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Rick Sammon’s Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Learn Adobe Photoshop CS3
By Rick Sammon | Products |
Jan 7, 2007
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All photographs © Rick Sammon
Search
the Web, browse through the digital imaging and photography magazines,
and you’ll find many articles and video podcasts on how to use the Beta
version of Adobe Photoshop CS3, which is available free, until May 4,
2007 (I’ve heard), from Adobe Labs to existing CS2 users.
Well,
I’d like to write about something a bit different. Rather than a
“how-to” article, I’d like to talk about why you really should learn
the latest version of the most powerful imaging program for
photographers on the planet. I’ll share with you my top 10 reasons,
counting down from #10 to #1, just as David Letterman does with his Top
Ten lists.
Let’s go!
#10 – Improved Bridge Makes it Easier and Faster to Compare and Select Images.
When
you want to compare an image to the one next to it or above it in the
Content window, simply click on the image, hold down the Shift key, and
then click on the adjacent image. Both images show up in the Preview
window.
When you want to compare two non-adjacent images, click on
one image, hold down the Command Key, and then click on the second
image to see both images in Preview window.
You can also
compare multiple, non-adjacent images by clicking on one image, holding
down the Command key, and then clicking on other images in the Content
window. You’ll see all of your selections in the Preview window.
There are other viewing and selecting options, but those are the
coolest, I think.
#9 – Improved Bridge Makes it Easier to Check Fine Details.
Remember
the days when photographers used to use a glass or plastic loupe to
check out the details in a 35mm slide? The new loupe feature in Bridge
does just that. It’s great for checking out fine details – and looking
for dust spots.
#8 – Improved Adobe Camera RAW Interface Helps You Find Stuff Faster and Offers More Features.
Want
to speed up your workflow in Camera RAW? The improved tab system helps
this process. In addition, those little check boxes for the Auto and
Default settings are now history. Now all you have to do is click on
the words Auto or Default to see the effects of these settings. I love
that feature! There are also new controls for Vibrance, Recovery, Fill
Light and Blacks – making your adjustments more user friendly. What’s
more, you can work with JPEG and TIFF images in Camera RAW. Who would
have ever thought?
#7 – Improved Adobe Camera RAW Offers More Creative Control.
You
wanted it, Adobe delivered! Under the “H” tab you can now make awesome
black-and-white images, and under the “S” tab you can create a Split
Tone image. Coooooool!
#6 – Improved CS3 Interface Makes Working and Playing in CS3 More Fun.
With
the new single column Tool Bar (you can choose to have the traditional
two-column Tool Bar) and new Palette design, you now have more room on
your monitor in which to work on your images. This redesign of the
workspace, which you can customize, definitely makes working and
playing in CS3 more fun – and more effective.
#5 – New Quick Select Tool Offers Accurate, Quick Selections.
Hey! Didn’t we see a cool Quick Select tool in Photoshop Elements? Yes
we did, and now we see it in CS3 – only with a Refine Edges feature
(accessed by clicking on the Refine Edges in the Option Bar at the top
of the screen) that helps us refine the edges of a selection after
making a selection. If you like the Extract tool in CS2, you’ll love
this tool!
#4 – Improved Curves Dialog Box Helps You Understand and Better Utilize Curves.
Just
like real jazz bass players don’t use picks, real Photoshop experts
don’t use Levels – preferring to use Curves, which offers more control
over the image. Now, with the improved Curves dialog box, Curves users
(and wannabe Curves users) have more options for more creative control.
Options include also showing the image’s histogram and clipping
warning. Once you “go Curves,” you’ll never go back to Levels.
#3 – New Black and White Control Helps You Take Advantage of Today’s Great Printers.
Under
Image Adjustments is a new Black and White adjustment. Not only can you
adjust all the channels individually, but you can experiment with
built-in and custom filters. You can also tint your images – and create
duotone-type effects. I love it!
#2 – New Smart Filters Let You Change Your Mind.
“What
are Smart Filters?” you ask? Well, now you can apply a filter and work
with it just as you do with an adjustment layer and layer mask! You can
“paint in” and “paint out” a filter effect. Do you know how long I have
been waiting for that feature?
#1 – CS3 Can Awaken the Artist Within!
With
all the new and improved features in CS3, you can truly awaken the
artist that lies within. And as all artists know, the more tools you
have at your disposal, the greater the edge you have over your
competition.
Rick Sammon has published 27 books, his latest: Rick Sammon’s Idea to Image, Rick Sammon’s Complete Guide to Digital Photography, Rick Sammon’s Travel and Nature Photography and Rick Sammon’s Digital Imaging Workshops. He has produced a DVD for Photoshop Elements users: 3-Minute Digital Makeovers, and four DVDs for Photoshop CS user: Awaken the Artist Within, Close Encounters with Camera Raw and Photoshop CS2 for the Outdoor and Travel Photographer. Rick’s latest DVD is entitled Rick Sammon Live!, which is a set of 10 Quick Time movies generated from Rick’s popular seminars.
Rick
teaches dozens of workshops and gives seminars – covering shooting,
scanning, saving, enhancing, sharing and printing – each year. He
writes for PCPhoto, Outdoor Photographer, Shutterbug and Layers.
See www.ricksammon.com and www.rickspixelmagic.com for more information.
Let us know if you found this article useful, and tell us what kinds of articles you'd like to see in upcoming issues. Send your comments and ideas to Lynne Eodice.
© Copyright 2008 by PHOTOWORKSHOP.COM
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Last Updated: Jul 3rd, 2009 - 15:04:15
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