Adobe Photoshop CS
Software review by: Diana F. ArsenaultRequirements:
InTel Pentium III or 4 Processor
Microsoft Windows 2000 with Service Pack 3
or Windows XP
192MB of available RAM
(256 MB or more is recommended)
280 MB of available hard-disk space for installation
Color monitor with 16-bit color or greater
1024x768 or greater monitor resolution
CD-ROM Drive
Internet or phone connection required for ActivationAdobe has certainly taken some major steps forward with this version of Photoshop. Photoshop has always ranked at the top for graphics and photo manipulation. With all the newly added features, it has guaranteed its place at the top of this list for a long time to come.
With the new advancements you can forget about having to use several different programs to accomplish creating PDF files or flash files. Many times I’ve created graphics in Photoshop and then opened other programs to use the graphics and transform them into a PDF file or a flash file. Photoshop CS has the capability of saving both of those file types now. A huge step forward for Photoshop!
The file browser is suddenly very impressive in this version. You can now use the file browser to quickly organize and locate the items that you need to work with. You can now perform batch operations on multiple graphics without having to open the graphics in Photoshop. You can customize the metadata in your images and use the file browser to edit the metadata of one or more images at the same time. You can save your editing history is an external log file and in the metadata in the graphics file. Say “Good Bye” to opening up something to edit that you created a year ago and banging your head trying to figure out exactly how you created it the first time.
Photographers are going to be extremely happy with this version. The new Camera Raw plug-in allows direct manipulation of raw camera data. This plug-in allows color calibration, batch processing through the file browser and support for most digital cameras. You can also apply the color scheme from one picture to another picture. Scan multiple pictures into Photoshop at the same time – then run crop and straighten and it will automatically crop the pictures for you. You can easily correct the exposure of your pictures by using the Shadow/Highlight feature. You can create seamless panoramas using multiple pictures and preserve each layer for total control over the panorama.
Personally I found the new layer comps to be extremely intriguing. Graphic Designers often create multiple versions of the same image for
clients to choose from. Sometimes that can result in having a multitude of separate image files. Using the new layer comps you can create multiple versions as layers of a graphic and save them in a single file.Photoshop CS also delivers new features for designing for video and film. These new features support designing with non-square pixels. This feature instantly shows different aspect ratios and guide presets define action-safe and title-safe areas.
Two things really annoyed me in this version. Number 1 – my screen is always set at 800x600 – for many functions – the windows automatically open in 1024x768. Very annoying for someone that doesn’t want to use this resolution. Number 2 – Most of the filter options that were available for most pictures or graphics that you had loaded now are grayed out and not available for most pictures. Unfortunately for me, this is one of the things that I used the most in Photoshop. It’s like someone giving you exactly what you really wanted for Christmas and the next morning you see it disappear into thin air.
On the other hand, this new version of Photoshop is crammed full of new and very exciting features. Adobe Photoshop CS is beyond a doubt still the best graphics software available. While I will no doubt be whining some while I use it, I will also be smiling quite a bit too.
Adobe Photoshop CS
Adobe Systems Incorporated
345 Park Avenue
San Jose, CA 95110-2704
www.adobe.com
Price: $ 649.00 US
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