Adobe Photoshop CS3 Review

About Adobe Photoshop CS3
If you're not into digital imaging, the first thing you may think of when you hear "Photoshop" is Adobe Photoshop Elements, that "Photoshop-like" light program that comes with just about every digital camera or scanner sold today.  For most people, Photoshop Elements gets the job done, but for people who are seriously into digital imaging, Adobe Photoshop CS (for Creative Suite) is the solution. Photoshop CS adds support for RAW camera files along with much more flexibility for altering images, stacking and combining images and layers, and manipulating images with filters.

Adobe Photoshop CS3 Drawbacks
There are two major drawbacks that, while I list them as "cons" don't detract from my rating of this product, because they're to be expected from a product this powerful. First, the software is still insanely expensive, at over $600. There are some student discounts available if you're a student. Second, the vast scope of Photoshop CS3 can intimidate new users. Heck, it intimidates me and I'm used to previous versions of Photoshop! There is just so much that you can do, that it's tough to know where to start. Photoshop CS3, because it's so advanced, isn't a one-click software program. You have to know how to use it properly, and that takes time.

Adobe Photoshop CS3 Pros
Fortunately, Adobe realizes that their software is pretty complex and they've taken steps to help you get started. The installation DVD comes with great videos to help you get started with Photoshop basics. And Adobe Bridge 2.0 has a link where you can go find more tutorials, or sign up for classes.

Speaking of Bridge 2.0, this is my first chance to use it and I really like it a lot. As its name implies, it's a bridge between you and your media and Adobe software. Adobe has done a great job of integrating all of their software packages together more closely with the release of CS3 and Adobe Bridge really shows that.

Other improvements include Adobe's interface design, which takes into account the bigger monitors in use today. They've streamlined the presentation of tools and wells, and getting used to these new presentations is easy and intuitive.

Cat's Bottom Line
In short, Adobe has taken their steroid-like software product and they've made it an even bigger behemoth. It can take a long time to find your way around Photoshop CS3, but if you have the patience, the time, and the money, a great digital imaging experience can be yours!