To say that Adobe knows a thing or two about image editing is like saying that Michael Schumacher knows how to drive a car. Both are masterpieces of understatement, as this year's British Grand Prix proved. Now Adobe's PhotoDeluxe package, which has probably been used to erase more ex-lovers / ex-wives / ex-husbands / ex-friends (delete as applicable) from photographs than any other is being re-packaged and aimed firmly at the business market.

Small businesses in particular, in fact, because PhotoDeluxe BE is effectively a cut-down version of Photoshop, containing hundreds of template files, clipart images and image enhancement effects that should allow you to create effective stationery and marketing materials without too much hassle. Or, more importantly, too much artistic creativity. In fact, you don't really have to do much thinking at all. Choose your photograph, apply a few effects filters to add that artistic touch, and then incorporate the result into a business card, letterhead or other document of your choice. It sounds easy, and it is, but that doesn't really do justice to the capabilities of this program. Short of shelling out for a full-blown professional image editing package, you're unlikely to get more impressive results than this.

For example, there are options for automatically re-touching scanned photographs to ensure the best colour balance, direct download from digital cameras and scanners, export to various formats including PDF, JPEG and GIF, as well as some clever little tricks like red-eye removal and 'noise' reduction algorithms. There is also an Advanced section where skilled users can apply effects with more freedom to specific areas of an image, while PhotoDeluxe BE can be upgraded with new features using Connectables - plug-in upgrades from the Web.

There is, however, a large and unsightly fly in the ointment that is PhotoDeluxe BE. About halfway through the 'Typical' installation process, a dialogue box pops up saying that some features of this program require Microsoft Internet Explorer and that it will now be installed. We didn't want to install it, having a perfectly good browser already. But there was no 'Cancel' button, only an 'OK' one. So, ten minutes and forty megabytes later, we had a full installation of Internet Explorer 4.0 on our hard drive, when all we wanted was an image manipulation package. To quote a royal, we were not amused. Make sure you choose the 'Custom' install option to avoid this.

This package offers some powerful features to the small business user, with the capability to produce impressive and professional-looking business documents from photographs. It is certainly worth a look, given the price. The cynical installation of Internet Explorer, however, we could well do without.