Why do I recommend it?

Experience - Stephanie Baker-Thomas has been using PhotoImpact since Version 3. "Wizardry" is her third and most ambitious title to date. With 592 fully illustrated pages, and active learning exercises, it has something for every user. Thousands of people have been aided by her previous books. She wrote and published Skating through PhotoImpact in Spring 2000, and Fun With PhotoImpact in September of 1999. (Skating is sold out in print, but it still sells copies on CDROM).

Pro BonoWork - Stephanie's PhotoImpact tutorials site has been in operation since 1997. She has written literally hundreds of Tutorials, Quick Tips and procedures describing how to get the most out of PhotoImpact.
In addition, Stephanie has been helping people learn PhotoImpact in the Ulead newsgroup since at least 1997. She is still answers questions there, but concentrates more on her PhotoImpact Bulletin Board Stephanie's PIBB is is the oldest, largest and most focused on line today.

Classes - Stephanie also is a leader in online PhotoImpact classes. She teaches out of LVS Online, which has been occupying a lot of her time recently. Classes include an Introduction to PI7 course and an Intermediate PI7 course for those who really want to get their feet wet.

Personal - I remember getting my copy of PhotoImpact Version 4 in 1997. Like many newbies, I was overwhelmed with the richness of its tools. When I got bogged down, I would look through the Ulead newsgroup, trying to find the answers to my questions. There were several who answered my questions, but Stephanie always did so with patience, intelligence and a kindness that is lacking in so much of society today. That's just the way she is, and she makes me proud to associate with her.