Adobe Photoshop CS Upgrade (Windows)

by Adobe

Product Features

• Improved file management, new design possibilities, and a more intuitive way to create for the Web
• Support for 16-bit images, digital camera raw data, and non-square pixels
• Create or modify photos using painting, drawing, and retouching tools
• Customized workspace; save personalized workspace and tool settings; create customized shortcuts
• Unparalleled efficiency--automate production tasks with built-in or customized scripts

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0000DBOBZ
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 29, 2003
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,011 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Get superior results faster with industry-standard Adobe Photoshop CS software and its integrated Web production application, Adobe ImageReady CS software. Graphic and Web designers, photographers, and video professionals can take advantage of indispensable features that include improved file management, new design possibilities, a more intuitive way to create for the Web, and support for 16-bit images, digital camera raw data, and non-square pixels. Now you can create the highest quality images more efficiently than ever before.

Upgrade Features:

• Improved File Browser: quickly preview, tag, and sort images; search and edit metadata and keywords; and automatically share batches of files from the improved File Browser.
• Match Color command: achieve a consistent look between package shots, fashion photos, and more by instantly matching the color scheme of one image to another.
• Histogram palette: monitor changes to your image in the Histogram palette, which dynamically updates as you make adjustments.
• Shadow/Highlight correction: quickly improve the contrast of over- or under-exposed areas of an image while preserving the overall balance of the photo.
• Text on a path: Create eye-catching typography by placing text on paths or within shapes. Edit the text at any time, even in Adobe Illustrator software.
• Integrated digital camera raw file support: get truer, higher-quality output by working with the complete raw data files from most major digital camera models.
• Comprehensive 16-bit support: perform more precise editing and retouching with expanded support for 16-bit images in core features, including layers, brushes, text, shapes, and more.
• Layer Comps: create design variations for clients more efficiently by saving different combinations of layers within the same file as Layer Comps.
• Macromedia Flash (SWF) file export: use ImageReady CS to create Macromedia Flash (SWF) animations, complete with vector artwork and variable text.
• Customizable keyboard shortcuts: customize, save, and print a summary of your ideal set of keyboard shortcuts, so the functions you use most are always at your fingertips.

Top Features for Graphic Designers:

• Professional toolset: create original images or modify photos using a full assortment of painting, drawing, and retouching tools.
• Layers: achieve sophisticated results by compositing images, text, and effects on hundreds of layers that you control by grouping into sets, color coding, and locking.
• Layer Comps: create design variations for clients more efficiently by saving different combinations of layers within the same file as Layer Comps.
• Text on a path: Create eye-catching typography by placing text on paths or within shapes. Edit the text at any time, even in Adobe Illustrator software.
• Customizable keyboard shortcuts: customize, save, and print a summary of your ideal set of keyboard shortcuts, so the functions you use most are always at your fingertips.
• Artistic brushes: Simulate traditional fine-art techniques with dry and wet brush effects, pastel, charcoal, and more. Even use brushes to add special effects such as grass and leaves.
• Special effects filters: Easily experiment and achieve amazing results by accessing more than 95 special effects filters. Preview and apply more than one filter at a time with the new Filter Gallery.
• History palette: experiment freely knowing you can instantly undo or redo multiple steps with the History palette.
• Color management guidance: easily access the new color management guide to take full advantage of powerful controls that ensure more consistent color on any device.
• Support for extremely large images: create for billboards, bus wraps, technical imaging, and more by working with images up to 300,000x300,000 pixels and up to 56 channels per file.

Top Features for Photographers:

• Professional toolset: create original images or modify photos using a full assortment of painting, drawing, and retouching tools.
• Color correction: improve the color, contrast, and dynamic range of any image with a comprehensive set of professional color-correction tools.
• Improved File Browser: quickly preview, tag, and sort images; search and edit metadata and keywords; and automatically share batches of files from the improved File Browser.
• Comprehensive 16-bit support: perform more precise editing and retouching with expanded support for 16-bit images in core features, including layers, brushes, text, shapes, and more.
• Healing Brush: effortlessly remove dust, scratches, blemishes, wrinkles, and other flaws with the Healing Brush.
• Integrated digital camera raw file support: get truer, higher-quality output by working with the complete raw data files from most major digital camera models.
• Match Color command: achieve a consistent look between package shots, fashion photos, and more by instantly matching the color scheme of one image to another.
• Histogram palette: monitor changes to your image in the Histogram palette, which dynamically updates as you make adjustments.
• Shadow/Highlight correction: quickly improve the contrast of over- or under-exposed areas of an image while preserving the overall balance of the photo.
• Crop and Straighten command: Scan multiple images at once and let Photoshop automatically straighten and save each image as an individual file.

Top Features for Web Designers:

• Enhanced ImageReady user interface: create and modify Web designs faster with multiple object selection, object grouping, and smart guides.
• Improved Photoshop integration: enjoy quicker, more seamless integration between Photoshop and ImageReady, plus automated file saving and common commands, tools, and shortcuts.
• Image slicing: slice complex, layered images and apply appropriate format and compression settings to each area before exporting as an HTML table.
• Variable data support: easily import database and spreadsheet information to automate the production of Web graphics.
• Macromedia Flash (SWF) file export: use ImageReady CS to create Macromedia Flash (SWF) animations, complete with vector artwork and variable text.
• Animated GIF creation: turn layered Photoshop or Illustrator files into compact GIF animations in a few short steps.
• Web Content palette: create and edit rollovers and other interactive Web elements more easily using the new Web Content palette.
• Layers-as-files export: optimize and export individual layers as separate files for use in Macromedia Flash (SWF) animations and dynamic HTML.
• Weighted optimization: smoothly vary compression settings using channels to display higher-quality results in critical image areas.
• Streamlined HTML output: create leaner, more easily edited HTML with new controls for nested tables, XHTML, and more.

Top Features for Video Producers:

• Professional toolset: create original images or modify photos using a full assortment of painting, drawing, and retouching tools.
• Non-square pixel support: create and work with different aspect ratios to accommodate non-square pixels without distortion.
• Enhanced 16-bit compositing: perform more precise matte painting, 3D rendering, and other advanced film compositing with expanded support for 16-bit images in core features, including layers, brushes, and more.
• Guide presets: easily design using video-specific presets that show action-safe and title-safe areas of the screen.
• Layers-to-files export: quickly integrate layered Photoshop artwork with a variety of video editing and compositing systems using the built-in Export Layers to Files command.
• Unparalleled efficiency: automate production tasks with built-in or customized scripts and the Actions palette which lets you record editing steps to quickly process batches of files.
• Enhanced layer control: composite images, text, and effects on hundreds of layers that you can organize with up to five levels of nesting and save in different combinations as Layer Comps.
• Customized workspace: work the way that's best for you by saving personalized workspace and tool settings, and creating customized keyboard shortcuts.
• Color correction: improve the color, contrast, and dynamic range of any image with a comprehensive set of professional color-correction tools.
• History palette: experiment freely knowing you can instantly undo or redo multiple steps with the History palette.

Product Description

Upgrade only; previous installation required Shadow & highlight correction improves the contrast of over- or underexposed image areas - along with more precise editing & retouching tools for 16-bit images Design your own typography by placing text on a path or within a shape Customize keyboard shortcuts to keep your favorite features at your fingertips Full support for Flash(.swf) files -- create them in ImageReady, along with vector art & variable text

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MyMac.com (mini) Review, December 29, 2003

By 

Tim E Robertson "Publisher MyMac" (Battle Creek, Mi United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Adobe Photoshop CS Upgrade (Windows) (CD-ROM)

...

One problem with reviewing a program like Adobe Photoshop CS (8.0) is that one never knows just how much to write about. Adobe Photoshop is such a complex and massive program; it is almost an operating system in itself. So rather than going into each and every feature of the program, a task few would undertake in a product review, I will look at some of the new features of the program.

16-bit color support is probably the biggest improvement in Photoshop with the new CS version. Most graphic programs work with only 8-bit images, but Photoshop CS can now work with 16-bit in layers, brushes, text, shapes, and more. The support is worthwhile for those who need to work with the highest resolution images for color correction.

RAW Data. When you take pictures with a digital camera, the picture is compressed in .JPG format. This is not an ideal solution if you want to get the best picture you can, and with Photoshop CS, you can now work directly with the RAW picture data rather than the .JPG compressed file. Unfortunately, not all digital cameras are supported. Neither Kodak nor HP digital cameras will work with the RAW support in CS. Canon, Fujifilm, Minolta, Nikon, and Olympus does have some supported cameras. If you need to take professional quality images, but are using a digital camera, as well as having a supported product, you will be very pleased with this feature.

The new and improved File Browser in CS works exceptionally well. While I had been using the Browser feature in Photoshop 7.0 for a year, it was somewhat cumbersome and not as intuitive as I would like. Photoshop CS has taken the Browse feature to new heights, making it much more intuitive, and much faster on both my G4 and G5 machine than previous versions.

Histograms are now, finally and "about-time" in color. This will help you when you're working with RGB channels. This may not sound like much of an issue, but when you are color correcting photos, working with a color histogram will allow you much more precise control over your workflow.

Better PDF integration. A neat feature is the ability for Photoshop CS to create a "PDF Presentation" even if you do not own the full Acrobat version. While I have no need for this feature, a Photoshop friend and avid PDF supporter told me this is a big deal. So there you go.

The new Shadows/Highlights filter, found in the Adjustments menu, is simply amazing. This one feature is now a must-have for me. I take a lot of photos with my digital camera, as well as having scanned all my old photos a few years ago. Even after cleaning my old photos up in previous versions of Photoshop, I was amazed at how much help the new Shadows/Highlights help them. It is a great filter, one I am VERY pleased with.

This is a major upgrade if you are a die-hard Photoshop user, and need the new features found here. If you take a look at Adobe's website, read through the list of new features, and decide that the ..upgrade fee is not too steep, you will be pleased. If, however, you don't need the benefit, you would do well to wait for the next major Photoshop rollout.

155 of 171 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Hidden costs galore if you go withAdobe CS, March 17, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Adobe Photoshop CS Upgrade (Windows) (CD-ROM)

I have had my hands on most versions of Photoshop - including version 7 - but there are too many hidden costs with this product to even consider an upgrade. If someone buys this out-of-the-box they may feel diferent, but this is the upgrade version, and not very forgiving.

1) will only run on a new version of Windows - I dont' so thats +80$ for starters
2) will NOT run your old add-on filters - for myself I would have to fork out an additional $400 for buying new filters and upgrades just to get the basics [this has been an issue before, but never as bad as this time - I could only keep one old filter]
3) activation "feature" - it will hit you one day - dont' joke yourself, sooner or later you'll be standing there with a worthless disk because there is some number you cant find or they bark at you because you want to install it for a fifth time during one or two days (while you're recovering from a fatal crash or rebuilding your system, and what you really dont' need is an additional fight with some so-called "support" person asking you to explain in detalies about what you are doing with your system with question like "is this the last time?). No! I'll install it 10, 50 or 100 times if needed. I've given up on two titles before (not Adobe products) - and I HATE ACTIVATION SOFTWARE. I do not have the time, energy or inclination to waste my life with it. Be smart - actively avoid it!
4) No - this version does not have any super-to-die-for feature that you cannot live without [though the RAW editing feature may be usefull for some people].
5) there are some irritating drawbacks like the missing thumbnails, which is a real productivety hit for some people (Adobe actually hyped it as a productivety gain when it came oboard! Now it's XP, K.O. and out)

I may come back when they release CS 3.0 one day in the distent future. But for next couple of years I will be happy about mastering version 7 like a real pro (it really can perform wonders allready). And save tones of money and countless hours for now.

Of course as I start to grow away from Adobes new product, I may turn to the competition...

Last tip - the market speaks - did you notice how fast the price for the CS version started to drop compared to 7.0 ??? think about it...

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Image Previews Gone in Photoshop CS!, March 7, 2004

By 

J. M. Dessler - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adobe Photoshop CS Upgrade (Windows) (CD-ROM)

:: BUYER BEWARE! ::

Here is yet another reason that I'm upset that I purchased this upgrade. The image thumbnail previews that used to be displayed in the Windows XP Explorer window are now gone. All that's visible are ugly, green PSD icons. The option of finding PSD files visually, outside of Photoshop, no longer exists.

Removing this feature is a terrible blunder by Adobe. My friends and I used this feature all the time. I frequently have several windows open when looking through files for projects. I also drag and drop a lot of the time. Many of my folders have over a hundred images in them. I used to be able to look at what I had at a glance but now all that's gone.

Some people say, "Just use the File Browser", but that window is so huge and clunky it's not a viable solution when files are located in several folders that span a whole company network. The file browser window is HUGE! It takes over the whole window. Unless you're running multiple monitors this thing is a joke! Plus, you can't have more than one browser window open at a time, and I need more than that. Unless all of your files are located in one place, this thing is a chore to use.

This is a new era of Adobe. They are becoming more like Microsoft. These days, Adobe doesn't seem to care about its users anymore. I called Adobe tech support and was talked down to by a technician who was indifferent to my needs as a designer. I'm no longer loyal to this company, and I probably won't buy anymore of their upgrades sight unseen.

I'm also having similar problems with Illustrator CS. The previews are gone in that program too and the old files hang because they are searching for the old preview. Adobe removed the image preview feature from its software because the company said it created problems on some user's systems. Personally, I've never had a problem with PSD image previews and neither has anyone else I know that runs the software. I do, however, have many problems and issues with the new "Creative Suite" of products from Adobe.