This is the critical question. Let’s be clear about the legal landscape.

Adobe’s Creative Cloud starts at around $20/month. PhotoImpact 7.0, back in the day, was a one-time $99 purchase. The idea of “free” (abandonware) is attractive.

PhotoImpact was developed by Ulead Systems, a Taiwanese software company that made a name for itself by creating powerful yet affordable multimedia tools. The software, originally called , was launched in 1996 and quickly gained a loyal following, particularly among home users and small businesses who found Photoshop too costly and complicated. Think of it as the direct competitor to programs like Jasc Paint Shop Pro (now Corel PaintShop Pro) and Adobe Photoshop Elements.