CyberLink PhotoDirector 3 debuts, adds 'People Beautifier' system

CyberLink has released the final version of CyberLink PhotoDirector 3, a brand new version of its high-end photo management and editing tool. The new release boasts a number of powerful new editing tools, including an object removal system, a “People Beautifier” system offering skin smoothing and wrinkle removal among other retouching features, watermark editor and lens correction tools.

The final release comes two-and-a-half months after the public beta was launched, which attracted over 50,000 users and 5,000 comments, which CyberLink says led to several improvements and new features being added to this first stable release.

CyberLink PhotoDirector 3, which retails for $149.99, adds a number of major new features to its impressive remit. Many of these can be found under a brand new Edit tab. These are split into five sections: People Beautifier, Photo Effects, Object Removal, Extract or Compose Photo, and Frames & Watermarks.

Highlights include the new Object Removal system that allows the user to remove unwanted parts of an image quickly and easily: the user simply selects the unwanted area of the photo, then uses the same selection – which can be resized – to pick another part of the image to “paint” over the offending item. This is joined by a new background removal tool, People Beautifier tools (comprising tooth brush, eye blinger, wrinkle remover and skin smoother) and a selection of photo effects.

A new Watermark editor provides a wide collection of tools for watermarking your images for identification and copyright purposes, and even includes a tool for creating and applying templates across an entire folder of photos.

The new Adjustment section also includes a number of tools new to PhotoDirector. These include Vibrancy, Noise Reduction and HSL/Color, while the Adjust Color tool now includes a curves option in addition to levels.

There are also addition lens correction tools, designed to combat distortion and perspective issues like fish-eye lens. Color profile support has been extended too, with embedded ICC profiles now supported when both importing and exporting photos, along with Adobe RGB and ProPhoto RGB color spaces.

CyberLink PhotoDirector 3 is available as a free fully functional 30-day trial download for PCs running Windows XP, Vista and 7. A dual-core Pentium-D 3.0GHz processor is considered the minimum requirement, along with 2GB RAM (including 128MB video card RAM), and 1GB free hard drive space.