor to mix songs, and edit photos with PD Particles.Perfect for classic comicsKABOOM! Play an explosion or crash at the thrilling climax of traditional comics made with your scanned artwork, or use fight sound effects in comics made from screenshots of your favorite PC video game. It doesn't get any easier!You'll be amazed how professional your comic books look with Comic Book Creator 2.0. Just choose a design for each new page, drag and drop backgrounds, audio, videos and balloons onto each page, fill in your dialogue and you're ready to publish!INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIREDFOR ACTIVATIONSystem RequirementsWindows 2000 or XPInternet Explorer 6 or higher500 MHz Pentium or compatible256 MB RAM1 GB hard disk spaceCD-ROM drive1024 X 768 display

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SketchBook Pro 2010 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Drawing and sketching programs seem to fall into two general categories - very powerful but excessively complex, or simple to use but lacking in options and power. SketchBook Pro successfully combines power and simplicity into one package, such that even a weak artist can be productive and successful.
I ran into a problem when installing the application - the installer crashed, giving some odd internal error and number. I tried again immediately and the second try went without a hitch. I assume it is a configuration issue with my system as I have occasional strange issues when installing software.
When first launched, the application asks if you have your serial number and key handy. If you are new to SketchBook Pro, I encourage you NOT to enter them just yet but instead specify that you want a 15-day trial. The reason is that you get presented a quick pictoral tour of the feature set when you run in trial mode (which is really just a time-limited demo mode with everything enabled), which is a nice introduction. Afterward, registration information can be entered through the help menu.
Being new to SketchBook Pro myself, I was startled by the sparse interface when opening a new canvas. There was little on the screen other than the main menu up top and the lagoon in the lower left. Most drawing applications clutter the screen with an assortment of toolbars, palettes, wizards and other things that just get in the way. Autodesk keep their application simple instead, putting the essentials out there and leaving everything else off the screen until it's really needed.
Most elements of the application are available in radial menus, accessible either through clicking on icons on the lagoon or right-clicking on the canvas. All menu items have help tips to guide along the way so you know what option you're choosing. Radial menus can be a surprise to those who have never been exposed to them, but once used to them they are very powerful and easy to use.
Plunging into the various options available, I immediately discovered a couple of things I have never before used in drawing applications. First, I discovered the symmetry options, which makes creating mirror images easy. Using the axis, I was able to draw a crude figure of a person in about 10 seconds without even expending any real thought. Even more productive for me, though, was the ruler, especially in combination with the layering tool. The ruler is a slight misnomer, as it is actually more of a straight-edge against which to draw straight lines.
Another interesting surprise was the help system. When I launched the help system, rather than bring up a compiled help file, my default web browser launched and I was presented with one of the best help systems I have seen. The help is easy on the eyes and very straightforward to use. There is sufficient detail with pictures to address almost any conceivable question that might arise.
SketchBook Pro is very fast and very responsive on my system. I am running Vista with 3GB of ram and a dual-core 2.1G Intel processor, and there is only the slightest hint of hesitation on rare occasion.
Having never played with SketchBook Pro before and being a poor artist, I was shocked that I could create viable results in minutes. In the hands of a professional artist, this is a powerful and easy-to-use package. Emphasis was placed on productivity, but power was not taken away.

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Autodesk SketchBook Pro software offers best-in-class sketching capabilities for professional designers and artists from all industries. A paint and drawing application designed specifically for use with digitized pen tablets and Tablet PCs, it can be used in any creative process where pen and paper would traditionally be used. With a patented user interface that is fast and intuitive, even new users can be productive within minutes. Autodesk SketchBook Pro represents the next generation of digital design products that focuses on the user, translating technology and functionality into a natural drawing experience.

Your Digital Sketchpad So versatile and easy-to-use, it can be used in any creative process where pen and paper would traditionally be used:
Concept sketching and ideation
Illustration
Character studies
Set and level designs
Story boarding
Annotation and review

High Quality Results
The look and feel of traditional tools that experts demand
Custom texture brushes
Interactive brush symmetry
Interactive rulers and ellipses

Fits into all Digital Workflows
Reduce time scanning and touching up paper sketches
Reduce the use of paper
Open and save common file formats, including Adobe Photoshop: TIF, BMP, JPG, PNG, PSD

Streamlined User Interface
SketchBook Pro is designed to maximize flow, offering a natural drawing experience
Highly discoverable UI
So easy-to-use, any user can be productive within minutes.
Patented Marking menus provide access to major tools with just one-flick
Do-it-yourself custom brush creation


Communicate More Effectively Share visual ideas quickly with integrated e-mail feature Instantly email sketches and annotations
What's New With 2010, Autodesk Sketchbook Pro continues its tradition of delivering an affordable, easy-to-use, natural drawing experience with the quality expected by professionals.
New: Rotate Canvas
The navigation puck now has a rotate ring for smooth rotation of the canvas view.
Automatically snap to 90 degree increments

New: Blur & Sharpen Brush
Two new brush types in the brush palette.
Paint blur effects directly in SketchBook Pro
Use the sharpen brush to tighten imported photos or images.

New: Symmetric Brushing
Easily draw anything symmetric.
Horizontal & Vertical interactive mirroring brings drawings to life instantly... and fun too.
Great for character design, product concepts, graphic design, automotive sketches, and vehicles of all kinds.

New: Custom brush features
Create your own Custom Textures
Capture and reuse graphics
Make specialized brushes
Export/Import custom brushes
Save out XML with a TIFF map that you can share with other SBP users.

Customizability
Set up your preferred tools in the Lagoon, including your custom DIY brushes
Access marking menus right at the cursor
Hotkeys for each lagoon item
Assign these to a pen-button or tablet keys
Now you can work completely in full screen mode, calling up tools as you need them.

DIY Palette items can be reordered

New: Numeric color input
Direct RGB input fields in the Color Editor.
To support the custom color palette on Windows, you can now accurately define RBG values before saving them.
The Mac version continues to use the Apple Color editor.
Preset primary colors & gray scales now available for customizing in the lagoon.

New: Guides
Create perfect straight lines, circles and ellipses.
The Ruler and Ellipse guide bring a new level of precision to refine your sketches.

New: Scale enhancement
The transform puck now allows non-proportional scaling
Tweak the horizontal or vertical proportions of a selection or entire image directly in SketchBook Pro

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Manga Studio EX 4 (Win/Mac) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is really terrific stuff. I was impressed by EX3 but this new release blows that out of the water. EX4 is exceptionally feature-rish and powerful.
My only one complaint - that cost it from getting 5-stars (for me anyway) - was the situation with the Manual. Using this software is bordering on taking a University course and to expect us to traverse the package via a PDF manual is ludicrous.
I shot off the PDF Manual to Kinkos and had a double-sided, laser color copy made made within a few hours. And yes, of course that then cost me MORE than I paid for the software itself (the manual is hundreds of pages long) but I have no regrets whatsoever. No books on Manga Studio that I could see - unlike Smith Micro's other packages such as POSER and Anime Studio, which I also own.
Classy, solid software that performs.

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Manga Studio EX 4.0 delivers powerful, cutting edge features for Manga and Comic artists alike. Manga Studio EX 4.0 offers thousands of screen tones, professional coloring tools, built in 2DLT and 3DLT rendering capabilities, advanced vector tools and image filters. Manga Studio EX is the leading comic software worldwide, making it the ideal tool for professional Comic and Manga artists.


The leading comic and manga creation software worldwide.
Choose from over 3,000 screen tones or create your own.
Resize with no loss in quality by converting your bitmap drawings to resolution-independent vector images.
Export to a wide variety of formats such as BMP, JPEG, PNG, PSD, TGA, EPS (monochrome only), TIFF, PDF and PICT (Mac only).
Draw naturally with a pen tablet and recreate the sensation of drawing on paper offering an incredibly natural drawing experience.
Simplify your layout and design process with easy to use features such as a variety of built-in rulers that save you time.
Color artwork using the integrated tool set enabling you to mix and blend for custom color work.
Convert 2D images to line and tone data by using the 2DLT Rendering function.
Import 3D objects and easily transform them into tone and line drawings by using the 3DLT Rendering function.
Add speed line and focus line effects in seconds to express motion or moods.
Work with precision using unlimited layers.
Select from a suite of advanced filters to quickly apply distortions and special effects to your artwork.

New and Updated features Manga Studio EX 4.0 allows you to create professional, ready to publish manga and comics.
NEW! Professional Color Set Choose from literally millions of colors and create your own color sets. Includes dodge, burn and color blend tools.

UPDATED! Additional Word Balloons Add word balloons with ease by dragging and dropping any of almost one hundred preset editable word balloons. Freely adjust the font, size, style and spacing of the text and add a curved or straight tail.

NEW! Vector Toolkit Speed up production using the built-in vector tools such as "Show Center Line" which makes spotting trouble areas in need of smoothing, a breeze.

UPDATED! Additional 3D Objects Manga Studio EX comes with over 550 built-in 3D Objects. Quickly, position, rotate and adjust them on your page. Convert them to line and tone data and use them as backgrounds and props for your drawings.

NEW! Professional Filter Set Manga Studio EX now offers a suite of advanced creative filters. Quickly distort images, adjust hue and saturation, or add rain and sparkle effects to your artwork.

UPDATED! More export formats In addition to the existing BMP, JPEG, PNG, PSD and TGA formats, Manga Studio EX 4.0 now offers the ability to export your artwork as TIFF, EPS (monochrome only), PDF and PICT (Mac only) formats.

NEW! Story Editor Enter and edit the text for your entire story and distribute across pages using the Story Editor in Manga Studio EX.

NEW! Advanced Text Input Manga Studio EX now allows you to enter text directly on your page using a standard text tool. You can also quickly add special characters and with support for many characters such as Katakana and Hiragana, Manga Studio EX is better than ever!

NEW! Mesh Transformation Use the Mesh Transform tool to modify screen tones to better showcase clothing textures by giving them a wrapping appearance.

NEW! Special Rulers Choose from a variety of rulers, including symmetry rulers, radial line rulers and concentric circle rulers that speed up production.

UPDATED! Extra Pattern Brushes Choose from 80+ customizable pattern brushes. Adjust the size, color and angle quickly using the sliders to create an almost unlimited number of unique effects.

Note: Register your product within 30 days of purchase and receive the Manga Studio EX Content pack valued at $39.99 for free. This package includes 20 3D models, over 100 background templates and over 100 Power templates. Information regarding registration and how to redeem your content pack are included with your purchase.

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Manga Studio Debut 4 (Win/Mac) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you want a toy, then get this version, but if you'd like a really great tool for drawing manga, then get the EX version. The EX version may be much more expensive, but if you're a serious artist, then you might as well throw away your money if you're going to buy this version. To give you an example of how many features that this version is missing: it doesn't have vectoring, an eyedropper tool, or even a gradiation tool! Check the website's manual for a list of features it doesn't have.
Skip this version, buy the EX version.

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Manga Studio Debut 4.0 is your all-in-one solution for stunning, ready-to-publish manga and comics. Invigorate your artwork using color, express motion using speed lines, apply dimension with screen tones and add dialog through built-in word balloons. Manga Studio helps you create professional manga and comics from start to finish!

Complete artistic control Sketch original art with a mouse or tablet, scan in existing art, or import artwork or graphics to get started. It's easy with Manga Studio Debut!
Design with attention to detail Choose from over 2,300 professional-grade screen tones to add dimension, depth and character to your art.
Invigorate your drawings Easily color and fill your manga or comic using the integrated color set, advanced shading tools, and pattern brushes.
Bring your Characters to Life Pre-designed word balloons allow you to quickly add dialog to your creations.
Apply special effects Add focus and speed line effects in seconds to express moods or motion.
Publish your work Output professional quality manga for print or web in various file formats. Manga Studio Debut exports JPG, BMP, PSD, TGA*, PNG*, TIFF* and PICT* files.
*Mac-only publishing format.
Get fast results Perform complicated tasks with a single mouse click. Double your productivity by reusing design elements in a flash!
New and Updated Features Manga Studio Debut 4.0 provides a fun, straightforward way for you to start creating your own comics today.
New--Beginner's Assistant and dynamic help With Manga Studio's built-in Beginner's Assistant interface, commonly used tool palettes are grouped together. Dynamic help offers instant access to information about tool palettes and menu options. Getting started has never been easier.
New--Color Palette Color your artwork using the integrated color set. Choose from preset colors or create your own and add custom effects to your artwork.
New--Built-in Word balloons Add word balloons with ease by dragging and dropping any of almost one hundred preset editable word balloons. Freely adjust the font, size, style and spacing of the text and add a curved or straight tail.
New--Advanced Text Input Manga Studio Debut now allows you to enter text directly on your page using a standard text tool. You can also quickly add special characters and with support for many characters such as Katakana and Hiragana, Manga Studio Debut is better than ever!
Updated--More Screen Tones and Patterns Choose from over 2,300 screen tones, a variety of special effects and comprehensive pen and brush tools, including over 80 customizable pattern brushes. Create and customize virtually unlimited combinations of patterns to create unique effects.
Updated--Additional preset page templates Choose from over 160 built-in page templates for your page or story, or add your own customized pages and save them as templates.
Note: Register your product within 30 days of purchase and receive the Manga Studio Debut Content pack valued at $19.99 for free. This package includes over 100 background templates and over 100 Power templates. Information regarding registration and how to redeem your content pack are included with your purchase.

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