
The interface is a bit darker and has fewer colors on its buttons, so you can focus on your project media and preview. The previous version saw a new Photoshop-like selection tool for video, access to royalty-free stock video and images from Shutterstock, better color matching and keyframing, and a streamlined interface. PowerDirector runs on Microsoft Windows 11, 10, 8.1, and 7, with a 64-bit version required.

For AI features, you need Windows 10 or 11. You'll need a minimum of 4GB RAM and at least a 128MB VGA VRAM graphics card (2GB for AI features). A macOS version arrived in 2021, which I discuss below it requires OS X 10.14 or later and runs on both Intel and Apple Silicon M1-based Macs. You can try out the software with a 30-day downloadable trial version that adds brand watermarks and doesn't support 4K. Two editions of the standalone video editor are available, the $99.99 Ultra and the $139.99 Ultimate. (Note that those prices are often discounted.) Another option is to bundle it with CyberLink's ColorDirector, AudioDirector, and PhotoDirector in the Director Suite bundle, which is only available as a subscription for $29.99 per month or $129.99 for a year.

Finally, you can get PowerDirector 365 (the version tested here) as a $69.99-per-year or $19.99-per-month subscription (often discounted). Both subscriptions get you regular updates with new effects, plug-ins, and music samples, as well as the previously mentioned stock media. The higher-end options add loads of third-party special effects from the likes of BorixFX, NewBlue, and proDAD. To see exactly which is in each edition, go to CyberLink's comparison page. The pricing is competitive with that of Premiere Elements ($99.99), Corel VideoStudio ($99.99), and Magix Movie Studio ($79.99).

Two annoyances are that the program adds too many program icons to your start menu and you can't upgrade the free trial to the paid version-you must download and reinstall. What's New in PowerDirector?įor CyberLink adepts, here's a synopsis of new features since our last review update. To be frank, PowerDirector is already so replete with tools that new versions can feel like they are delivering diminishing returns.

But for subscribers in particular, the company manages to continually add new effects and tweaks to improve existing tools. I'll list the most interesting adds in the new version below. This class of automating tool has become a popular update in photo editing applications like Skylum Luminar and Adobe Photoshop. It takes multi-step procedures and automates them.
