GRAPHICS AND MULTIMEDIA SOFTWARE

COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN

Computer-aided design (CAD)software is a sophisticated type ofappli cation software that assists aprofessional user in creating engineering,architectural, and scientificdesigns. For example, engineerscreate design plans for vehicles andsecurity systems. Architects designbuilding structures and floor plans.

Desktop Publishing Software(for the Professional)

Desktop publishing (DTP)Software enables professionaldesigners to create sophisticateddocuments that contain text, graphics,and many colors Professional DTP software is idealfor the production of high-qualitycolor documents such as textbooks,corporate newsletters,

marketingliterature, product cat alogs,and annual reports. Designers andgraphic artists can print finishedpublications on a color printer, takethem to a professional printer, orpost them on the Web in a formatthat can be viewed by those withoutDTP software.

Paint/Image Editing SoftwareGraphic artists, multimedia professionals, technical

illustrators, and desktop publishers use paint software and image editing software to create and modify graphical images such as those used in DTP documents and Web pages. Paint software, also called illustration software, allows users to draw pictures , shapes, and other graphical images with various on-screen tools such as a pen, brush, eyedropper, and paint bucket. Image editing software provides the capabilities of paint software and also includes the capability to enhance and modify existing pictures and images. Modifications can include adjusting or enhancing image colors, adding special effects such as shadows and glows, creating animations, and image stitching, which is the process of combining multiple images into a larger image

Professional photo editing software is a type of image editing software that allows photographers, video graphers, engineers, scientists, and other high-volume digital photo users to edit and customize digital photos. With professional photo editing software, users can retouch photos, crop images, remove red-eye, change image shapes, colorcorrect images, straighten images, remove or rearrange objects in a photo, and apply filters.

Video and Audio Editing Software

Video editing software allows professionals to modify a segment of a video, called a clip. For example, users can reduce the length of a video clip, reorder a series of clips, or add special effects such as words that move horizontally across the screen. Video editing software typically includes audio editing capabilities. Audio editing software lets users modify audio clips, produce studioquality soundtracks, and add audio to video clips. Most television shows and movies are created or enhanced using video and audio editing software.

Multimedia Authoring Software

Multimedia authoring software allows users to combine text, graphics, audio, video, and animation in an interactive application. With this software, users control the placement of text and images and the duration of sounds, video, and animation. Once created, multimedia presentations often take the form of interactive computer- based presentations or Web-based presentations designed to facilitate learning, demonstrate product functionality, and elicit direct-user participation. Training centers, educational institutions, and online magazine publishers all use multi media authoring software to develop interactive applications. These applications may be available on an optical disc, over a local area network,or via the Internet.

Web Page Authoring Software

Web page authoring software helps users of all skill levels create Web pages that include graphical images, video, audio, animation, and special effects with interactive content. In addition, many Web page authoring programs allow users to organize, manage, and maintain Web sites. Application software, such as Word and Excel, often includes Web page authoring features. This allows home and small business users to create basic Web pages using application software they already own. For more sophisticated Web pages, users work with Web page authoring software.

SOFTWARE FOR HOME, PERSONAL, AND EDUCATIONAL USE

Personal Finance Software

Office/home office users balance their checkbooks, pay bills, track personal income and expenses, track investments, and evaluate financial plans.Most personal finance software includes financial planning features, such as analyzing home and personal loans, preparing income taxes, and managing retirement savings. Other features include managing home inventory and setting up budgets. Most of these programs also offer a variety of online services, such as online banking, which require access to the Internet.

Legal SoftwareLegal software assists in the preparation of legal documents and provides legal information to individuals, families, and small businesses. Legal software provides standard contracts and documents associated with buying, selling, and renting property; estate planning; marriage and divorce; and preparing a will or living trust. By answering a series of questions or completing a form, the legal software tailors the legal document to specific needs.

Tax Preparation Software

Tax preparation software, which is available both as packaged software and Web applications, can guide individuals, families, or small businesses through the process of filing federal taxes. These programs forecast tax liability and offer money-saving tax tips, designed to lower your tax bill. After you answer a series of questions and complete basic forms, the software creates and analyzes your tax forms to search for missed potential errors and deduction opportunities. Once the forms are complete, you can print any necessary paperwork, and then they are ready for filing. Some tax preparation programs also allow you to file your tax forms electronically.

Desktop Publishing Software

Personal DTP software helps home and small business users create newsletters, brochures, flyers, advertisements, postcards,greeting cards, letterhead, business cards, banners, calendars, logos, and Web pages. Although many word processing programs include DTP features, users often prefer to create DTP documents using DTP software because of its enhanced features. For example, personal DTP programs provide hundreds of thousands of graphical images. You also can import (bring in) your own digital photos into the documents. These programs typically guide you through the development of a document by asking a series of questions. Then, you can print a finished publication on a color printer or post it on the Web. Many personal DTP programs also include paint/image editing software and photo editing and photo management software.

Paint/Image Editing Software

Personal paint/image editing software provides an easy-to-use interface; includes various simplified tools that allow you to draw pictures, shapes, and other images; and provides the capability of modifying existing graphics and photos. These products also include many templates to assist you in adding images to documents such as greeting cards, banners, calendars, signs, labels, business cards, and letterhead. Personal photo editing software, a popular type of image editing software available both as packaged software and as Web applications, allows users to edit digital photos by removing red-eye, erasing blemishes, restoring aged photos, adding special effects, enhancing image quality, or creating electronic photo albums.

Clip Art/Image GalleryApplication software often includes a clip art/image gallery,which is a collection of clip art and photos. Some programs havelinks to additional clips available on the Web or are available as Webapplications. You also can purchase clip art/image gallery softwarethat contains thousands of images. In addition to clip art, many clip art/image galleries provide fonts, animations, sounds, video clips, and audio clips. You can use the images, fonts, and other items from the clip art/image gallery in all types of documents, including word processing, desktop publishing, spreadsheet, and presentations.

Video and Audio Editing Software

Many home users work with easy-to-use video and audio editing software, which is much simpler to use than its professional counterpart, for small-scale movie making projects . With these programs, home users can edit home movies, add music or other sounds to the video, and share their movies on the Web. Some operating systems include video editing and audio editing software.

Home Design/Landscaping Software

Homeowners or potential homeowners can use home design/landscaping software to assist them with the design, remodeling, or improvement of a home, deck, or landscape. This software includes hundreds of predrawn plans that you can customize to meet your needs. These programs show changes to home designs and landscapes, allowing homeowners to preview proposed modifications

Travel and Mapping Software

Travel and mapping software enables users to view maps, determine route directions, and locate points of interest. Using travel and mapping software, which is available both as packaged software and as Web applications, you can display maps by searching for an address, postal code, telephone number, or point of interest (such as airports, lodging, and historical sites). Most programs also allow you to download construction reports and calculate mileage, time, and expenses.

Reference and Educational Software

Reference software provides valuable and thorough informationfor all individuals. Popular reference software includes encyclopedias, dictionaries, and health/medical guides. Educational software teaches a particular skill. Educational software exists for just about any subject, from learning how to type to learning how to cook to preparing for college entrance exams. Educational software often includes games and other content to make the learning experience more fun. Many educational programs use a com puter-based training approach. Computer-based training (CBT) is a type of education in whichstudents learn by using and completing exercises with instructional software. CBT typically consists of self-directed, self-paced instruction about a topic.

Entertainment SoftwareEntertainment software for personal computers includes interactive games, videos, and otherprograms designed to support a hobby or provide amusement and enjoyment. For example, youmight use entertainment software to play games individually (Figure 3-32) or with others online,make a family tree, or fly an aircraft. Many games are available as Web applications, allowing youto play individually or with other online players.

Web ApplicationsAs previously mentioned, a Web application, or Web app, is a Web site that allows users to access andinteract with software from any computer or device that is connected to the Internet. Users often interactwith Web applications directly at the Web site, referred to as the host, through their Web browser.Some Web sites, however, require you download the software to your local computer or device. Webapplication hosts often store users’ data and information on their servers. Some Web applications provideusers with an option of storing data locally on their own personal computer or mobile device

Popular Web Applications Program Name Type of Application Software Britannica.com Reference Dictionary.com Reference Flickr Photo Editing and Photo Management Gmail E-Mail Google Docs Productivity Suite Google Earth Travel and Mapping Google Maps Travel and Mapping MSN Encarta Reference Program Name Type of Application Software Office Web Apps Productivity Suite Photoshop Express Photo Editing Picnik Photo Editing TaxACT Online Tax Preparation TurboTax Online Tax Preparation Windows Live Calendar Personal Information Manager Windows Live Hotmail E-Mail YouSendIt File Transfer and E-Mail

Application Software for Communications

One of the main reasons people use computers is to communicate and share information withothers. Some communications software is considered system software because it works with hardwareand transmission media. Other communications software performs specific tasks for users,and thus, is considered application software.

Application Software for CommunicationsWeb Browser• Allows users to access and view Web pages on the Internet• Requires a Web browser program- Integrated in some operating systems- Available for download on the Web free or for a feeE-Mail• Messages and fi les sent via a network such as the Internet• Requires an e-mail program- Integrated in many software suites and operating systems- Available free at portals on the Web- Included with paid Internet access service- Can be purchased separately from retailersInstant Messaging• Real-time exchange of messages, fi les, audio, and/or video with anotheronline user• Requires instant messenger software

- Integrated in some operating systems- Available for download on the Web, usually at no cost- Included with some paid Internet access servicesChat Room• Real-time, online typed conversation• Requires chat client software- Integrated in some operating systems, e-mail programs, and Webbrowsers- Available for download on the Web, usually at no cost- Included with some paid Internet access services- Built into some Web sitesText, Picture, Video Messaging• Short text, picture, or video messages sent and received, mainly on mobiledevices• Requires text, picture, video messenger software- Integrated in most mobile devices- Available for download on the Web, usually at no cost, for person

Learning Tools for Application Software

Learning how to use application software effectively involvestime and practice. To assist in the learning process, many programsprovide online Help and Web-based Help.Online Help is the electronic equivalent of a user manual.When working with a program, you can use online Help to ask aquestion or access the Help topics in subject or alphabetical order.Most online Help also links to Web sites that offer Web-basedhelp, which provides updates and more comprehensive resourcesto respond to technical issues about software.Many books are available to help you learn to use the features ofpersonal computer programs. These books typically are availablein bookstores and software stores.