- Marketing Information: Adobe Photoshop CS3 software accelerates your path from imagination to imagery. Ideal for photographers, graphic designers, and web designers, the professional standard delivers new features such as automatic layer alignment and blending that enable advanced compositing. Live filters boost the comprehensive, nondestructive editing toolset for increased flexibility. And a streamlined interface and new timesaving tools make your work flow faster. Product Information - Software Sub Type: Graphics/Designing - Software Name: Photoshop CS3 - Upgrade - Features and Benefits: Work more productively: - Efficient and flexible work environment: - Streamlined interface and palette management - Faster, more flexible asset management with Adobe Bridge CS3 - Custom menus, shortcuts, and workspaces - Streamlined workflow: - Better raw image processing - Enhanced PDF support - Adobe Photoshop Lightroom support - Improved printing experience - Presets - Peak performance - Automated production - History palette and Edit History log - Wide range of supported formats - Adobe Device Central CS3 - Zoomify export for high-resolution web display - Third-party solutions and resources Edit with unrivaled power: - Nondestructive editing: - Smart Filters - Smart Objects - Professional color and tone control: - Color-correction enhancements - Black-and-white conversion - Improved Channel Mixer - Enhanced 32-bit high dynamic range (HDR) support - Intel
Note: This is the upgrade version of Adobe Photoshop CS3.
Adobe Photoshop CS3 Upgrade software accelerates your path from imagination to imagery. Ideal for photographers, graphic designers, and web designers, the professional standard delivers new features such as automatic layer alignment and blending that enable advanced compositing. Live filters boost the comprehensive, nondestructive editing toolset for increased flexibility. And a streamlined interface and new timesaving tools make your work flow faster.
Boost your productivity with a streamlined interface. |
The Loupe tool in Adobe Bridge CS3 lets you easily zoom into the fine detail of any image. |
The new overlay preview and Clone Source palette let you preview, transform, and precisely position cloned areas in a single fluid process. |
Zoomify export allows you to efficiently display even the highest resolution imagery over low bandwidth web connections. |
Work more productively
Take advantage of a wide range of improvements designed to boost your productivity. Experience native performance on Intel based and PowerPC Macs and on Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista systems. Maximize your workspace with a streamlined interface, process raw images with increased speed and quality, and manage assets more efficiently in the revamped Adobe Bridge CS3. And enjoy complete compatibility with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom software (sold separately), so the changes you make to an image in one product will automatically appear in the other.
Edit with unrivaled power
The comprehensive image-editing toolset in Photoshop CS3 lets you correct and enhance your images with unmatched creative control. Experiment more freely with nondestructive filters. Manage and correct color more easily, and convert color images to rich black-and-white with one click. Retouch images with more powerful cloning and healing tools. And count on higher fidelity conversion when you merge a series of exposures into a 32-bit high dynamic range (HDR) image.
Composite with breakthrough tools
Photoshop CS3 offers a wealth of features that make compositing multiple images easier than ever before. Create more accurate composites with new tools that automatically align and blend layers or images based on similar content. Make an image selection with one brush stroke. Perfect any selection edge in an easy-to-use, intuitive dialog box. And merge multiple photos into a panorama with superior results.
Product highlights
- Boost your productivity with a streamlined interface, enhancements to raw-image processing and asset management workflows, and more.
- Experience unrivaled editing power with nondestructive filters, more precise color-correction controls, and more powerful cloning and healing tools.
- Easily create rich composites using new tools for automatically aligning and blending layers and making quick selections.
Audience benefit
Professional photographers--With Adobe Photoshop CS3 software, you can perfect all of your images with nondestructive filters and more powerful color-correction, cloning, and healing tools, and you can create sophisticated composites more easily than ever with breakthrough tools for automatically aligning and blending layers, making quick selections, and more.
Serious amateur photographers--Adobe Photoshop CS3 software delivers everything you need to edit images with professional-quality results, and offers a simplified user interface that makes learning and working in the program easier.
Print and web designers--Adobe Photoshop CS3 software delivers unrivaled power to edit images, breakthrough capabilities for creating sophisticated image composites, and the ability to output your final files to a broad range of formats for print and the web.
Photography students and educators--From raw-image processing, retouching, and compositing to final image output, professional-standard Adobe Photoshop CS3 software offers a powerful solution for digital photography workflows.
Work More Productively
Efficient and flexible work environment
Streamlined interface and palette management
Maximize screen space for editing while keeping essential tools accessible. Palettes are now arranged in convenient, self-adjusting docks that can be widened to full size or narrowed to icons or even a thin, self-revealing strip at the edge of your monitor.
Faster, more flexible asset management with Adobe Bridge CS3
Organize and manage images more efficiently with Adobe Bridge CS3 software, which now delivers improved performance, a Filter panel for easier searching, the ability to group multiple images under a single thumbnail, the Loupe tool, offline image browsing, and more.
Custom menus, shortcuts, and workspaces
Set up and save custom menus, keyboard shortcuts, and workspaces for quick access to what you need.
Streamlined Workflow
Better raw image processing
Process raw images with increased speed and superior conversion quality using the Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw plug-in, which now adds support for JPEG and TIFF formats; new tools including Fill Light and Dust Busting; compatibility with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom software; and support for over 150 camera models.
Enhanced PDF support
Work more easily with Adobe PDF-based content. Precisely control the size of PDF pages opened in Photoshop; add security controls and metadata, such as copyright and exposure details, to images within PDF presentations; and create a richer image display in PDF presentations and documents.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom support
Jump from Photoshop Lightroom software to Photoshop CS3 in one click for advanced editing of your digital photos. Lightroom (sold separately) offers an efficient, powerful way to import, manage, and present large volumes of digital images.
Improved printing experience
Experience better control over print quality with color management, a larger print preview window, and more controls in one place so you can print in fewer steps. Improved printing controls, co-developed by Adobe and HP, make printing easier and more predictable, and streamline setup options via integration with select printers from HP, Epson, and Canon.
Presets
Make sophisticated color adjustments automatically with one-click presets in Curves, the Channel Mixer, and the new Black and White conversion dialog box.
Peak performance
Experience native performance on Intel and PowerPC based Macintosh computers, and on Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista systems.
Automated production
Automate common production tasks in a variety of ways. Set up event-based scripts, record a series of steps as an Action for efficient batch processing, and design repetitive graphics faster with Variables.
History palette and Edit History log
Undo and redo any set of editing steps in an open image with the History palette, and automatically track all editing steps within your files with the Edit History log. Export steps to a text file or save them as part of image metadata for easier documentation of your work, file audits, and more.
Wide range of supported formats
Import and export a wide range of file formats, including PSD, BMP, Cineon, JPEG, JPEG2000, OpenEXR, PNG, Targa, and TIFF.
Adobe Device Central CS3
Create compelling mobile content, such as wallpapers and screensavers, and then visually preview how it will render on mobile devices using the built-in Adobe Device Central CS3. Tune your designs for mobile screen sizes and lighting conditions.
Zoomify export for high-resolution web display
Take advantage of Adobe Flash and Zoomify technology to export high-resolution images to the web for viewing through Adobe Flash Player software. Flash Player displays your image quickly and efficiently, letting viewers zoom in on details with minimal delay.
Third-party solutions and resources
Take advantage of a wealth of additional resources--including software plug-ins, books, and training--from the longstanding community of expert Photoshop developers, authors, and trainers.
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| Auto-Align Layers can automatically connect a series of photos into a panorama (left). Auto-Blend Layers can then seamlessly blend lighting and texture to complete the perfect composite image (right). |
Edit With Unrivaled Power
Nondestructive editing
Smart Filters
Add, adjust, and remove filters from an image without having to resave the image or start over to preserve quality. Nondestructive Smart Filters allow you to visualize changes without altering original pixel data.
Smart Objects
Perform nondestructive scaling, rotating, and warping of raster and vector graphics with Smart Objects. Even preserve the editability of vector data from Adobe Illustrator software.
Professional color and tone control
Color-correction enhancements
Take advantage of precision color correction made faster and easier. Brightness/Contrast now provides better results from the same intuitive interface, and enhanced Curves controls let you make automatic adjustments with included presets or those you create; convert to black-and-white with point sliders; and use a histogram, color channel lines, and a clipping preview.
Black-and-white conversion
Easily convert color images to rich black-and-white and adjust tonal values and tints with a new tool. Experiment with the included black-and-white presets, or create and save your own custom presets to achieve the best results.
Improved Channel Mixer
Take advantage of new functionality and a host of presets that make the Channel Mixer easier to use for black-and-white conversion.
Enhanced 32-bit high dynamic range (HDR) support
Create and edit 32-bit images and combine multiple exposures into a single, 32-bit image that preserves the full range of a scene--from the deepest shadows to the brightest highlights. New image processing and alignment algorithms deliver superior results.
Maximize screen space for editing while keeping essential tools accessible. |
Intelligent Image Editing and Enhancement
More powerful cloning and healing tools
Experience greater control when retouching images with cloning tools and the Healing Brush. See source pixels under your tool or brush for more precise positioning; preview changes to source content live; and set multiple source points, scale, and rotate in the new Clone Source palette.
Rich painting and drawing toolset
Create or modify images with a wide assortment of professional, fully customizable paint settings, artistic brushes, and drawing tools.
Enhanced Vanishing Point
Take perspective-based editing to a new level with the enhanced Vanishing Point, which lets you create multiple planes in an image, connect them at any angle, and then wrap graphics, text, and images around them to create packaging mock-ups and more.
Composite With Breakthrough Tools
Easy compositing and selecting
Advanced compositing
Create more accurate composites by automatically aligning multiple Photoshop layers or images based on similar content. The Auto-align Layers command quickly analyzes details and moves, rotates, or warps layers to align them perfectly, and the Auto-blend Layers command blends the color and shading to create a smooth, editable result.
Improved Photomerge technology
Take advantage of refined Photomerge technology, which uses new layer-alignment and layer-blending capabilities to let you automatically stitch horizontal or vertical photos into seamless panoramas.
Quick Selection and Refine Edge tools
Make selections in a snap. Loosely draw on an image area, and the Quick Selection tool automatically completes the selection for you. Then fine-tune your selections with the Refine Edge tool.
Flexible layers
Composite images, text, and effects on hundreds of layers for extraordinarily sophisticated results. Organize layers with up to five levels of nesting, and save in different combinations as Layer Comps.
Which edition of Photoshop CS3 is right for you?
Photoshop CS3 is available in two editions--Photoshop CS3 and Photoshop CS3 Extended--to meet the diverse needs of professionals in a wide range of fields. |
| Adobe Photoshop CS3 | Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended |
| Builds on Photoshop CS2 with dozens of improvements |  | |
| Increased productivity with a streamlined interface, Camera Raw enhancements, next-generation Adobe Bridge CS3, and Zoomify export | | |
| Unrivaled editing power with live filters, more precise color correction, easier black-and-white conversion, and more powerful cloning and healing tools | | |
| Breakthrough compositing with automatic layer alignment and blending capabilities, easier selections, and improved Photomerge® technology | | |
| 3D and motion support with the ability to edit 3D content and incorporate it into 2D compositions, paint and clone over multiple video frames, and more | | |
| Comprehensive image analysis with new image measurement and counting tools | | |
MPN: L90556 - UPC: 883919080918
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Customer Reviews
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Adobe does it again 
By A3OH101U0CPUC7 on 2007-04-30
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.
wait until Adobe fixes installation complaints 
By A163JV7O4BT8K2 on 2007-06-03
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!!!!!!!
Wait for CS4
By A1SS59LF7C4OWX on 2007-05-30
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).
Buggy, Buggy, Buggy
By A1W9L9DOHVVYTA on 2007-05-25
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.
Good upgrade, still photoshop
By A3AXSYSZYIS8Z1 on 2007-07-06
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.
- Photoshop CS3
By A3P6KWO1GORW8W on 2007-08-26
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.
- Photoshop keeps improving!
By A2B1FOQ7TFX94B on 2007-06-08
I have been using Photoshop for 5 years now. It is the best product out there for improving all sorts of photos. They have improved the interface, selection tools and now have even just recently upgraded Camera Raw. I use CS3 in conjuction with Adobe Lightroom. It is just awesome how they improve this product for each new release and they do it now with frills!
- CS3 upgrade worth every penny!
By AFZYJ31GTZAGP on 2007-09-12
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.
- Better than CS2
By A1M4WV5THDIYYF on 2007-05-12
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.
- Great for RAW files
By A29QEYOU7TB4R9 on 2007-07-03
My wife and I are advanced amatuer wildlife photographers and we use Photoshop CS3 to process our RAW Canon 30D files. This program is great for creating a very efficient workflow process.
- An important upgrade
By A1GGNV1VBCU46D on 2007-05-20
I usually am not in a hurry to buy a Photoshop upgrade till it's been available for several months, especially if I'm still on the learning curve for the previous upgrade. However, having checked out the beta version of CS3, I was excited about its possibilities, so I prepurchased the boxed version as soon as it was available, and I'm not disappointed.
- Photoshop CS3 The Worst
By A3MTVLVHNJKCYJ on 2007-08-19
The upgrade to Photoshop CS3 has been the worst Photoshop experience in years. I have had to use Adobe's CS3 beta cleanup script twice, and Photoshop CS3 has stopped working again with a "License has Stopped Working" dialog box. And, of course, Adobe tech support is closed for the weekend and their tech support server is down.
It's almost like Adobe is becoming the General Motors of image editing. Lots of product lines and hype, but none of them work. I've already given up and uninstalled Photoshop Lightroom because of its problems.
- Up and at'em!
By A1UQ87IMLY9K0Q on 2007-05-20
Adobe split up Photoshop and now market both havlves at exorbent prices. As for Photoshops workability I have no complaints. I will look around for a program that cares more about keeping its customers.
DeLone F. Arthur
Morrison, TN
- Excellent Photo Shop!
By A1OZGJVB9DJXSC on 2007-05-24
This version is a must to have when dealing with RAW format.
I know there are other programs that deal with RAW but I like Adobe!
I am very satisfied with it! A MUST!
- Powerful
By AR5KQEUB33DXY on 2007-08-03
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.
- Photoshop CS3
By AWV0L8FK93AZP on 2007-06-26
As a prior user of PCS2 find the new products improvements to be very useful, and have help me to improve my work flow greatly.
- CS3 upgrade
By A1N97NH5C61I41 on 2007-07-09
The new panorama-stitching feature is vastly superior to the previous one. It is worth the price of the upgrade alone.
- Don't upgrade to CS3
By A3EPOPSX1T92NN on 2007-11-12
I moved up from Elements to Photoshop CS2 a couple of years ago and was very pleased. I saw all the hype about all the new features in CS3 and bought the upgrade. Huge mistake. There is a major problem with printing on window computers. I uninstalled CS3 and went back to CS2 . Google CS3 printing problems and you'll find all sorts of info. Adobe is aware of the problem and says they are going to fix it. They don't say when. I would recommend not buying this upgrade until they have fixed the printing problem
- Only the Best Photo Editing Software
By A1G54JYFOPYN1Y on 2007-06-27
This program is a constant challenge to learn its capabilities - which are always expanding.
A world class product!
- I adore CS3
By A2IF6SP9DGE1PR on 2007-10-23
I absolutely love my new CS3. The upgrade contains changes that make my work much more efficient and easy. The program comes with video tutorials that help get you started with the new features. CS3 is far more capable than even CS2. It has more automated features but also more manual overrides for fixing things. It's camera raw functions are more advanced. I like the new abilities in curves. It is very expensive, but I would highly recommend it. I love the fact that I can edit jpegs and tiffs with camera raw. I also love the narrow single column toolbar because it gives more editing space (and you can change it back any time you want.) The extra editing space is great because you can see more of your pixels. The new quick-select tool is very fast and good in certain instances (but I still find myself reverting to the magic wand sometimes). There are so many advantages I can't list them all, but I found it well worth the investment.
- Upgrade pains
By A1UR32DVR6D8P7 on 2007-12-13
Bought this out of necessity. Definitely problems with this product, unexpected instances of the help viewer open and crash the program. Program crashes unexpectedly while just trying to do simple tasks.
This aside, its the standard Adobe product story, you want to use it to the exclusion of everything else in your life...your job, your marriage, your personal hygiene.
- CS3..Great Upgrade!
By A2K4ONRN6B4CY1 on 2007-10-30
I began with ADOBE PHOTOSHOP 5.5 about 7 years ago, and have migrated to all of the NEWEST additions after reading reviews..I initially wasn't going to go from CS2 to CS3, but I'm very happy I did...Memory management and speed have been greatly enhanced as well as a much improved browser and other tweaks..Definitely wrth the $200 upgrade!
- Great product
By A368MT2FQM9JD7 on 2007-10-01
I purchased the Adobe Photoshop CS3 upgrade and it is great. I received the product in a timely manner after ordering, the installation was easy, and it has new features that makes using Photoshop even better!
- cs3
By A2AA3MND6ED8TM on 2007-09-22
CS3 is a vast improvement over CS2. Bridge alone is worth the price.
What would a digital photographer do without Photoshop?
- Do you really need Photoshop?
By A1UFRFLMBHEM9P on 2007-11-11
Photoshop is a phenomenal product! Although I have owned a copy for years recently upgrading to CS3, I did not fully appreciate the power of the product until I purchased the Photoshop WOW! Book. The Adobe documentation, as is common with much software, stops short of being truly useful. A reference prepared by someone whose focus is using a product is almost always better. I am sure there are other very good books, but I can recommend the WOW book earnestly. It doesn't simply explain what features are available, but how to use them to accomplish remarkable things.
Regarding Photoshop, it is a tool designed to satisfy professional photo editors. The capabilities far exceed what the average point-and-shoot photographer's needs, making it difficult for the amateur to justify the time and cost necessary to master its many intricacies. For pro's, there are few limits once you get up the learning curve.
If you just want to clean up you snapshots, invest in something simpler and cheaper. If you want to be a photographic artist, Photoshop is your tool.
- Fine, but do not purchase this to upgrade from Creative Suite 2 package
By A2HJL9HAZS0PO9 on 2007-12-19
While the product itself is fine, you should not purchase this upgrade if you have Adobe Creative Suite 2 and wish to just upgrade the Photoshop portion of the Creative Suite package. The upgrade will not succeed. Specifically, the serial number will not be accepted as valid.
If you have Creative Suite 2 and wish to upgrade Photoshop, you will need to purchase the Creative Suite 3 upgrade. This upgrade path will work, will result in the Photoshop portion being upgraded, and is still less expensive than purchasing the standalone Photoshop CS3.
- Had to upgrade, but happy that I did
By A2VB0TJOM1T9DO on 2008-05-15
As an amateur photographer I don't have to keep up with the latest cutting edge version of Photoshop. The main reason I had to upgrade to CS3 was to be able to review and edit Canon Raw images from a Canon 1D Mk III DSLR. This is my only big gripe with Adobe is that the Raw file format does not appear to have changed, but because the camera model number in the metadata was different Photoshop/Bridge CS2 refused to show thumbnails or open the Mk III's .CR2 files.
So, I had to upgrade to CS3 which cost about $200, which is much better than having spend $600+. At first, I didn't see much of a difference. Sure, there is a different color scheme for the PS and Bridge applications, some stuff has been moved around a little on the screen, but nothing big.
Then I find the feature that made me happy that I had upgraded. Adobe Camera Raw ("ACR") now lets you manipulate JPEG images to almost the same degree as Raw images. You can do limited white balance correction, straightening, cropping, and sharpening of JPEG images--non-permanent changes just like with Raw images. White balance correction is limited to "As Shot", "Auto", and "Custom", though this limitation is understandable as JPEG images don't normally contain color temperature information. However, using the "Custom" option with a test-shot of a white-card now makes correcting the white balance for JPEGs a breeze. Plus, the ability to straighten and crop JPEG images so quickly in ACR is a feature I wish I had had a year ago.
All these changes to a JPEG image are non-permanent meaning the original image is still there (you can verify this by viewing the image with another application, e.g. Windows Explorer with Thumbnail View). The changes you make using ACR appear to be stored in the JPEG file itself as a new metadata section. Caveat: Only applications that can see and use this metadata will render your changes on the screen so right now that is only going to be Adobe applications.
- Great upgrade
By AD4CCGBBF8AF3 on 2008-01-17
I have been a loyal Photoshop user since V.5.0. It requires a commitment to master the many feature but it is really worth your time. There are now many sites that offer tutorials over the internet that will help the process along.
This is worthy upgrade from CS2 that has many new features that make converting your digital files to very beautiful photographs a really fun experience.
- Just the Best
By A2URMEBZ3VWAUE on 2008-02-12
As always I hear some people trash the new upgrades. I have been using Photoshop starting with 5 and I have never had a problem downloading or using it. CS3 has many new things to learn and will take some time to pick up on the many tricks but I am excited to start this new venture. If you are a serious user, CS3 is for you.
- Powerful, but Complicated
By APNTA0OD249AT on 2008-02-15
The power of this product cannot be denied, but it is incredibly complicated and frustrating at times. I don't think adobe even considers the concept of user friendliness or intuitive features, yet I am in awe of what it can do. Even with an instruction book I still want to tear my hair out sometimes.
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