| My
1st Thoughts on Upgrading to PSCS4: |
The last forum session had a spirited debate about CS4 Photoshop
– its new features, their virtues and should we upgrade or not! I am sure as we learn more about the new features the
choice will be clearer – however I suspect the spirited discussion
will continue. For a pretty good article from “cnet.com”
that addresses the new CS4 Photoshop in detail Click
Here
PS-CS4
seems to have a major upgrade in the architecture: 64 bit, using
the graphics processing unit, for smoother zooming and accurate
on-screen rendition of the digital file.
There
also seems like a new user interface. Personally, visiting PS
much less since Lightroom is in my workflow (about 80%LR to
20%PS), I need to question whether I want to invest in learning
a new user interface. I wouldn’t want to effect my productivity
for my few staple PS functions (masking, pixel replacement,
perspective correction, etc) .
If you don’t have Lightroom
2 - upgrading seems like a must! All the
advanced non-destructive localized edits (which are part of
LR2) are now available with the Camera Raw plug-in shipping
with PS CS4. This plug-in is part of ACR 5.0 which BTW is not available for CS3! (we all can discuss, or growl, about the ethics here).
If you have Lightroom
2 - you have a decision here. If you find yourself
needing some, or one, of the new feature (see the video chart
below) then you just might have to download the upgrade when
it becomes available by the end of October. (I’ve given up on
getting the wonderful Instruction book that used to come with
the upgrade but what can you expect for $200!)
It
seems the most restrictive issue by not upgrading to CS4 is if
you imbed a Camera Raw file as a Smart-Object with LR 2.0 you
will not be able to edit the Camera Raw Smart-Object in CS3. [Russ, your understanding is correct - ACR 5.x will not work
with Photoshop CS3. There is an easy work-around that will discuss
at the next forum.]
| Chart
of NAPP Photoshop CS4 Video: |
(Click here
for Main Link) Click” topic to view specific video;
Red topics - I found these
videos interesting –features that may be influential in upgrading
to PS-CS4
Scott
Kelby
Resides in LR 2
Adjustment Brush
X
Graduated Filter Tool
X
Post-Crop Vignette
X
Corey
Barker
Resides in LR 2
3D Improvements
Mask Panel – nice interface
for us “mask-keteers”
Vibrance Adjustment
X
Dave
Cross
Bridge Updates - Need
more info… newer interface to work more seamlessly throughout
the Creative Suite
Content Aware Scaling - Neat
effect when Necessary… view this one
MultiTouch Gestures
Matt
Kloskowski
Resides in LR 2
Adjustment Panel - Neat
consolidation of Adjustment Layer
Dodge & Burn
On Image Controls
X …(Emulates LR “Target Adjustment Tool”)
Live Brush Preview – Handy
tool when cloning or using the “Healing Brush”
RC
Concepcion
Dodge, Burn & Sponge
Blend Focus – Amazing tool for Close-up
photography… increases Depth-of-Field
Flash Panels
Zoom, Toss, & Rotate
Lightroom 2:
Here is a link (Click here) to some very good video tutorials
from Adobe for Lightroom by Julieanne Kost and Matt Kloskowski
. Major info here.
Adobe Camera
Raw 5.0:
Comprehensive view the new Adobe Camera Raw processor shipping
with CS4 PS (showing may of the camera processing features available
in Lightroom 2. (Click
Here)
This new feature is supported with LR 2 and PS/Bridge with Adobe
Camera Raw (ACR) 4.5 and higher. These Camera Profiles closely
match the camera manufactures default color settings. Adobe has
created these Camera Profiles for most all camera models for which
they have Camera Raw support. For the most popular Canon and Nikon
models, Adobe has extensive support with multiple camera profiles
supporting the various color renditions offer in Canon and Nikon
software. These Camera Profiles along with a Profile editor
are free from Adobe (Click
Here to Download).
The
camera profiles are installed via an installer program, which
automatically places them in the correct directory. To make
use of the profiles, all you need to do after installation is
restart Lightroom or Adobe Camera Raw (via Bridge or PS). The
profiles will show up in the Profiles drop down in the Calibrate
tab – only if you are working
with a camera RAW file, not tiff or jpeg. LR and ACR are
very smart - the Profiles drop down will show you the "Adobe
Standard beta 1" (or any other profiles) available for
the camera model that was used to shoot the camera raw image!
At
first, this may seem innocent or maybe even overkill but this
capability is the portal for making custom profiles which can
be very powerful using the Profile editor also offered free
by Adobe. These Camera Profiles are the brain child of Eric
Chan who has joined the Camera Raw development team… his involvement
will benefit us all. Here
is an excerpt from a blog post by Eric:
“The DNG Profile Editor has many applications. You can get
matching colors across multiple cameras - this is very handy
for pros who often work with multiple camera bodies; build a
profile that nails specific colors under a known, fixed lighting
condition (such as when doing a product shoot); build special
profiles for infrared-modified cameras; do funky things like
make an Olympus camera look like a Nikon, and vice versa; And
for those of you familiar with CR calibration scripts, there
is a Chart Wizard feature that automatically builds a profile
with the help of a photographed 24-patch ColorChecker chart.”
For
Eric’s entire post
(Click
here)
Note: At the next forum we will discuss how to make these camera
profiles part of you default setting so they will be installed
automatically when importing you camera raw files from your
camera card. I will also have the 24-patch Macbeth ColorChecker
Chart illuminated with 65k lights for you to shoot so you can
create your personal profile. Remember to bring your camera(s).
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