Photoshop CS3 - new features
Craig March 28th, 2007
Photoshop CS3, announced this week and due to ship on April 20 is packed with new features.
Better raw image processing
Process raw images with increased speed and superior conversion quality using the Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw plug-in, which now adds support for JPEG and TIFF formats; new tools including Fill Light and Dust Busting; compatibility with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom software; and support for over 150 camera models.
Smart Filters
Add, adjust, and remove filters from an image without having to resave the image or start over to preserve quality. Nondestructive Smart Filters allow you to visualize changes without altering original pixel data.
Advanced compositing
Create more accurate composites by automatically aligning multiple Photoshop layers or images based on similar content. The Auto-align Layers command quickly analyzes details and moves, rotates, or warps layers to align them perfectly, and the Auto-blend Layers command blends the color and shading to create a smooth, editable result.
Faster, more flexible asset management with Adobe Bridge CS3
Organize and manage images more efficiently with Adobe Bridge CS3 software, which now delivers improved performance, a Filter panel for easier searching, the ability to group multiple images under a single thumbnail, the Loupe tool, offline image browsing, and more.
Adobe Device Central CS3
Create compelling mobile content, such as wallpapers and screensavers, and then visually preview how it will render on mobile devices using the built-in Adobe Device Central CS3. Tune your designs for mobile screen sizes and lighting conditions.
Black-and-white conversion
Easily convert color images to rich black-and-white and adjust tonal values and tints with a new tool. Experiment with the included black-and-white presets, or create and save your own custom presets to achieve the best results.
Enhanced Vanishing Point
Take perspective-based editing to a new level with the enhanced Vanishing Point, which lets you create multiple planes in an image, connect them at any angle, and then wrap graphics, text, and images around them to create packaging mock-ups and more.
Enhanced 32-bit high dynamic range (HDR) support
Create and edit 32-bit images and combine multiple exposures into a single, 32-bit image that preserves the full range of a scene — from the deepest shadows to the brightest highlights. New image processing and alignment algorithms deliver superior results.
Improved printing experience
Experience better control over print quality with color management, a larger print preview window, and more controls in one place so you can print in fewer steps. Improved printing controls, co-developed by Adobe and HP, make printing easier and more predictable, and streamline setup options via integration with select printers from HP, Epson, and Canon.
Zoomify export for high-resolution web display
Take advantage of Adobe Flash and Zoomify technology to export high-resolution images to the web for viewing through Adobe Flash Player software. Flash Player displays your image quickly and efficiently, letting viewers zoom in on details with minimal delay.
Improved Photomerge technology
Take advantage of refined Photomerge technology, which uses new layer-alignment and layer-blending capabilities to let you automatically stitch horizontal or vertical photos into seamless panoramas.
Quick Selection and Refine Edge tools
Make selections in a snap. Loosely draw on an image area, and the Quick Selection tool automatically completes the selection for you. Then fine-tune your selections with the Refine Edge tool.
Faster, more flexible asset management with Adobe Bridge CS
Organize and manage images more efficiently with Adobe Bridge CS3 software, which now delivers improved performance, a Filter panel for easier searching, the ability to group multiple images under a single thumbnail, the Loupe tool, offline image browsing, and more.
Streamlined interface and palette management
Maximize screen space for editing while keeping essential tools accessible. Palettes are now arranged in convenient, self-adjusting docks that can be widened to full size or narrowed to icons or even a thin, self-revealing strip at the edge of your monitor.
Adobe offers a comparison table on their website, where you can compare the features in Photoshop CS3 and Photoshop CS3 Extended. Don’t forget that any of the new CS3 applications are able to be pre-ordered now.
