Where "X" use to mark the spot on treasure maps and the like, it is now taking on the role of favoured numeral used by the marketing fraternity to add a touch of style to the version number of certain products.  Serif is following this trend with its latest batch of upgraded titles including DrawPlus X2.

With the corresponding rise in hard disk capacity at economic prices and the overwhelming popularity of digital photography ruling the roost, the need to organise your collection of images into a presentable and easily retrievable format can be a strenuous exercise.  AlbumPlus X2 is a software application from Serif that offers to provide photo management features combined with the ability to put your digital images to some creative use.

The work area has vertical and horizontal rulers to help with the positioning of items plus palettes handling aspects of colour, formatting and content.  Tabs allow you to switch between the different areas covered by each palette.  There is also a storage area for images that might be used during the current project. PagePlus X2 PagePlus provides a range of tools for handling your publishing needs.

Think graphic and you think of Adobe and Corel with products such as PhotoShop and CorelDRAW.  But there are alternatives especially for those operating on a tight budget.  Since its initial appearance with a DTP (Desktop Publishing) package that help kick start the acceptance of budget software, Serif has continued to produce graphics software for the price sensitive market.

Often referred to as "the father of pop art", Andy Warhol was born in 1928 and died in 1987.  His work, whether you are a fan or not, is instantly recognisable.  You only have to mention Campbell Soup and the series of star faces portrayed in repetitive format to know that the subject matter is Andy Warhol.  But what, you may ask, has Andy Warhol to do with this review of a software product.  The answer is Pop Art.

Digital video editing is becoming increasingly popular. This trend is helped no doubt by the advancements in computing power and various software packages designed to take advantage of the latest developments.

The world of DTP (Desktop Publishing) can clearly be divided into two distinct sections - professional and budget.  If you are a member of the publishing fraternity then you are probably familiar with the powerful features of products such as Quark Xpress and Adobe InDesign.  However not everybody can afford the high price being asked for these titles.  Fortunately there is an alternative with products such as PagePlus from Serif.

While applications such as CorelDRAW and Adobe Illustrator grab all the headlines, they are rather expensive and are aimed at the professional end of the market.  Not everybody can afford the price or needs the multitude of features available from such products.