The new version of Photoshop

[Ed_L]

It's about time people start talking about the next version of Photoshop. What would you like to see new in the next version? I'll start it off with the ability to change the color of the cursor, because it is at times, hard to see.

Ed

[kiska]

I would like to be able to duplicate the image IN the file browser.
kiska

[v.bampton]

I'd like to see Shadow/Highlight as an adjustment layer. Oh, and better sharpening tools!

[Vikki]

I'd like to see better use of the menu bar. I'd like to be able to add/create my own menus and modify the ones that are already there. It would also be nice if the docking bar were adjustable.
I'd also like sizable dialog boxes.
Agree that Shadow/Highlight should be available as an adjustment layer.

[Chip Hildreth]

I don't have CS but so it may have it already or maybe I just haven't figured out how to do it efficiently in PS7. I want to do drag and drop channel calculations and also to leave the marching ants off until I want them on.
Chip

[Vikki]

"Ctrl H" will toggle the marching ants off and on.

[Chip Hildreth]

Vikki,
I guess what I'm after is a way to keep them from ever coming on unless I want to turn them on... which is rarely. If I have guides then I have to do the Ctrl-H thing twice to hide them after they come on automatically, likesay, I have them off and feather my selection, they come back on again... two more ctrl-H's. It's not a big problem, just one of those constant annoyances software of all types is so good at. I've tried changing things in the Extras submenu but so far I haven't found a combination they keeps them off until I toggle them on.

Thanks for the answer; I really admire your work.

Chip

[T Paul]

I like to be able to select my text and click through my font list and have the text change to the new font as I scroll through the list. CorelDraw has this capability. It's a nice feature to see the selected text change before your eyes as you scroll through your font list.

[DannyRaphael]

When it comes to predicting new version availability, scouting publication dates for new books at Amazon has a good track record. Check out this one. (Note date in the Publisher line.)

Since the CS and PS7 editions of this meaty book came out a couple months after the corresponding versions of PS were announced, I'll stick my neck out and predict an announcement about CS2 at the Spring PhotoshopWorld in Vegas.

= = = = =

On my wishlist...

For actions how about:
* The ability to conditionally execute commands, like can be done in ImageReady
* Increase the number of characters permitted in a STOP command from 255 to 511
* Being able to save action sets inside of action sets (nested action sets)

How about some new "arty" filters.

- - - - -

Vikki:
You know about Daryl Pritchard's add-on to Extensis PhotoBars, right?

It works pretty well (I used it with PS 5.5), but an officially supported function by Adobe would a significant improvement.

~Danny~

[Duv]

My wish list is pretty modest. How about slider opacity controls for everything, including " Apply Image".

Cheers
Dave

[jrolinc]

T Paul

This may help...

Type your text (which creates a text layer).
Select your text
Click on the "name" of the font in the toolbar.
Now you can use your arrow keys to scroll up/down thru your font list and the selected text (in your document) will change accordingly.

[Ed_L]

There's been a time or two when I wished I had the option to save History when I need to close the file. I think that would come in handy too.

Ed

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by Ed_L

There's been a time or two when I wished I had the option to save History when I need to close the file. I think that would come in handy too.

Ed

Good one, Ed. Along the same lines I'd like to have the option of taking History steps and turning them into an Action.

[T Paul]

Originally Posted by jrolinc

T Paul

This may help...

Type your text (which creates a text layer).
Select your text
Click on the "name" of the font in the toolbar.
Now you can use your arrow keys to scroll up/down thru your font list and the selected text (in your document) will change accordingly.

Thanks Jeffrey! Franny Mae PMed me the same info. I'll try it again, but in the past the arrows didn't change the text. I had to select and reselect each font one at a time. Hopefully it's operator error. I do use the arrow function to scroll through the font list and immediately see the changes as I scroll in Corel and love it. I just haven't been so lucky with Adobe. I must admit though that I haven't tried it in awhile as I thought it just wasn't possible.

[brandonx49]

I'd love to see an extra custom menu bar where one can drag and drop menu items that they use frequently- for quick and easy access. ie) Filter -> Sharpen -> Unsharpen mask would become a funky icon on your new menu bar.

Brad

[Chip Hildreth]

It seems unlikely but I would like some magical way to select a layer or layer set by clicking on the image. I do composites for printing 'n(images)-up' with images and text which don't actually overlay one another; contact sheet like. I have to arrange them to optimize paper and that's slow work even when I label the layers carefully. I just want to click and move the text and the image together anywhere I want and then click and move the others the same way.
Like I said... magical; but Adobe has done magic many times before.

[FrannyMae]

Chip, when you have the move tool selected and check "auto select layer" that will move whichever layer you click on. Is that what you are trying to do? I use it a lot when I am working on collages. You can't move layer sets this way, but you can move layers that are locked together. This works for everything...once you choose "auto select layer" you will automatically select any layer you click on no matter what tool you are using. Hope this helps!

[DannyRaphael]

Good call, FrannyMae...

For those with versions of PS that don't have the "auto select layer" option or if you want to keep this option turned off:
* Choose the Move tool
* Ctrl + click to select the layer that corresponds to the portion of the image clicked.

~Danny~

[Chip Hildreth]

Originally Posted by Ed_L

There's been a time or two when I wished I had the option to save History when I need to close the file. I think that would come in handy too.

Ed

Yeah, that's a good one, I'd like to be able to save snapshots with an image.
Chip

[T Paul]

Originally Posted by jrolinc

T Paul

This may help...

Type your text (which creates a text layer).
Select your text
Click on the "name" of the font in the toolbar.
Now you can use your arrow keys to scroll up/down thru your font list and the selected text (in your document) will change accordingly.

Hmmmm...that's how I remember it working a few versions back, but it doesn't do that now (using Photoshop CS). I tried gain. I selected the text, highlighted it, and selected the font and clicked the up and down arrows and nothing happens unless I actually select a new font. Of course once I select a font, the list closes and my text is updated (no option to continue scrolling through fonts). In Corel, the text changes as I click the up and down arrows without me having to select a font. Hmmm.

[vinniesworld]

Originally Posted by T Paul

Hmmmm...that's how I remember it working a few versions back, but it doesn't do that now (using Photoshop CS). I tried gain. I selected the text, highlighted it, and selected the font and clicked the up and down arrows and nothing happens unless I actually select a new font. Of course once I select a font, the list closes and my text is updated (no option to continue scrolling through fonts). In Corel, the text changes as I click the up and down arrows without me having to select a font. Hmmm.

Try this:
Highlight the text, click on the font list and make sure that you don't click anyplace other that a tool bar. If you do the font list will no longer be selected and you can't scroll. The font list has to be highlight in order to scroll through the fonts.

Back to the subject... USM would be nice as an adjustment layer, actually any filter that can be put into an adjustment layer would be great.

[T Paul]

Thanks vinniesworld, but that's exactly what I am doing. I can scroll through the fonts, but they do not change the selected text unless I select one.

[MBChamberlain]

I'd like to see them add edge detection to the heal brush. If you are close to an edge and paint with the heal brush, it will blend up to that edge but not pull in the color from the other side.

[DJ Dubovsky]

I'd like to see this thread E-mailed to Adobe. You guys have some great ideas for the next version. Ed, I didn't think about the history save but now that you mentioned it, I can recall how many times I closed out accidentally and was left with no way to back track except starting from the original all over. Great idea. They're not likely to come true unless Adobe knows what the users want and this site is loaded with users. Might not be a bad idea to let them know.
DJ

[Axleuk]

It would be nice to see Adobe implement the ability to 'sort out' the edges of composited elements so they blend seamlessly into an image.

[byRo]

If you've ever played with Image>Adjustment>Variations you'll get a little check box called "Show Clipping".

I can't understand why such a useful little item doesn't show up any place else. I ended up doing an action to make a layer that mimicks the effect.
But it would be much better if it was built-in like the Gamut Warning.

Rô

[Gary Richardson]

My needs are much simpler, and much more achievable. I'd just like to see the price drop by 50%.

[okplayer]

I'd like a simple way to incorporate a smart rotation into a photoshop cropping action, ie have photoshop crop everything to 8x10, but if the picture is horizontal crop it to 10x8

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by okplayer

I'd like a simple way to incorporate a smart rotation into a photoshop cropping action, ie have photoshop crop everything to 8x10, but if the picture is horizontal crop it to 10x8

I believe ImageReady has similar capability built-in. If PS CS2 had improvements of this nature, I'd be tickled.

But I'm not optimistic because for those who know how (which excludes me), there are a couple ways to do this now, both involving scripts.

a) Write an action that invokes a script whose logic is this:

If landscape
...THEN apply 8x10 crop action
ELSE
....apply 10x8 crop action

b) I found the following script that's pretty slick. It detects orientation and, if necessary, rotates an image beforehand and back again once the desired changes are applied.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...essage=9444563

Because of this current functionality, I'd be surprised if Adobe does much, if anything, from now on to expand action functionality. It would be just like them so say, "If you can't do it in an action, script it." From mortals like me, "Thanks alot."

I sure hope I'm wrong.

~Danny~

[MrChevy]

Originally Posted by T Paul

Thanks vinniesworld, but that's exactly what I am doing. I can scroll through the fonts, but they do not change the selected text unless I select one.

You are not using the down arrow on the font box are you? You are just selecting both text and the box like so, correct?