Photoshop CS3 Released

[Noel Carboni]

I bought and downloaded my copy if Photoshop CS3 Standard Edition last night from the Adobe store.

I'm happy to report Adobe has corrected the resizing problem in the beta that was throwing my banding noise reduction actions off. It appears all my actions (in the v1_5 CS2 set) work perfectly in CS3 as well!

Some advice to make the install go smoothly:

1. Check here before you buy for a nice surprise.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1004&message=22727136

2. BEFORE installing the released Photoshop CS3, remove the CS3 public beta version if you have it installed, using the Control Panel Add/Remove Software applet.

3. You do NOT have to remove any other versions of Photoshop. They will coexist quite peacefully. In fact if you have plenty of disk space I recommend you do NOT remove older versions, at least not right away. This will ensure you will have still have access to plugins and actions you've installed in the older version.

4. The CS3 installer will show you the CS3 beta's serial number if you had the beta (and even if you removed it in step 1 above). Do NOT use this default serial number - overwrite it with the new one you get with the released CS3.

5. Any actions, plugins, etc. you may have installed in the CS3 beta version, and the layout of your workspace, appear to show up in the newly installed released CS3 version, even though you removed the beta in step 1. That saves a bit of time and is a nice touch by Adobe.

-Noel

[Draig]

Hi Noel,

Thanks that and good advice.

Cheers Colin

[Radar]

Ni Noel,

What are the advatages of using this new version? Is there many more features on it? I guess what I mean is, would a guy like me benefit from it?

I'm currently using photoshop cs.

Cheers mate

Ray

[Noel Carboni]

CS vs. CS3?

Let's see... With CS you already have the ability to edit in 16 bit mode. There are other new features that are handy to have:

CS2 added Smart Sharpen.
CS2 added Reduce Noise.
CS2 added perspective cloning (not a real plus for astro work).
Can't quite recall, did CS2 add Lens Distortion correction? Or was that CS?
More filters will work on 16 bit images than before (e.g., Lens Blur).
CS3 adds a histogram behind the Curves dialog.
CS3 adds smart objects and smart filters, so almost anything can be done in the manner of an adjustment layer.
CS3's Camera Raw (raw file converter) is WAY more capable, with something like 100 controls now.

I'm sure there are other new CS3 features I'm forgetting or just don't know about myself yet.

-Noel

[Radar]

Cheers Noel.

[wakaleo]

Gidday Noel

This all sounds great, but primarily for professionals and for a price (a pretty steep one too). I'd love a flash new version of Photoshop but can't justify the expense. For me (an amateur) the free GIMP 2 does it all.

Best regards

Jim

[wakaleo]

Wooops! Just went to the web site you posted Noel. This offer for Photoshop CS3 sounds like much better value (at $203.50) than I was imagining, but it must be the cost of an upgrade at the figures they're quoting.

To buy a full version it would cost me AU$780. Much better than the price for Photoshop last year, thanks to the current exchange rate, but still a lot more than 'free'.

[Draig]

Hi All,

I just went out and bought Adobe CS2 Premium (Student Edition) from HT Technologies for A$235.00. Now I just have to fill in the form and provide them with my son's school details and proof of his enrollment and I get a serial number in the post.

It's a bit of a complicated procedure for proof of entitlement, but I can understand why they do it.

The best part of it is that HT Technologies are giving a free upgrade to CS3 Premium Desgin (Student Edition).

Cheers Colin

[dunketu]

The extended version of CS3 has some stacking features. I am trying it out in the trial version. So far, I'm not sure it is worth the extra money for extended. The stacking does not work as well we might expect.

[Radar]

G'day Dunketu,

Welcome to the site mate.

That's interesting that photoshop now comes with a stacking function. I would be interested to learn more about this, so any info you can offer would be appreciated.

I know it's a long shot, but does the stack function also have an align function?

Cheers

Ray

[dunketu]

The extended version does have a stacking functioin that supports average, median and summation modes, plus several others. averageing works well to remove noise, summation does not work as I would have expected. CS3 has an autoalign feature, but it only work occasionally with the astrophotos I have tried. Works well if there are lots of bright stars (such a a deep sky object) but very poorly if few or no stars (such as a planet).

I am playing with the 30 day trial version right now to determine if the stacking function works well enough to be worth the extra $150 (for the upgrade from CS2).

Dumketu

[Radar]

Interesting.

I still shoot on film. I have many images which are exactly the same size on the negs. I want to start stacking these images to reduce noise (if any) and to add depth and more colour. Rather than do this manually, I'm thinking that this feature sounds quite good. I wonder if it is available as a pluggin?

Cheers

Ray

P.S Dunketu is an interesting name, what does it mean?

[dunketu]

It actually is a plug-in, but only comes bundled with CS3 extended.

[Astrokid]

Can you buy cs3 as an addon to a previous version of photoshop so that it costs less? Or do you have to buy the entire version?

[dunketu]

If you have a previous version you can get it at the upgrade price - $199 for CS3; $349 for CS3 extended.

[Tenacious Del]

Now that photoshop 3 has been out for a while, can anyone give us a comparison in relation to the older version? I find many upgrades are not worth the money.

[Radar]

It depends on what you are looking for Del. There are some features that could come in handy as Dunketu explains -


The extended version does have a stacking functioin that supports average, median and summation modes, plus several others. averageing works well to remove noise, summation does not work as I would have expected. CS3 has an autoalign feature, but it only work occasionally with the astrophotos I have tried. Works well if there are lots of bright stars (such a a deep sky object) but very poorly if few or no stars (such as a planet).


Download the thirty day trial version and see how you go.

Ray

[Suna]

Hi all

I'm so tired with the new version of PhotoShop CS3. I want to buy this new version, but I don't know where should I go. Hope someone helps me.

I'm from Australia, Perth. So I think Noel can't help me Chessy_Smile: . Cuz I'm so far away from USA. May be Ray can help me a litte bit. Lol, you are from the same location like me.

Do you think I can find PhotoShop CS3 program in DickSmith, Harvy Norman, Tandy or office work?

Hope someone can help me.

[Radar]

Hi Suna, welcome to the site. You should be able to purchase this software from Harvey Norman or Dick Smith.

Dick Smith sells Photoshop Elements, so I imagine they also sell CS3, probably just not on their website yet.

http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/46959209026e828c273fc0a87f9c070c/Product/View/XS9212

Interesting name. What does Sun a mean?

All the best.

Ray

[Suna]

Interesting name. What does Suna mean?


Its my nickname. It doesn't have any meanings. My realy name is Esen.

Any way, thank you so so much Ray for this great help. You helped me a lot.
Millions of thanks.

By the way I'm not Aussie. I'm from Turkey.

[Radar]

How long have you been in Australia for mate? Did you ever do any astronomy in Turkey?

Cheers

Ray

[Suna]

How long have you been in Australia for mate? Did you ever do any astronomy in Turkey?

Cheers

Ray

I have been in here exactly 5 years. When I was in Turkey I was at 2 years of age. Then I went to many other countries. Yes, my grandfather used to do it, but not me.
By the way, I forgot to tell you that I bought Photoshop CS3 for $1,199.00 Australian dollar fom Harvey Norman. They don't have the program, but they ordered for me from a special place and I will be recieving it after one week.

[Radar]

That's quite a bit of money Suna. I'm sure CS3 will have some great features though. Will you be using it to process astrophotography?

Ray

[Suna]

That's quite a bit of money Suna. I'm sure CS3 will have some great features though. Will you be using it to process astrophotography?

Ray

I know that it's too much, but CS3 will be helping me in many things. Nope, I will be using it to create wallpapers, animation designes and websites for many artists.

[Adrianf]

I just paid AU$48 thats right AU$48 for Photoshop CS3 full version. Love working for the Govt.

Adrian

[timthelder]

I just paid AU$48 thats right AU$48 for Photoshop CS3 full version.

You lucky dog,I picked it up off eBay a couple of weeks ago....

for $292.50 US.:crying23:

But,it does sell here on the shelf at office supply stores for $649.00.So I still think I saved a few bucks.:Chessy_Smile:

[CanisMajorTom]

That program is so overpriced really. Its amazing they actually selll copies for that.