Photoshop upgrade? Or why mess with success?

[Anbesol]

I am currently running Photoshop CS2, considering the upgrade to CS4. On one hand, all that I want to do with my photo's, I can do with CS2 just fine. On the other hand, if CS4 does it better, faster, and/or more efficiently, I should go for that. The biggest draw for me to CS4 is processing Raws from my A700. CS2 doesn't work with Sony's A700 format raw, so I have to use lightroom when I do process raw, its a hassle and a bother to add this step in the workflow, much more keeping the photos organized, as a result I don't use Raw as much as I'd like. Some people love lightroom, I like my software a lot more simple and straightforward.

How well does it interact with printer profiles too? I've read some mixed things on that...

Thank you for any input.

[jorgemonkey]

I'm taking a photoshop class at my school and we're using CS4. I love my CS2, but some of the tools for extracting backgrounds/objects are really cool, and some of the image adjustments are more refined/easier to use.

If I had the $$ I'd upgrade mine.

[mjs1973]

I have mixed feelings on the CS4 upgrade. There are a lot of new features that work really well. But the phrase, "it's it ain't broke, don't fix it" pops into my head.

I was using CS3 and when I saw some of the features in CS4, I decided to upgrade. I also purchased LR2 at the same time. With my wife's student discount, it wasn't that expensive. I have found that I don't use LR2 at all, or almost never. I do like CS4, but for some reason or another, not all of the features I was really looking forward to using work. The extra features in ACR are great and are pretty much the same as what you will find in LR. They just have a different user interface. Of course you don't get the file management feature of LR. If you shoot pano's or do any photo stitching, CS4 does a much better job than previous versions.

My biggest problem with CS4 is that one of the scripts that I use to add a frame and copyright to my photos for posting here, doesn't always work. Sometimes it works fine, others not at all. If I close PS, then open it again, it works. Kind of frustrating. Also, my graphics tablet doesn't always work properly with CS4. Never had a problem with CS3. Its a cheap off brand tablet, and I haven't been able to find new drivers for it.

Sometimes if I know I am going to want to use my tablet to do a lot of editing, I will go back to CS3.

I really think the problems that I'm having, are limited to my own system I don't think you will have these same issues. I'm glad I upgraded, but at the same time, I still go back to CS3 once in a while.

Scott Kelby and they guys from Kelby Training put together 4 short videos going through the new features of CS 4. Worth a look if you're thinking of upgrading. The videos were posted on his blog a couple weeks ago.

http://www.scottkelby.com/blog

[drg]

If you integrate your version of Photoshop with Lightroom you should have a more seamless conversion. There are some subtle problems, with using the different versions of ACR together. To minimize/eliminate most of them be sure to:

1. Enable color Management
2. Exchange files with Photoshop as PSD

Then you can get the benefits of the latest ACR via LR and use, if needed, CS2 as your image editor. There may be another adjustment or two needed for various versions of LR and setups.

CS4 does run faster, on appropriate hardware, has some new features including what they have done with docks to improve functionality and tool swapping (there's another name) where you can hold down a key to shift to another tool and then pop right back to the previous one!

The OPENGL display support that now makes for very fast smooth zooming, rotation, resizing, movement of images is a big addition!

Depending upon the level of work you do on 'a lot' of images the adjustments layers changes (subtle but once you get the hang of what it allows, wow) is another big feature.

There's some additions from CS3 too with perspective controls (now depending upon which version of CS4) that are truly worth upgrading.

If you are not wanting to do an upgrade, just wait, ADOBE has another waiting in the wings before long!!

Your profile question, is that about CS4 or Lightroom? You may have to manually tweak/move some of the profiles if you support multiple printers. That has not been well documented until the latest Adobe Bible.

Printing directly from Lightroom is very workable in certain setups and for certain printers. The profiles work differently (in configuration setup to PS) in LR and you have to 'display' them to get what you want. With the 'right' printer it still seems best to let the color management be done by the printer. Not the best solution in every case.

If you have a specific question don't hesitate to ask. I'll try and dig up the answer.