Computer Shopper 2019-11-01

ISSUE 381|COMPUTER SHOPPER|NOVEMBER 2019 67

AshampooHomeDesign5

TAKINGQUICKPHOTOSon
your smartphone can generate
some good results, but lighting, a
lack of patience and limited
post-processing can leave you
with distinctly sub-standard pics.
One solution is to import
your images intoaphoto-

EngelmannSimply

GoodPictures5

REQUIREMENTSWindows7,8,10;

50MBharddiskspace

WEBSITEengelmann.com

NOTESGetyourregistrationwithin

theapplication.Followtheinstructions

afterinstallation

management application and

apply some batch processing.

The problem with this approach

is that it takes time,and most

people won’t fully understand

the available options.

Simply Good Pictures is a

basic but pleasantly simple

tool that allows you to take

aphoto, apply some processing

and compare the original to

the post-processed example.

Youcan choose to automate

the processing or switch to

manual control and tweak the

settings yourself.Once you’re

happywith the

results, you can

then export your

new image as a

PNG or JPG file.

And that’s

about it. There’s

no batch

processing, so

each photohas to

be manipulated

on an individual

basis. Youcan

import and view

photoinformation

such as the type

of camera used to

take the shot. You

can also change

the rotation, if

you want to

switch aphoto

from portrait to

landscape mode.

REQUIREMENTSWindows7,8,10;

1.4GBharddiskspace

WEBSITEwww.ashampoo.com

NOTESGetyourregistrationcodefrom

withintheapplication

ASHAMPOOHOMEDESIGNis a3D

home planning tool that makes it

easy to see how your next home

project will look, without having to

payfor aprofessional designer.

Youstart by providing the

dimensions of your room, then adding

walls, windows, doors and flooring to

createthe initial shell. Then you can add

objects –tables, chairs, bath, TV,

cooker,whatever’s appropriate–and

reorganise,rearrange and relocatethem

until you find your perfect layout.

There are plenty of options for

dressing, too. Would your room look better with

parquet flooring or granitetiles, forinstance? Choose

the appropriatematerial and you’ll see right away.

Youcan even import your own photos to use as

backgrounds, such as aview of your garden as it will

appear through the window,togive you the best

possible idea of how your room will appear in real life.

It’s hard to tell what works from astandard 2D

view,ofcourse,soHome Design also lets you

view your new room from any angle and position:

from outside the room, inside,above or below,

from the door,the window,with whatever

perspective and zoom factor you like.

Whatever your viewpoint, professional lighting

and ray-tracing mean the program will quickly

deliver an attractive and very realistic view of your

plan. Youcan then share this with others in a

variety of ways, from multiple bitmaps showing

the room from every angle,tolists of the fixtures,

fittings and materials you’ve used –perfect if you

want aprofessional builder or other tradesman to

carry out this work foryou.