Customer Reviews

Adobe Photoshop CS3 Upgrade [OLD VERSION]

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Reviewing a new release of Photoshop is a bit like tackling Mt. Everest as the program is so huge that it is simply impossible to cover in depth without writing a book. Still, given that the program is far from cheap, some basic information might help a few people decide whether it's worth the price of admission.

Since this review is for the upgrade, I assume you have used Photoshop before and have basic familiarity with how it works. Primarily, you should ask yourself whether the increased functionality of CS3 over CS2 (and possibly older editions if you haven't kept up with past upgrades) is enough to justify the purchase. I'll cheat a bit and tell you up front that it is easily worth it and then spend the rest of the review trying to explain why.

The first big change that I noticed came when I opened my first file into the Camera Raw utility. Two new sliders have been added. One helps recover blown highlights and the other retrieves blocked shadows. These functions certainly have limits but both proved themselves useful almost immediately. Within reasonable limits, you can definitely push exposures further while maintaining the integrity of your photos at the highs and lows than you could have dreamed of in the past.

Also, you can now use the Camera Raw utility on JPEG and TIFF files as well. It is important to remember, however, that it will not be as effective. Raw files are literally raw and unprocessed so that you can set the assumptions in your computer instead of the camera locking it in when processing the image. Since some of the original data is discarded in the process of making a JPEG file, you won't get the same benefits but this is still a worthwhile tool.

The next benefit I found in CS3 was the addition of filters that can now be used similarly to adjustment layers. Never again will you have to apply a filter and leave a permanent effect that can neither be reviewed nor edited in the future. CS3 allows us to convert layers into Smart Objects and any filter applied to that layer will then be stored and available for editing, deleting, etc. I am most grateful to the folks at Adobe for what is surely one of the most requested upgrades in the history of Photoshop.

Beyond the few items I've mentioned already, there are many other changes. Everything from the Print screen to the basic user interface has gone through an overhaul and in virtually all cases I would suggest that the change is an improvement. Bridge thumbnails have been sped up dramatically, a new Quick Selection tool is a huge help, a major breakthrough in converting color images to Black & White has been implemented... and on and on. I wasn't kidding when I said it would take a book to cover it all. In the final analysis, let me say that in just a week of using this program, I'm already 100% sold on it. I know that I have not yet uncovered many of its benefits and it will probably not be until some of the CS3 reference books hit the street that we can start mining the program's full potential. But I would buy this if I all I got was the new Camera Raw program and the non-destructive filters. Everything else (and there is a LOT) is almost gravy after that. Anyone serious about editing photos should buy the upgrade to CS3.

I guess the folks at Adobe paid their staff to write some Amazon reviews....

I've been using Photoshop since version 2 and have been teaching Photoshop classes for over 10 years, and this is the worst upgrade ever (two stars since, well, it IS Photoshop afterall).

Photoshop's most touted new feature--non-destructive filters--is implemented very poorly. Rather than working like adjustment layers currently work, SmartFilters, as they are known, convert the underlying Photoshop layer into a SmartObject and places the SmartFilter on top. You CS2 users know that you can't edit a SmartObject in Photoshop--you have to go to the object's native application. So to edit the image under a SmartFilter, Photoshop opens it in a new document window (meaning you can't see its interaction with layers underneath as you edit it, and can't see how the various SmartFilters make the changed composition look until you save and return to the original document, and you can't see the effect of the SmartFilter as you edit the underlying art.

Adobe quietly retired ImageReady, so there is now NO way to open an animated GIF and edit its multiple frames in Photoshop CS3!

I've summarized the dissapointing bugs in a review of the whole Creative Suite (type "cs3" in the search field).

Do NOT get this program YET. There are numerous issues with the installation process which Adobe has yet to address. I am not alone with serious installation issues. The Internet is full of complaints about aborted installation of all Adobe CS3 products. Some people need to do a complete reinstall of their XP operating system (after a hard drive reformat) just to install the latest Adobe products. Others have had to uninstall all of their Adobe products just to install the trial version of Photoshop CS3. Adobe does offer one fix, but before you use it they warn you that use of their script coult result in erasing of your entire hard drive. Adobe has really screwed up with the new product line. Beware!!!!!!!

Photoshop CS3 is an awesome program. Is it a worthwhile upgrade from CS2? No. From CS and lower, most definately. I haven't really taken advantage of CS3's new features as of yet with acception of the new camera raw, I'm just set in my ways. I haven't experienced any bugs as of yet, the program starts up super fast and installation was problem free. I did install it on a vista machine so that could be why. I really love the new interface, it took some getting used to, but I love how its the same throughout adobe's applications (except dreamweaver). All in all, CS3 doesn't reinvent the wheel, it just adds little things to make your workflow a bit more streamlined.

I waited quite a while to buy this upgrade because I had heard of so many installation problems from people who had downloaded and installed the CS3 Beta. I followed Adobe's direction for uninstalling the Beta and had absolutely no problems installing CS3. However, I did have some problems opening both Bridge and "Get Photos from Camera" (through the Bridge File menu.) First they did open, they didn't open again until I rebooted the computer. I haven't had the problem again for a while, so I hope it has resolved itself. Now, that it does work for me, I find "Get Photos from Camera" is a much improved way to downloaded images.

The new Bridge and Photo RAW are great improvements over CS2. You can now open jpegs in Photo RAW and have more controls available in general. In Photoshop itself, the Quick Selection tool is great, as well as the new Black & White Image Adjustment. I haven't used it too much yet, but I think the Smart Filters option seems like a very good idea. Overall, I am very pleased with this Upgrade.

Eventually this will be a great product, after Adobe gets rid of all the bugs in it. It has some great features, and is a worthwhile upgrade from CS2, but Adobe should hide their faces in shame over the pitiful quality of the software. I tried the beta version and hit many bugs, but certainly thought Adobe would cure those ills before putting the real deal on the market. I was sadly mistaken. I'm not talking about little bugs either. Adobe Bridge won't launch probably 65% of the time. Some times it will take 4 or 5 re-starts before Bridge will launch. That's certainly more than just a mild irritant, or a small bug. Like I say, EVENTUALLY it will be a great program, but far from it now.

I'm a photographer and I've been through several upgrades of Photoshop starting with version 5 and this one, hands down, is the best. The improvements to the Bridge application alone are worth the upgrade price but when you add the changes to RAW and the ability to employ the RAW changes to Tiffs an jpgs (granted the workflow is kind of funky) you've got a sure fire winner.
The changes to PS were big enough to warrent a thorough re-examination of of the software. Adobe includes some very good video's on the CD but I did find that the investment in Ben Wilmore's CS3 upgrade book very helpful. This book ONLY deals with the CS3 changes and was great for a fairly experienced Photoshop user.

I was a beta tester and I just love the new sharpening tool. also the tools for dummies like me have gotten far better. I don't know what an expert thinks who could use all the counterintutive tools in the old one but the new one is 10 times easier for me to use and I get far better results.

Each upgrade has offered new and power packing features and CS3 is no letdown. The upgrades to the Selection Tools is a true time saver. I am in the process of redoing some of my old digital pictures.

The new panorama-stitching feature is vastly superior to the previous one. It is worth the price of the upgrade alone.