The author begins by explaining the interface elements that make up PhotoDraw and detailing how PhotoDraw fits in with scanners, digital cameras, and other image-acquisition devices. Then he shows how you can use PhotoDraw's numerous tools to manipulate images in many different ways--he explains everything from flipping and skewing to color manipulation and filtering. Sagman also covers special effects, such as adding shadows, and goes into some detail about combining text with images--valuable information if you're designing a banner for a Web site or paper publication. Later chapters address the special issues that affect the publication of images on the Web and explain how to use PhotoDraw's special tools for building Web buttons.
In addition to explaining how to use PhotoDraw's features for their intended purposes, Sagman makes frequent asides that reveal useful tricks. The Remove Scratch tool, for instance, comes in handy for eliminating unwanted linear elements--such as telephone lines and tree branches--from scanned photos. --David Wall