Customer Reviews

Adobe Photoshop 7.0 Upgrade for Mac [OLD VERSION]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I *just* got my upgrade a few days ago. I was a little worried about installing the upgrade, because sometimes they aren't real stable right away. But this one installed like a breeze, and seems to be very stable.

I am on a 500 MHz G3 iMac, with 768 megs of RAM, OS 9.2.1. (I have OS X, but don't use it much yet.) Photoshop 7 installed GREAT. No problems at all. And none of that irritating "CD-swapping" nonsense that was present in the upgrade for Photoshop 6. A very easy upgrade process.

As far as Photoshop 7 goes - what's there not to like? The "heal" brush is very cool, and I LOVE (love love love) the "browse" function. I have WAY too many graphic files, digital camera files, etc., and it's always been time-consuming to wade through them all to find the picture I want. The browse function makes this so much easier. This, (to me) was a major reason to upgrade. I know there are a lot of other additions that I haven't noticed yet (I've only had it a few days) but so far, I am most pleased.

I like the enhanced filter window. Now, FINALLY, we can see how the filter is going to affect the picture, because the preview window is big enough! There are a lot of other additions and tweaks that I really like.

One that elates me is the ability to re-name a layer without having to deal with a window that pops up. Now, you just double-click on the title text that you want to change on the layer palette, change the layer name RIGHT THERE, and then press "return" to set the changes! FINALLY a decent way to change layer names!

The new "brush engine" is very fabulous too. I haven't worked with it much, but so far, I like!

There are a lot of great tweaks, enhancements and adjustments that I am noticing. Very nice. Very happy. Works well with my little iMac. It does need a lot of RAM, though - but so did version 6. Throw as much RAM as you can at it.

I like the "heal" brush, but this upgrade isn't necessary in order to achieve the same results without it. I noticed several glitches when using the Rubber Stamp tool when you are working close to the edge of the document...it doesn't clone from the precise spot you indicate sometimes and this is VERY annoying (Photoshop 5 is more reliable in this area). I like the larger previews in the Filter windows (they are over twice as large as in Photoshop 5.) The brushes are nice and are easier to select sizes, etc. than previous versions. Overall, the added features are nice, but they aren't necessary and don't justify the upgrade cost. It seems like software is updated now just for the heck of it and the extra money they generate. Adobe should wait until they have something major to add before releasing another upgrade to this program.

Reviewer: A software user from Berkshire, United Kingdom
At first glance this upgrade may look like it offers little new other than the healing brush, but a little closer inspection shows that there are a multitude of new tools including the Healing Brush, the Patch tool, the new brush options, the ability to create your own new tool presets and workspaces, enhancements to the liquify tools, the introduction of the pattern maker, the new auto-colour command, support for JavaScript, AppleScript and Visual Basic scripting, and numerous other introductions and enhancements. Granted not every enhancement or new feature is relevant to everyone's workflow especially because both print and web designers use the application - but to dismiss it out of hand as a meagre upgrade is shortsighted. Maybe it just takes a little time and patience to find all of those new features.

Another reviewer mentioned "An annoying feature is the lack of being able to switch to multiple open document windows via the Windows menu" - this feature is there, just use Windows > Document and all the open documents are listed.

Just by having a look at the table of contents for the Photoshop 7 Upgrade Essentials book - the TOC is on the Amazon.com site - you'll get a better idea of all those features. Then you can consider for yourself whether to invest in the latest release!

Adobe has grown up in many respects... and this is living proof. Photoshop is far from being perfect, but this comes very close.

The healing brush alone is worth the upgrade. When I heard it advertised, I thought it was just another name for the clone tool... wrong. You must see it demonstrated to appreciate how fantastic it is. The patch tool is similar, but works better on fabrics and backdrops rather than skin.

The new docking palette well is a great add-on feature, especially for those who are trying to conserve precious screen real estate.

The character palette from Illustrator now joins Photoshop and the two programs talk to each other more than in previous versions. Illustrator 10, InDesign 2 and Photoshop 7 now can communicate to each other via an XML layer in which you can connect 3 different types of documents to a single Excel spreadsheet... so if (for example), you're designing a menu, you can instantly change prices, currency (Yen, Dollar, Euro, etc.) and other data without having to go back in and change currency symbols or alter figures in typesetting.

An annoying feature is the lack of being able to switch to multiple open document windows via the Windows menu... and the arrow on the layer's palette has a "dock to palette well" selection on the top of the contextual menu, so if you've been used to creating a new layer from this menu since version 3.0, you're going to accidentally dock the layers palette instead the first dozen (or so) times out of habit, since the "New Layer" selection has moved down a notch.

Some tools have been juggled and moved around... it took me 10 minutes to find the "Invert" option just yesterday... but the command-i short-cut still works as it used to.

Another awesome feature is the ability to save a workspace in a certain formation. This allows multiple users on the same computer have their own settings as to what palette sits on what location on what monitor, etc.

I know that by the time I really start feeling comfortable in 7.0, 7.5 or 8.0 will be shipping... it takes so long to get your feet wet w/ these new versions - but this upgrade is worth every penny.

While it will work fine in OS 9.1 and higher, it really excels in OS X. Adobe created Photoshop 7 to run natively in OS X and it takes advantage of the open GL graphics layer in OS X. Photoshop 7 also allows you to save your documents as a Photoshop PDF... this is not the same as previous versions when you just saved to a PDF... it's a Photoshop PDF. This means you can save to PDF, send it to colleagues who can then add comments, etc. When you get the document back w/ comments, you can open the PDF up in Photoshop and have the original document w/ all the layers, text, effects, etc. and the newly added comments on another layer. Applause to Adobe. This product rocks!

Photoshop 7 ranks as the best version upgrade for a long time. having been using for a couple of weeks, on occasions where i have had to go back to 6 ive missed the features ive already come to depend on in 7, which speaks volumes in itself.
Firstly the interface has been improved and streamlined, the context sensitive options bar speeds up workflow enormously, and finally after all these versions the ability to save custome tool settings, if you constantly find yourself retyping cropping tool settings et all, then youll appreciate what an advancement this is.
More layer blending modes to play with, improvements to most of the workhorse image adjustment areas, curves has had a major overhaul, and has become much more user friendly, not least with the ability to expand the size of the dialogue box.
The new tools are in fact great, the healing brush has that real wow factor, and is a great accomplice to the rubber stamp.
Even the texture generator seems to have some applications for creating original artwork.
The file browser is welcome, although for anyone who used to use Corel Photopaint, its merely something which has been missing from Photoshop for a long time.
Despite intitial scepticism, i think this is the best upgrade to Photoshop in a long time, although most of the enhancements should have materialised a couple of years ago, at least they have finally been incorporated.

If you're a Photoshop user and want to upgrade to OS X--let this piece of software convince you. It's stabler and more elegant than the previous version in OS 9. I simply *love* Photoshop 7.0. I've been a Photoshop user on the Mac since Photoshop 4.0, and this is by far the best version yet. If you're a graphics professional and have been waiting to switch to OS X for software like Photoshop to be ready for OS X, then the time has come--switch away. As always, I think Adobe's pricing is a bit too high, but this is a rare example of an upgrade whose price I felt was worth it.

If you are a Mac user and have an older version of Photoshop ... well I would seriously recommend that you upgrade to version 7.0

While v7 doesn't add a whole lot of new features ... it does improve on a number of existing ones ... and most importantly it is the first Adobe application to feature their new common user-interface design ... that will be shared with imageready and illustrator.

Since it is highly probable that one will be using one of these applications ... you may as well drop down the coin and purchase this upgrade now ... before they start restricting the versions the upgrade supports.

Looks and acts a lot like Photoshop 6.5, but there are many little elegances added. The biggee is the so-called healing brush and it actually does erase wrinkles on a portrait. For me, that was worth the price of the upgrade. If erasing wrinkles on friends, family members and customers doesn't light up your sky, you may be able to live without this -- unless you are on a Mac running OS X. Photoshop 7 is the first big-time graphics program to make the jump to X.

Ask most graphic artists and designers and they will tell you that their livelihood depends on their usage of Photoshop. PhotoShop 7 is worth the time to learn and use for your projects. Photoshop is still the reigning monarch for digital photos and graphic work.

PhotoShop 7's Healing Brush

The most publicized new feature in Photoshop 7. The PhotoShop's Healing Brush lets you remove dust, scratches, blemishes and wrinkles on your images. With the healing brush tool, you can preserves shading and lighting texture. You can use the Patch Tool for more precise graphic editing. Also, you can use the patch tool on selections or channels.

Controversy. Does removing wrinkles and facial defects destroy the character of the family member? Maybe that was one of the reasons that Native American Indians refused to have their pictures taken in fear of the photograph picture capturing and destroying their souls.

The Wall Street Journal's article on PhotoShop 7 commented on the moral aspects of using the PhotoShop 7's Healing Brush. The writer noted that Adobe Systems was masterful in creating the Healing Brush but was it ethical to use it?

PhotoShop 7 File Browser

The new Browse command opens a File Browser palette. This lets you view thumbnails of all your graphics files.

In the Expanded View the File Browser offers a Microsoft Internet Explorer style view. You will see a panel down the left hand side of your monitor containing a tree structure pane where you can choose which folder you wish to view.

Under the PhotoShop Hood

PhotoShop is a Deep Program. The layout of PhotoShop has three distinct elements: the menu, the toolbox and the palettes.

The PhotoShop menu has eight distinct entities: File, Edit, Image, Layer, Select, View, Window, and Help.

The PhotoShop toolbox has four distinct entities: selection tools, painting and editing tools, specialty tool and navigation tools.

The PhotoShop Palettes has eleven distinct entities: Option Palette, Info Palette, Navigation Palette, Color Palette, Color swatches Palette, Brush Palette, History Palette, Actions Palette, Layers Palette, Channels Palette and Paths Palette.

What does the New ImageReady 7 do?

ImageReady is a separate companion application to Photoshop. It lets you create web graphics, animations and rollover buttons with greater ease.

Becoming a PhotoShop User

How do you become a PhotoShop user? If you asked the professionals they would answer, "Know PhotoShop inside and out, study graphic artists works and practice, practice, practice until you can see the PhotoShop 7 menu's in your mind."

In additional they would suggest, "Make contact with other PhotoShop 7 users. Go to workshops to meet them. Don't stay isolated."

Pro Reaction

Spell Checker in Photoshop 7. Like a text document, you can now search, replace text, check spelling in multiple languages within the same file. In addition, now you can correct spelling on one text layer or all text layers in the same document.

New brush options. Brush choices and options for each brush are so powerful and easy to understand and use. Also, you have the ability to create your own PhotoShop brushes.

Photoshop 7 program comes with an excellent hardcopy Photoshop 7 user guide of 441 pages.

Video Workshop for Photoshop 7 is a CD that contains over 60 minutes of full screen, full motion, professional training video. Help's you get started with the pros.

Graphic designers who use vector-based and bitmapped images will find that Photoshop 7 and Adobe Illustrator 10 work well together.

Con Reaction

Your control over open documents has been moved to a sub menu. This adds another step each time you want to change your images. Not much has changed in Photoshop 7's look-and-feel compared to version 6's radical revamp.

Missing was Adobe Photoshop 7.0 tips and techniques that was available at the Adobe Breakfast for Mac Users Board members.

Final Notes

The perfect time to be a Photoshop user. Healing Brush is easy to use and does amazing results when you edit your photographs and graphics.

Photoshop 7 lets you work more efficiently. With PhotoShop. you now have new tools like: Healing brush, Auto Color, ImageReady 7 for web output, animations and rollovers.

If you don't have Photoshop and you're in the inage-editing business, you should get it. Photoshop is the only serious image product for art professionals, and remains the best reason to use your computer to work on images.

That said, this version has a few serious problems. First, they have completely redone the color workspace system, and it's much more confusing to set up. For me (a Macintosh user), the colors displayed onscreen would not match printouts or screen displays from other programs, no matter how I configured the program. This means that I can never be certain that images I color-correct will properly print on press or display on the web. Adobe is aware of this issue and has no fix as of June, 2002.

Also, while Adobe boasts tight integration between Photoshop and other products in the Adobe stable, I found that, perhaps due to the problem above, I could not import graphics from Illustrator 9 without the program altering the colors. 100% blacks became shades of gray with no explanation. This was a real problem for a recent project I had involving converting over 1,000 EPS files to PCX format for printing. I finally went back to Photoshop 5.5 to do it.

Finally, ImageReady 7 just won't open some files created in ImageReady 3, making it pretty tough to edit web rollovers or animated GIF files from before.

While there are a number of really good new features, such as direct text editing on layers and intelligent object layer selection, which were introduced with this version, Photoshop 7 has some definite problems. If you have an earlier version, I'd wait for Adobe to release a bug fix before upgrading. New users must weigh the benefits with the drawbacks before making their choice.