The previous version of the creative suite featured many more additions than the CS3 version. These included: new creative filters, simplifying the red-eye filter by just allowing selection of the area and the addition of the ‘vanishing point mode’ which allows the program to calculate the perspective of your current image. These were all important additions which are present in the current version of the program.
The main features added to CS3 are:
A cleaner, slimmer interface – The organisation of the layout is different in the current program, allowing for more workspace to be freed by reducing the icons to a small size or re-organising your palette so that it doesn’t clutter space. The whole toolbox is now a single column, as opposed to the many columns in the previous versions.
Improved Vanishing point mode – Adobe decided to work on this feature as it proved incredibly useful and innovative in their previous package. It is now possible to rotate a selected perspective any way you like, which practically means not necessarily perpendicular to its neighbouring planes. This gives greater freedom when creating different shapes related to your image’s perspective. It is also possible to stretch and fit your selected shape three-dimensionally; the contours change and adhere to the perspective of each plane as you move it.
Improved ‘magic wand’ tools – These are actually new selection tools which are somewhat similar to the magic want selection tool in the previous version. However this was improved, as you don’t have to be careful in selecting the edge of your image (i.e. a curved edge). You can approximately go near what is considered the edge of your selection and the program will automatically snap to the borders to create an accurate floating selection.
New High Dynamic Range capabilities – If you are capable of taking several shots of one single scene with a tripod, then the program offers HDR capabilities to enhance the quality of lighting and shading levels of your image. It combines the various layers, or snapshots which you have previously taken, into one single, optimized, high quality image.
These are the main features which were introduced with the new package. It hasn’t been as feature-rich as the previous CS2 as most of the features which were already available are still there. If you are a new user to Adobe Photoshop it is strongly recommended that you try a previous version, particularly CS2, as the learning curve of the program is not particularly quick. Being a graphical editing program designed for professionals, it takes a long time to use to its maximum capabilities.
Overall, the upgrade is worth it: although the features introduced aren’t many, the layout, new selection modes, HDR capabilities and improvement of the Vanishing point mode make it a necessary buy if you are a web-developer or graphic designer.
