Is Photoshop CS worth the upgrade?

[england1965]

Hi,

I am using Photoshop version 7 and have been considering upgrading to CS.

I am quite happy with version 7 (and so have possibly answered my own question) but, is it worth the jump to CS? Am I missing anything major or minor by staying where I am.

Just curious

Cheers

Mark

[piticu]

im not sure if it is possible at all to upgrade to CS. maybe CS2?

[Stemmy]

I am CS2 and love it.

Big changes - You can open as many RAW files as you want all at the same time.

Red eye tool is great.

Healing Brush is superb.

[piticu]

let us not forget the combine to hdri feature.

[Stemmy]

Whats that ???? :o

[piticu]

High dinamic range. Now i use it only for aligning the photos. For the actual hdri merging im using a much better program, called photomatix.

[Stemmy]

But what is hdri merging ??

[Choogster]

CS and CS2 here, kicks 7 where it hurts.

[Choogster]

But what is hdri merging ??

High definition - create a 32 bit image out of a range of images with different exposures.

As you can see from piticu's image, it doesn't look any different whatsoever.

[piticu]

But what is hdri merging ??
Adobe Help Center says: Use the Merge To HDR command to combine multiple images (with different exposures) of the same image or scene, capturing the dynamic range of a scene in a single HDR image. You can choose to save the merged image as a 32‑bits-per-channel HDR image.

[piticu]

As you can see from piticu's image, it doesn't look any different whatsoever.
Different from...? from what? it does look different, trust me. as soon as i get home, i will post the originals.

[Kirsty]

the only drawback i have found with cs is that there isnt - or i havent found!- any red eye removal but apart 4rm that it ok.

[Choogster]

with CS you're supposed to do it manually - its not a beginner program.

[tonymidd]

Kirsty; CS2 has an excelent auto red removal tool, when you've found it!
Right click the healing brush tool and you'll find the red eye tool in the drop down menu, it's magic. Simply lasso the eye and click!

As for CS2 being worth the money I'd say yes. Bridge is very much improved and for working from RAW ACR is very good, not as good as a dedicated RAW prog like Nikon Capture 4.4 but good enough for 95% of my work.

[Wineman]

I have just got CS2 having used Elements for years - what a change! There is so much to learn. I never even got that deep in Elements, just basics so am very thirsty for knowledge on how to get the best out of CS2.

Looks like an awesome package

David

[england1965]

I have finally taken the plunge to learn CS2 - should be here in the next week or so.

Got a feeling I need to take a year off to get to grips with it ... :)

[tonymidd]

Wineman and england1995 get a good book, you'll need it http://www.wedding-photography.org/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif http://www.wedding-photography.org/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif
I'd recommend Martin Evening's 'Adobe Photoshop CS2 for Photographers' from Focal Press. Photoshop A-Z is also very usefull.
I use CS2 everyday for both photo work and web design and I'm learning new things every day and despite what choogster says there are a lot of good auto dodges and actions that make life easier, like the red eye tool. It's knowing where to find them, that's were a good book comes in. http://www.wedding-photography.org/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Paul N]

Hi
a useful mag that has helped me with photoshop is digital photo, sometimes a bit repetative but it works. ;)

[Stemmy]

You can buy DVDs with tutorials.

Sometimes its nice to see a computer screen whilst listening to the instructions.

I went on a few seminars by Barry Thomas. he used to be sponsored by Adobe to give lectures. He did some great DVDs.

A google search should bring some results.

[tonymidd]

True videos can be useful but you can have a book open at the relevant section while you are working, unless you've two computers and can find the bit you want on the video.

[Keitht]

CS2 can often be obtained at very good prices on Ebay. Certainly worth considering.