Photographers, graphic artists, and Web designers have long considered Photoshop to be the industry standard for creative projects. Its array of amazing tools adds wings to an idea from the first spark to the final pre-press specs. This latest release comes in two forms: Photoshop CS3 and Photoshop CS3 Extended. The Extended version is being hailed as a huge breakthrough, as it throws the door wide open for the creative pursuits of professionals who work in manufacturing, television production, architecture, engineering, and certain medical fields in which specialized images are needed. It utilizes all the new features of CS3, then adds customized features to meet the unique needs of each professional group--film and television, medical and science, and manufacturing, architecture, and engineering.
Since I'm a writer & photographer, I'll focus primarily on the features I'll use on a a daily basis. But I must say, professionals in the film industry will certainly appreciate CS3's whopping 32-bit HDR support, complete with a set of task-specific brushes, selection tools, and layers. New smart filters allow editing and processing of multilayered images loss-free. A Quick Selection tool saves an immense amount of time, and the Refine Edge feature is a powerful shortcut to polishing your work.
Have a project involving animation or video? The Animation palette offers a range of creative choices. Paint, clone, or heal layers of your video project with Movie Paint, an onion-skinning tool you'll use often. Working with 2D and 3D has never been easier! Manipulate images, change lighting and rendering, or edit textures of 3D models. Want to turn 2D into 3D? The next-generation Vanishing Point is an amazing tool that streamlines the process.
Now, as for photography, this Extended version of CS3 really delivers, but let me add a note to photographers who may be wary of the upgrade. Those of us who have depended on Photoshop CS2 shouldn't be concerned about losing any of the tried-and-tested features we've grown accustomed to using. CS3 Extended utilizes all those and more, resulting in time-saving features for processing and organizing RAW files, editing images, and managing our work space in a way that feels uniquely right for each of us. It's new and very much improved.
Beginning with its compatability with 150 cameras, Photoshop CS3 will change the way you approach your daily work. According to Adobe's public relations folks, "It's all about simpler, quicker, better, starting with peak performance and efficient pallette management that maximizes your work space."
Camera Raw 4 is practically a stand-alone application of its own, with tools to import files, crop, retouch, remove dust, and boost colors, to name a few. One of my favorite features is its ability to create a customized profile for a camera. If you happen to use more than one camera on different jobs, this is a huge benefit. Once in place, it allows users to easily correct any problems you might typically experience with exposure, white balance, or whatever. This is yet another instance of Adobe's goal to simplify and enhance our work, by creating customizable shortcuts. (When we look good, they look good - right?)
If you're up to your elbows in gadgets, you'll be glad to know that Adobe has thought of that, too. Device Control is located in the File menu. Open a list of devices such as a cell phone, and Photoshop CS3 previews how a certain image will look on that particular device. If you can't find a certain device, it allows you to add your own, too. Most of the larger manufacturers' products are listed, and this feature is an example of how Adobe looks to the future when adding enhancements to their products.
One of the first changes users will notice after firing up the main image-processing screen is the lack of palettes crowding your workspace. That, in itself, is a reason to celebrate. No more clicking and dragging them out of your way; a simple toggle removes them from sight until you need them back. This is great news for anyone who's tired of trying to juggle multiple tools up in the corner of a crowded screen. Panels takes care of all that. Think of Panels as a handy toolbox. Gather your most frequently used options and styles--layers, channels, paths, swatches--and store them in a panel for easy access. If your monitor isn't real roomy, Panels may clutter your screen, but a quick toggle will send them packing. Bring them back quickly, but only when you need to see them.
Another
enhancement that makes image-editing easier is Quick Selection. Remember how
careful you had to be using the old Lasso or Magnetic Lasso standbys? Quick
Selection allows you to choose all the features you need up front (hardness
and brush diameter, for instance). Just click around the section of your photo
and "paint" in your desired changes. If you goof and mistakedly
paint outside the selected area, no problem; press and hold your ALT key while
clicking the area(s) you wish to erase. It's a quick, efficient cleanup.
If you're into those wonderful Photoshop filters, you'll be pleasantly surprised
with CS3's emphasis in this area. Before, we had to worry about every little
pixel--how a filter might alter the original image if we forgot to duplicate
first. With the advent of CS3, though, there's no concern about damaging the
original image. Apply Smart Filters, then adjust them later if you're not satisfied
with the filtering. No more having to click Undo and start over. Once you create
a Smart Image, go to 
your
Layers panel and move the filtering step down. You can watch the filtering effect
change simply by playing with the order of that stack--yet another way this
version streamlines and improves the everyday work process.
One of my favorite tools: Auto Align. Have you taken several photos in the same locale, but noticed features you'd like to enhance? CS3 lets you align more images than before, resulting in a final image that's rich in detail and color. Adjust to your heart's desire using Layer Mask to alter the areas you want to erase and allow only what you envision for your final, polished image, as in this example.
Explore Photoshop CS3 for yourself. Play around with the enhancements and see if you don't agree that it's an efficiency-booster that's destined to improve your workflow and boost productivity. While it might overwhelm inexperienced Photoshop users, this enhanced version is a must-have for those who have learned to rely on Adobe Photoshop in years past. Not a bad investment for under a thousand bucks.
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2 versions of Photoshop CS3:
Buy Photoshop CS3 Extended (Mac)
Buy Photoshop CS3 Extended (Windows)