Discussion thread -- Photoshop CS3 Beta

[CJ Swartz]

So -- what do you think about the changes to Photoshop?
Excited! Baffled? Bored. What do YOU think?! (I'm thinking that I might upgrade from PShop 7)

Doug's thread (link below) list some sites that explain, review, and offer downloads for the newest version of Photoshop from Adobe -- if you have CS2, you can use your serial number from that on CS3 so that it will work until the final production version ships early next year. If you're like me and haven't upgraded, in years, the beta version will only work for a few days. (haven't tried it yet to see if my PShop V7.01 serial number will work at all).

http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/sof...blic-beta.html

As I look at the video and written tutorials, I'm seeing some exciting tools and other improvements --


"A vast performance boost from previous versions."

New interface -- palettes can be docked, minimized into icons or dragged out of the panes as needed. The new interface appears to maximize screen real estate and keeps more of the application tools out of your way while you work -- without buying a second monitor.

non destructive filters (most of the Photoshop CS3 filters can now be applied in a similar way to Adjustment layers. Apply the filters and they can be removed or reedited at any time)

Click and drag with the Quick Selection tool to see areas of your image magically selected, click on another section and like magic the selection grows to encompass this area too.

Auto-Align Layers -- photographers could find this to be a time saver.

Vanishing Point -- improvements that will appeal to graphic artists -- the video review showing the CD packaging being easily aligned to the image is amazing to me!

Auto-blend layers: This command will figure out the smoothest way to blend multiple images together. When the Auto-Blend command has finished, Layer masks will be created to manage the seamless integration and as such you can manually tweak the Layers if you desire.

There's more, there's more!! Curves, blend modes, B/W, HDR -- but I've got to go read and view the info to know what Adobe's done to improve them.

[Doug Nelson]

I've been working with CS3 for...a while , and I'd be happy to address any questions (but best is just go get it and play with it yourself).

[Doug Nelson]

No one asked, but I'll list my favorite new features anyway:

Quick Select - it works! I scoffed at first, but once you get used to it you'll start all your selections with this

Clone Palette - this is a bit cumbersome to get used to, but once it clicks in your head about how it works you'll wonder how you ever managed without it

Auto Align - I can't believe how easy this makes tasks I've spent hours on

Refine Edge - stupid name, but this alone is worth the upgrade

A good (but not great) feature is Smart Filters - it sounds terrific, but you run up against some pretty solid limitations right away (one mask, won't work with all current 3rd-party filters)

And my opinion of the new UI: meh
And my opinion of the new logo: hateit hateit hateit hateit hateit

[Doug Nelson]

My take on upgrading:

If you're using a MacTel machine: yes, definitely, no room for discussion. Might even be worth upgrading your machine
If you're using Photoshop CS or earlier: probably, unless you're stuck at less than 1gb of RAM or a sub-2ghz machine (even then, maybe)
If you're using Photoshop CS2: definitely if you're using PS to make money (even a little money)

[CJ Swartz]

Has anyone else downloaded the program? It wasn't available early today, but when I checked this afternoon, it was ready. It took quite a while to extract the files and then to go thru setup, but there weren't any glitches. I did have to tell Zone Alarm that it was ok to let different parts of the setup access the "trusted zone" (Bonjour "something" asked for permission and I had to google it, but Castlecops said it was a legitimate program so I let it have access). I don't have CS2, so I can only use the Beta version for 2 days before it disappears in a puff of smoke. I'm working on some photo calendars for Xmas, so I'll just use it to do some of my work.

First thing I noticed is that I could find most things I use in PS 7 right away. I have been using the Lightroom Beta, so I'm a bit more used to the new layout of CS3 than if I hadn't seen Lightroom. I have a small 15" screen, so I appreciate being able to minimize the tools and palettes more than I can on PS 7.

I tried a couple of the smart filters -- had viewed a couple of video tutorials, so I knew where to look to convert the image to a smart object and then apply a couple of filters and play with making changes. This will take some practice for me to make the most of it, but at least I was able to click and make the boxes pop up and make the adjustments.

Then I decided to try the Quick Select (selections are still a pain for me even with channel masks) -- it took a few times to figure out what to do when it went off to far, but it worked very well and I love the refine edges box that lets you view your selection against white/black backgrounds and shows it as a quick mask, a mask, and a selection with the "marching ants". I haven't tried it on "wispy hair", and I imagine it wasn't intended for that job, but for subjects with decent amounts of contrast between them and the background, it works very well. My subject was in black/white, and wearing a light suit with patches of sunlight and shade on his clothes, and it still worked well with "some help" from me.

I'm running a Windows box running XP Home Edition with SP2, 512 megs of RAM and Intel Pentium 4 processor 2.60 gigahertz. PS 7 gets slow on me when I'm on the net and have been working on larger files; CS3 is certainly not moving like a gazelle for me, but it's working as fast as I do, and doesn't seem to be slower (so far) than my PS 7. I imagine that getting a new computer with a faster processor, or at least adding RAM (I've been needing to do this anyway) would really help, but I'm kinda surprised that my system didn't just crash when I opened CS3 -- one reason that I haven't upgraded to either CS or CS2 was that I thought the programs would be a strain on my current machine.

Well, hope someone else is giving the Beta a try -- ask Doug a question, or give your opinions.

[cricket1961]

As has Doug, I have worked with CS3 for quite a long time. And I would love to help anyone out in any way.

The UI takes a while to get used to, but when you do I believe it is great. Quite an improvement, but a long way to go as it IS still beta.

I am rather fond of the smart filters. Since I do all my sharpening with the custom filter it saves me some time and memory! Shame about the one mask deal though. Just have to stack your smart objects!

Getting used to the cloning tool overlay still. Quite disconcerting at first.
Almost not worth it.

LOVE the speed and other performance enhancements, even without the Intel chip. But it does make we want to use my G5 tower as a meager server and attach the monitor and scratch disks and tablet to my Dual Core 2 Macbookpro as my main retouching station.

Cheers

Chris

[creeduk]

Can I ask how long Doug and Chris have had access to CS3? Just curious.

I grabbed it but so far not got round to installing. I know things like Web galleries are not working right now and I am busy editing so will be staying on CS2 until I find time to just play. Beta needs a bit of both play and work, work will really find the bugs but is frustrating because..well you are working

[Doug Nelson]

We're both under a nondisclosure agreement, so no details about how long, etc.

[DWThomp]

I've downloaded CS3, but haven't installed it yet. I know this is probably a dumb question but once CS3 installed do I still have the capability to work in CS2?

Thanks,
Dennis

[Xaran]

I would appreciate if anyone else can try renaming a file in the CS3 Bridge, batch rename works fine but it would not let me rename normally.

Other than that what I've seen so far I like.

Christine

[mistermonday]

Dennis, yes CS2 will still work fine.
Regards, Murray

[DWThomp]

Originally Posted by mistermonday

Dennis, yes CS2 will still work fine.
Regards, Murray

Thanks Murray, I thought it would. I went ahead and installed CS3 and have looked around a little. One problem is the Info and Histogram pallettes aren't visible on my 2nd monitor. I think I'm gonna like the B&W adjustments!

[CJ Swartz]

Originally Posted by Xaran

I would appreciate if anyone else can try renaming a file in the CS3 Bridge, batch rename works fine but it would not let me rename normally.

Other than that what I've seen so far I like.Christine

Christine -- I had "trouble" renaming a file, but it finally took. Once I was told that the "process was denied because the file was in use elsewhere", and on two others it just took a few tries to make the new name stick. I had better luck just clicking on the name and renaming rather than using the "rename" choice in my right-click menu, but even then it didn't always work. It worked best when I renamed it, then clicked out of the name box rather than hitting "Return".

Let's see if Doug or Chris have had any problem with this function...

[cricket1961]

As Doug say's, under agreements.

But I have been using it exclusively in a working environment, I find it that stable and useable. IT helps that I am a closed setting and don't have to worry about others picking up my files. But as long as you take into consideration that others MIGHT be working on your files further it is easy to avoid conflicts.

Chris

Originally Posted by creeduk

Can I ask how long Doug and Chris have had access to CS3? Just curious.

I grabbed it but so far not got round to installing. I know things like Web galleries are not working right now and I am busy editing so will be staying on CS2 until I find time to just play. Beta needs a bit of both play and work, work will really find the bugs but is frustrating because..well you are working

[denschneider]

I have downloaded and tried to install cs3 but when I try to launch the program I gat an error message"the procedure entry point AttachConsole Could not be located in the dynamic link library KERNAL 32.DLL Any thoughts on this?

[Doug Nelson]

Sounds like a bug. I'd log it.

[denschneider]

how would I log it????

[DWThomp]

Originally Posted by denschneider

how would I log it????

http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/webforu...626&entercat=y

[Xaran]

Some more free videos at

http://movielibrary.lynda.com/html/modPage.asp?ID=327

Christine

[CJ Swartz]

Christine -- thanks for the links to the Lynda.com movies by Deke McClelland. He's does some different things with the same new tools than Russell Brown and Scott Kelby, etc. and we're getting a nice intro to the range of possibilities CS3 will offer.

Right now, I'm having a great time with the Auto Align feature -- I took some pictures a couple of years ago of a neighbor's young grandkids and the neighbor's new puppies -- a cute mix, but one that gave me images of cute puppy faces mixed with squinty kid's eyes or cute kids' faces with the puppie's rear ends, etc. etc. Now, I'm able to take the cutest of each and let CS3 do the hard work of aligning the images according to "the content within the image", and I'm ending up with some new cute photos to give my neighbor. I still have to work on my layer masks a bit since I didn't shoot purposefully to do this (like Deke McClelland did with the shots of him and his wife), but it's very do-able. When I first shot them, I considered putting some of them together, but it was going to be "a job", and I put it off "till later". Now, I am trying to do as many as I can before my 2 day trial limit is over (SOON!!).

[denschneider]

for any one else having problems I just found the system requirmentsfor cs3 and you need windows xp or vista to install. I guess my old w2k machine is just getting obsolete.

[rogleale]

Be careful! !
I installed CS3 Beta and Bridge no problem on my Athlon 64 3500+, 2GB DDR Kingston and a GeForce 7300GT, and it is all working just fine, apart from some of the already reported bugs. BUT it broke my Bridge in CS2, made it unusable. If I work in CS2 and try to open Bridge it opens in a very reduced window, as what appears to be the folder view panel only, and any attempt to browse to my pictures makes it crash.
No real problem for me as I am a hobby photographer, just an annoyance, but it could ruin a pro's day - week!

Roger

[Xaran]

Seeing your post I thought I'd better check it - opened the CS2 Bridge with no problems- browsed folders etc...

I'm also on a PC with AMD processor.

Christine

[HannibalVector]

CS3 sure has some usefull improvements, I just watched photoshoptv.
But the logo is indeed buttugly, maybe it's just the beta logo.

[CJ Swartz]

From the Adobe CS3 Forums --
"There will be a full 30-day CS3 trial coming for anyone who wants to play with it."

I'm guessing that this will be after the beta period, and when the product is ready for purchase. Any of you folks who don't want your computer to be a "guinea pig" can still find out if you LOVE CS3 Photoshop before you decide to buy it. I may use the 30-day trial, but only if I need the time to get my finances in order I KNOW that I want the features of CS3.

[saberlancer]

Is there any changes to CS3 ram allowance?thks.

[pure]

yes. i would also like to know if
CS2 has a ram limit? and if yes, does CS3 have more ram capability?
i have 2GB RAM, and Photoshop wont take more than 1.1 GB RAM
even the images are very big like 1GB with 60 layers, 60x60cm, 300dpi

another questions please:
can i change the color temperature with CS3 (or 2)
after developing to tiff?
the RAW is not here unfortunately, and i cant get it from
the photographer so i would like to change the temp. of that tiff.

thanks

[CJ Swartz]

Originally Posted by pure

yes. i would also like to know if
CS2 has a ram limit? and if yes, does CS3 have more ram capability?
i have 2GB RAM, and Photoshop wont take more than 1.1 GB RAM
even the images are very big like 1GB with 60 layers, 60x60cm, 300dpi

another questions please:
can i change the color temperature with CS3 (or 2) after developing to tiff?
the RAW is not here unfortunately, and i cant get it from the photographer so i would like to change the temp. of that tiff.thanks

Doug, can you answer any of this?

All I was able to find via search engines was this excerpt from a discussion on an Adobe blog http://blogs.adobe.com/scottbyer/200..._bitswhen.html :

"02:12 PM on December 23, 2006

It's too bad that Adobe hasn't embraced 64 bit yet, but as of now Photoshop CS2 has some support for 64 bit OSes. If you have the RAM (greater than 4 GB) Photoshop will use that RAM as a scratch disk.
Has CS3 improved on this usage? (As an aside, Microsoft has once stated that Vista will spur the move to towards 64 bit computing but their latest efforts have not shown any promotion of their 64 bit OS. I wonder if OS X Leopard will be the bellweather for 64 bit computing)

[What Photoshop CS2 and Photoshop CS3 will do is if it sees your machine has more than 4GB of RAM in it is flip on the bit that allows reads/writes to the scratch disks to be cached by the OS. How well that works partially depends on how well the OS file caching works. - Scott]"

And this about CS2 Maximum file, hard disk , and scratch disk sizes

Photoshop CS2 has constraints on file sizes. The following are the maximum file sizes in Photoshop CS2:

-- For PSD: 2GB

-- For TIFF: 4 GB

Note: Most applications cannot work with TIFF files over 2GB.

Excerpted from:
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowled....cfm?id=320005

[coal]

i like cs3 but my computer never has been slower....... i hope it's because of the beta........ if the final version acts the same i have to think about upgrading

[CJ Swartz]

Originally Posted by coal

i like cs3 but my computer never has been slower....... i hope it's because of the beta........ if the final version acts the same i have to think about upgrading

{Doug -- can you look at questions about CS3 memory allocation in last three posts} - Cole's complaint might be related to memory also?

Hmmm, I'm surprised! The 3 days I ran it, it ran as quickly or better than my Version 7.01 that I own. I'd heard bad things about CS and CS2 being slow, bloated applications and wasn't going to upgrade Photoshop until I bought more RAM, but CS3 ran well with only my 512 megs currently installed.