Active Pixels is one of many programs designed to simulate the Adobe Photoshop experience at a much lower cost. While it isn't perfect software, it packs in enough advanced features to keep most casual Photoshop users satisfied.

If you're familiar with Photoshop, you'll find that you know how to use most of Active Pixels' tools without consulting the help guide. You get the great magic wand tool, a number of filters and other essentials that make Photoshop such a necessary purchase for image editors. However, you get fewer filter options. Filters are one of Photoshop's most attractive features, so you'll immediately notice the limitations in this department.

Active Pixels supports layering, which sets it apart from many of the Photoshop imitators on the market. You can also configure basic animations, export your files in a variety of formats and add or remove effects through some simple drop-down menus. Most of the effects look great if a bit basic.

In our testing, Active Pixels seemed to work exceptionally well. It was easy to use and didn't lock up or crash. Compared to Photoshop, it doesn't take up much of a computer's processing power, but this can be attributed partially to a lack of power. Active Pixels isn't quite Photoshop, and if you're an experienced image editing professional, you'll undoubtedly figure out the significant limitations of the program within a few minutes of tackling your first image.

The bottom line is that professional image editors and photographers will still need a licensed copy of Photoshop, but Active Pixels' simple display and decent list of features makes it a viable alternative for casual users. At only 8.3 megabytes, it's not heavy on your system resources.