Adobe Photoshop CS3 [Mac] [OLD VERSION] :: Education by Design Store

Customer Reviews

Quick review if you've never used Photoshop

2008-06-16
I'm not going to attempt to give an extensive review because I'm not a power user. However, if you are considering using Photoshop for the first time, and you can get past the high price, and you have some time to invest in learning it, and a lot of time to invest using it...it's an amazing piece of software. I just do occasional nick nac graphics work and I can't live without it. Ive been using Photoshop for about 10 years and probably don't use 20% of it's power or features, but it is indispensable. I use it to create web graphics and save, touch up and modify all kinds of graphic files. The best thing about Photoshop is that you work in layers and can save and view any number of layer combinations which keeps your graphic alive and oh so usable. If you're even considering paying the high price for this AND you are going to actually use it, go ahead and buy it. You will never regret owning Photoshop.

Couldn't even install it due to missing disk.

2008-04-08
This was what has become typical of large software companies. The installation kit was one disk but after a long time of seeming to be installing, it asked for another disk that wasn't in the package. I suppose I was expected to hunt it down on the web and download it, burn it and then continue, but for that price it can go look for it itself. Adobe has fallen a long, long way. I ended up returning it for a refund.

LOVE Photoshop!

2008-03-20
Having grown up with Photoshop from 4.0, Photoshop has certainly grown up with me! CS is perfect, although it takes some getting used to if you're used to 7, but once you adjust, you'll love the new features. Plus, if you get stuck, the help menu contains plenty of walk-through video tutorials.

The latest and greatest...

2008-02-25
It's almost pointless to review Photoshop: If you need a high-end photo editor, there's really no competition to it. That being said, I'm very happy with CS3: it runs quickly on my Intel Macintosh (no lag, as someone else has pointed out), has all the features I could want, and is robust enough that I'm always learning new ways to use it.

Beware new copy protection scheme will drive you nuts!

2007-11-08
Don't buy CS3! The only major refinement is the integration of Image Ready. But you'll pay a huge price in the constant nagging for the software to be activated & reactivated. After 3 weeks of this I uninstalled it and sent it back to Amazon for a refund. I'm back to CS (version 1) and it works just fine without the activation headaches. And I've got $200 back in my pocket from the upgrade. Please vote NO with your dollars by telling vendors this kind of annoying copy protection will not be tolerated. What Adobe needs is a competitor to Photoshop. How about it Apple?

Big Difference

2007-10-27
- Marketing Information: Adobe Photoshop CS3 software accelerates your path from imagination to imagery. Ideal for photographers, graphic designers, and web designers, the professional standard delivers new features such as automatic layer alignment and blending that enable advanced compositing. Live filters boost the comprehensive, nondestructive editing toolset for increased flexibility. And a streamlined interface and new timesaving tools make your work flow faster. Product Information - Software Sub Type: Graphics/Designing - Software Name: Photoshop CS3 - Complete Product - Features and Benefits: Work more productively: - Efficient and flexible work environment: - Streamlined interface and palette management - Faster, more flexible asset management with Adobe Bridge CS3 - Custom menus, shortcuts, and workspaces - Streamlined workflow: - Better raw image processing - Enhanced PDF support - Adobe Photoshop Lightroom support - Improved printing experience - Presets - Peak performance - Automated production - History palette and Edit History log - Wide range of supported formats - Adobe Device Central CS3 - Zoomify export for high-resolution web display - Third-party solutions and resources Edit with unrivaled power: - Nondestructive editing: - Smart Filters - Smart Objects - Professional color and tone control: - Color-correction enhancements - Black-and-white conversion - Improved Channel Mixer - Enhanced 32-bit high dynamic range (HDR) support

A huge step up from Elements

2007-07-30
I had a hard time convincing myself to shell out over $600 for this product. I downloaded the 30 day trial and worked with it for a few days, but the price was still a sticking point for me. So I decided if it ever went below $600 I would buy it, and fortunately Amazon put it on sale for a couple of days for $585. I took the leap and am glad I did. Now that I have worked with it seriously for about a week the performance gains from native Intel support and automation of workflows has made me very productive. Keep an eye out for occasional deals, they will pop up.

Much Faster than PS2 with Intel Processors

2007-07-24
I am a profesional photographer. I often work in photoshop with very large (200-300 MB) files. I use a new Imac with the new intel processor. With CS2 there was considerable lag time with many of the applications when working on the large files. With CS3 the lag time has been eliminated. All the applications are almost Instantaneous. To me this is the single most important improvement in PS3.

Other improvements that are very useful to me are, a significantly improved Camera Raw dialogue, improved Curves dialogue with histogram, an improved Bridge. In all I feel that PS3 is well worth the money for profesional or serious amature photographers, particuarly if your running an intel processor.

Much better than Photoshop on a PC

2007-07-07
After years of struggling with various versions of Photoshop on a PC, I finally got to experience Photoshop on a Mac (just an Intel Mac Mini, nothing terribly high end). What a difference! Even though the UI is just about the same as on a PC, Photoshop works much better on a Mac. Hard to explain why, but perhaps no explanation is needed.

Using Photoshop CS3 Classroom in a Book

2007-06-09
For those of us using the Intel Mac platform, CS3 is a long awaited program. Now that we have it, let no one tell you Photoshop isn't the most difficult program you will ever use. Photoshop is probably the most documented program out there in terms of "learning and using" tools, texts and tutorial sites. If you're new to Photoshop, get ready to get your hands really dirty and your mind in a real state of, "something." Join the thousands of users who need help!
I come to Photoshop CS3 having used several versions of Elements over the past many years. In this respect, I am quite fortunate that I am not starting from scratch. But CS3 is a whole new world. Adobe Photoshop CS3 Classroom in a Book is probably a good starting point for many. The key to the book is the included CD which contains everything you'll need to work through the detailed lessons. And believe me, the lessons scratch everything you'll need to understand what you've gotten yourself into with Photoshop.
Initially, I tried to use the book and CD as a "resource" building on what I knew from using Elements. This really doesn't work because the book isn't constructed that way. You just have to grit your teeth and "follow along and do" what's going on in the book using the included images, etc. Although you can use your own images to do the extensive lessons, I wouldn't recommend that approach. The included images are designed, first and foremost, to allow you to do what's being done in the lessons. If you attempt to use your own images ( and I did ) you set yourself up for frustration. While the particular tool or process you are learning will eventually be carried over to your own work, your image may not be as easy to use because of tonal differences or backgrounds which may "confuse" the tool you are using. Just bite the bullet and "do it by the book!"
Although the book appears to target new users, experienced Photoshop gurus can learn particularly when it comes to the many new tools and features in CS3. What's my overall opinion? On balance, this is not the best book for me. I have just enough knowledge to be dangerous! I prefer to learn by doing -- right or wrong. I prefer to "try this and that" although this method can be frustrating. I also prefer to learn by using specific tutorials designed to do what I am trying to accomplish. I beat the seemingly endless video and written tutorials available to NAPP members ( you probably better join! ) until they are worn out. Depending on your knowledge level and learning style, this book may be either "perfect" or "something else." I am neutral on the book. What I am really waiting for is Scott Kelby's forthcoming book on CS3 because, if his history is any guide, it will be a super learning tool.