Photoshop Blog - Photoshop News & Photoshop Tips

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The Photoshop Blog offers the latest Photoshop news and software updates, Photoshop tips and tutorials, and random thoughts from graphic artist and Photoshop expert Jennifer Apple.

Free Photoshop CS3 Tutorial - Working With High Dynamic Range
March 29, 2007

Our friend Mark Galer has sent us an extensive tutorial - Adobe Photoshop CS3 - HDR - High Dynamic Range - taken from his new Photoshop CS3 Essential Skills book. Here's the intro:

"Contrary to popular opinion – what you see is not what you always get. You may be able to see the detail in those dark shadows and bright highlights when the sun is shining – but can your CCD or CMOS sensor? Contrast in a scene is often a photographer’s worst enemy. Contrast is a sneak thief that steals away the detail in the highlights or shadows (sometimes both).

"A wedding photographer will deal with the problem by using fill-flash to lower the subject contrast; commercial photographers diffuse their own light source or use additional fill lighting and check for missing detail using the 'Histogram'. Sometimes, however, there is not enough fill light to resolve the problem, so the photographer has to resort to taking multiple exposures (bracket the exposures) and then merge detail from each in a new composite image.

"Photoshop’s Merge to HDR (High Dynamic Range) automated feature has been improved for CS3, but it is still not able to merge exposures where subjects have moved between the separate exposures. The technique in this tutorial shows you how to resolve this problem. This technique also offers superior midtone contrast than Photoshop’s merge to HDR automated feature."

Read the Photoshop CS3 Tutorial High Dynamic Range tutorial by Mark Galer.

For more Photoshop CS3 tutorials, see our Photoshop CS3 Tutorials Page.
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Photoshop CS3 Upgrade Options And Bundles From The Adobe Store

Photoshop CS3 Extended is ideal for film, video, and multimedia pros and for graphic and web designers using 3D and motion. Get the full version for US $999, or upgrade for US $349. The standard version of Photoshop CS3 is available for US $649, or as an upgrade for US $199.

Photoshop Extended is also available as part of Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium ($1,799/$440), which combines all-new CS3 versions of Photoshop, Flash Pro, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, InDesign and Acrobat 8 Pro. International options are available at Adobe's UK Store, Europe Store, and Australia Store.

Lightroom Special Offer - US $100 Off, AU $150 Off, UK £50 Off

There are tons of new features in Abode Adobe Lightroom 1.0 that you won't find in the beta version. From Clone and Healing functionality to metadata browsing, you'll be able to free-up post-processing time like never before. For a limited time only, Adobe is offering Lightroom 1.0 for a special introductory price of only US $199. Also save AU $150 at the Adobe Australia Store, save £50 at the Adobe UK Store, and find special pricing at the Adobe Europe Store.

Total Training Announces 'Photoshop CS3 Extended Essentials' - Photoshop CS3 Video Training
March 29, 2007

Total Training has announced Photoshop CS3 Extended Essentials, featuring 8 hours of Photoshop CS3 training on 2 DVDs. This new set is available from the Total Training site and is on special at an introductory price of $99.99.

Of course you can use our special exclusive discount code to get a 20% instant reduction on that. At checkout simply enter our special exclusive discount code: save20pss. That's it. You'll see a new total - only $79.99 - with the added discount.

Photoshop CS3 Extended Essentials will show you how to use Adobe Photoshop CS3 proficiently from the comfort of your own home or office. Lessons are done at your own pace so you can start and stop the video segments at any time. From the basics of selecting colors and elements in photos, to the power of special effects and layering, the Photoshop CS3 tutorials in this training package cover what you need to know to become a Photoshop pro.

Sample Clips
To give you an idea of the training, have a look at the following sample clips taken from this training DVD set.

Using The New Black And White Adjustment Tools
Learn how to use the amazing black and white conversion tools in Photoshop CS3. This new tool makes turning a color photo into a stunning black and white photo easy.

Working With The Count Tool
This sample video clip from features a quick review of one of the new tools added to Photoshop CS3 - the Count Tool.

Working With Photoshop Brushes & Styles
This sample video clip features a quick review of how to work with brushes to paint digitally in Photoshop CS3.

Working With Smart Objects
This sample video clip focuses on how to work with Smart Objects in Photoshop CS3.

Using Unsharp Mask And The Smart Sharpen Filters
Learn how to use the Photoshop CS3 Unsharp Mask in this quick tutorial. Also learn how to use the Smart Sharpen filter.

About Presenter Chad Perkins
Chad Perkins has served for over two years as a Digital 3D and Animation Specialist and has produced finished art for Warner Brothers, Paramount, and Disney, among others.

Chad, who is an Adobe Certified Instructor in Photoshop, has been teaching graphics applications at advanced levels for five years, and has a very charismatic and humorous teaching style.

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Alien Skin Now Shipping The Eye Candy Effects Collection
March 28, 2007

Alien Skin Software today released the Eye Candy Effects Collection, a bundle of the award-winning Eye Candy, Xenofex, and Snap Art plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop and other image editors. The Eye Candy Effects Collection includes 54 special effects filters with over 1000 one-click settings.

The Eye Candy Effects Collection includes full versions of five Alien Skin plug-in titles: Eye Candy 5: Impact, Eye Candy 5: Nature, Eye Candy 5: Textures, Xenofex 2, and Snap Art.

These filters allow digital artists and graphic designers to create chrome, fire, smoke, lightning, clouds, comics and dozens of other effects with a single click. Extensive example images, product reviews, and free, 30 day demos for each title are available at the Alien Skin Website.

MacIntel Updates
Alien Skin will release Universal versions of all their plug-ins soon. All customers who purchase the Eye Candy Effects Collection will receive free updates when they become available.

Pricing and Availability
Purchased separately, these plug-ins are valued at $575. The Eye Candy Effects Collection sells for an estimated street price of $399. Online delivery is available at the Alien Skin Website. The Eye Candy Effects Collection is also available worldwide through stores, catalogs and resellers.

Requirements
The Eye Candy Effects Collection includes five plug-ins; they must be used with one of the following image editors: Adobe Photoshop CS or later, Adobe Photoshop Elements 4 or later, or Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo XI or later. Eye Candy Effects Collection requires 512 MB RAM and 1024x768 or greater monitor resolution. Windows users must have a Pentium 4 or later processor and Windows XP or later. Macintosh users must have a G4 or G5 PowerPC processor and Mac OS X 10.3.9.

About Alien Skin
Makers of award-winning plug-ins since 1994, Alien Skin Software created the first drop shadow filter for Photoshop. In addition to the Eye Candy Effects Collection, Alien Skin offers three plug-ins for photographers, Blow Up, Exposure, and Image Doctor. Their reputation for bug-free software and fast, friendly tech support has grown worldwide throughout the years.

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Adobe Photoshop CS3 And Creative Suite 3 Pricing And Upgrade Options
March 27, 2007

Yikes - my head is spinning from the different prices and options Adobe has unleashed on us, so here's a breakdown of all the Photoshop packages being offered. At the end of each Suite I've included a list of the extra apps that are included when you choose to go Premium. Hopefully this will make choosing which bundle to buy easier. Also note that the following are shared features and services among all of the packages listed below:
• Adobe Bridge CS3
• Adobe Version Cue CS3
• Adobe Device Central CS3
• Adobe Stock Photos
• Adobe Acrobat Connect

Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended

Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended software allows you to render and incorporate 3D images into your 2D composites. Stop time with easy editing of motion graphics on video layers, and probe your images with measurement, analysis, and visualization tools.

Photoshop CS3 Extended is ideal for film, video, and multimedia professionals and graphic and web designers using 3D and motion, as well as professionals in engineering and science.

Get everything in Photoshop CS3 plus tools for editing 3D and motion-based content and performing image analysis.

FULL - US $999
UPGRADE - US $349
Adobe Photoshop Extended is also available as part of Adobe Creative Suite 3 - see below.
(International options available at Adobe's UK Store, Europe Store, and Australia Store)

Adobe Photoshop CS3

Ideal for photographers, graphic designers, and web designers, Adobe Photoshop CS3 software includes automated tools that slash the time needed for selecting and compositing; live filters that boost the comprehensive, nondestructive editing toolset; and a streamlined interface and new, timesaving tools that make your work flow faster.

FULL - US $649
UPGRADE - US $199
Photoshop CS3 is also available as part of Adobe Creative Suite 3 - see below.
(International options available at Adobe's UK Store, Europe Store, and Australia Store)

Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended - EXTRAS
(from John Nack)

Opening/placing 3D files (specifically .3DS (Max), .OBJ (Maya), .U3D (Acrobat 3D), Collada, and KMZ (Google Earth), then adjusting their view options (rotation, camera parameters, render mode, cross section, etc.). Animation data in these files is preserved.
Painting directly on the textures of 3D files & updating the models.
Opening/placing video files (essentially anything that QuickTime supports) and image sequences, treating these as video layers that you can scrub back and forth and on which you can paint, erase, run filters, etc. PS Extended includes a revised Animation palette, more consistent with what you find in After Effects.
Support for painting and layers in 32-bit/HDR files. Merge to HDR is enhanced in both editions, as is basic HDR editing (e.g. using Levels). Aspects geared towards film, 3D, and technical work are in Extended only.
MATLAB integration: It's possible to access Photoshop CS3 Extended directly from the MATLAB command prompt in order to grab image data from Photoshop, use MATLAB to run different image processing routines, and then return the image data to Photoshop to view the results.
Measurement & counting tools: Photoshop Extended makes it possible to set a scale for the image (e.g. 512 pixels = 30cm), then take measurements of selections and rulers. This includes tools inside Vanishing Point for taking measurements in perspective. Measurement scale is specified via the Analysis menu, which is unique to Extended. The Count Tool is a simple but effective way to annotate an image (e.g. while counting blood cells)
DICOM format support, enabling the app to open files from medical imaging devices (CT scans, X-rays, etc.).
Image stack analytical filters, which make it possible to stack multiple images into a single Smart Object, then run a filter across the range of images. For example, an astro photographer might take a range of high-ISO images, then run Mean or Median across the range.

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium

Design content for today - and tomorrow - with Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium software.

Design Premium combines all-new versions of essential tools for professional page layout, image editing, illustration, and Adobe PDF workflows with new tools for creating engaging websites, interactive experiences, and mobile content.

Combines Adobe InDesign CS3, Photoshop CS3 Extended, Illustrator CS3, Flash CS3 Professional, Dreamweaver CS3, Acrobat 8 Professional, Bridge CS3, Version Cue CS3, and Device Central CS3.

FULL - US $1,799
UPGRADE - US $440
(International options available at Adobe's UK Store, Europe Store, and Australia Store)

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Standard

Express and print your ideas with Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Standard software, the indispensable toolkit for professional design and print production.

Get all-new versions of Adobe’s essential tools for page layout, image editing, illustration, and Adobe PDF workflows - and integrated productivity features - in a unified creative environment.

Combines Adobe InDesign CS3, Photoshop CS3, Illustrator CS3, Acrobat 8 Professional, Bridge CS3, Version Cue CS3, and Device Central CS3.

FULL - US $1,199
UPGRADE - US $240
(International options available at Adobe's UK Store, Europe Store, and Australia Store)

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium - EXTRAS
• Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended
• Flash CS3 Professional
• Dreamweaver CS3

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Premium

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Premium software offers a complete solution for creating interactive websites, applications, user interfaces, presentations, mobile device content, and other digital experiences.

Get everything you need to prototype your project, design assets, build web experiences, and efficiently maintain and update content. Work on your choice of Mac or Windows.

Combines Adobe Dreamweaver CS3, Flash CS3 Professional, Photoshop CS3 Extended, Illustrator CS3, Fireworks CS3, Acrobat 8 Professional, Contribute CS3, Bridge CS3, Version Cue CS3, and Device Central CS3.

FULL - US $1,599
UPGRADE - US $340
(International options available at Adobe's UK Store, Europe Store, and Australia Store)

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Standard

The basic toolkit for web designers and developers, Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Standard software features all-new versions of the fundamental tools for creating and maintaining interactive websites, applications, and mobile device content.

Prototype your projects, design assets, and build and maintain professional web experiences. Work on your choice of Mac or Windows.

Combines Adobe Dreamweaver CS3, Flash CS3 Professional, Fireworks CS3, Contribute CS3, Bridge CS3, Version Cue CS3, and Device Central CS3.

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Standard
FULL - US $999
UPGRADE - US $399
(International options available at Adobe's UK Store, Europe Store, and Australia Store)

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Premium - EXTRAS
• Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended
• Adobe Illustrator CS3
• Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection

Express your ideas in print, on the web, in film and video, and on mobile devices with Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection software.

Combines Adobe InDesign CS3, Photoshop CS3 Extended, Illustrator CS3, Acrobat 8 Professional, Flash CS3 Professional, Dreamweaver CS3, Fireworks CS3, Contribute CS3, After Effects CS3 Professional, Adobe Premiere Pro CS3, Soundbooth CS3, and Encore CS3, and also includes Adobe Bridge CS3, Version Cue CS3, Device Central CS3, Dynamic Link, Adobe OnLocation CS3 (Windows only), and Ultra CS3 (Windows only).

Buy Creative Suite 3 Design Premium or Web Premium today and get Master Collection for the difference in price when it’s available.

FULL - US $2,499
UPGRADE - US $1,399
(International options available at Adobe's UK Store, Europe Store, and Australia Store)

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Production Premium

Maximize your post-production productivity with Adobe Creative Suite 3 Production Premium software. Combines Adobe After Effects CS3 Professional, Adobe Premiere Pro CS3, Photoshop CS3 Extended, Flash CS3 Professional, Illustrator CS3, Soundbooth CS3, and Encore CS3, and also includes Adobe Dynamic Link, Bridge CS3, Device Central CS3, Adobe OnLocation CS3 (Windows only), and Ultra CS3 (Windows only).

Before You Choose
Consider Creative Suite 3 Master Collection software (above), a comprehensive creative environment that features highly integrated, exceptionally productive tools for designing print, web, film, video, and mobile content — in one value-packed offering.

Photoshop CS3 Upgrade Options And Bundles From The Adobe Store

Photoshop CS3 Extended is ideal for film, video, and multimedia pros and for graphic and web designers using 3D and motion. Get the full version for US $999, or upgrade for US $349. The standard version of Photoshop CS3 is available for US $649, or as an upgrade for US $199. See all upgrade options at the Adobe Store. See our CS3 Resource Center for free Photoshop CS3 tutorials.

Photoshop Extended is also available as part of Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium, which combines all-new CS3 versions of Photoshop, Flash Pro, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, InDesign and Acrobat 8 Pro. Upgrade options for customers in Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Asia can be found at the Adobe International Store.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Available At The Adobe Store

There are tons of new features in Adobe Lightroom 1.0 that you won't find in the beta version. From Clone and Healing functionality to metadata browsing, you'll be able to free-up post-processing time like never before. Get it now at the Adobe Store. Customers in Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Asia can find special pricing and offers at the Adobe International Store. For free Lightroom tutorials see our Lightroom tutorials page.

Special Offer - Fluid Mask - Photoshop Masking Plugin

Photoshop Plugin - Fluid Mask Fluid Mask is based on breakthrough segmentation technology inspired by the way the eye, optic nerve and brain perform visual processing. When an image is loaded, Fluid Mask's segmentation engine analyses the distribution of colors, finding the natural groups within the image. Together with information calculated about edges, gradients and textures, a model is constructed which divides the images into objects.

Vertus Software is offering Fluid Mask at the special 'friends and partner' discounted rate. This is an exclusive offer to visitors of PhotoshopSupport.com. To qualify, visit the Fluid Mask Discount Price page. Find out more about Fluid Mask on our special Fluid Mask Page.

SiteGrinder Photoshop Plugin - Create Websites Instantly

There often seems to be a strict division of labor within the world of web design and development. Creative professionals tend to stick to the Photoshop domain, while those well-versed in scripting are left to the task of implementing their work. Indeed, the two realms are quite different from each other, to which any of us even vaguely familiar with either can easily attest.

Essentially, Photoshop is a no-holds-barred design studio, offering the artist a seemingly endless array of creative options. On the other hand, HTML, CSS, Java and the like follow strict rules of engagement, requiring the developer to take any number of esoteric concerns into consideration in order to ensure that designs are properly displayed on the web.

Turn Photoshop Into A Complete Web Design Tool
SiteGrinder seeks to bridge this gap between design and development. Basically, this program turns Photoshop into an easy-to-use and fully functional web design tool. With SiteGrinder, designers will now have the freedom to totally let their creativity loose and then, without skipping a beat, transfer their designs to the web. Bringing esthetic concerns together with more practical considerations, this program is an amazingly powerful tool that would make a fantastic addition to any web designer's bag of tricks.

Generate Your Web Pages Directly From Photoshop
By generating web pages directly from Photoshop, you'll be able to spend much more time on the creative end of the spectrum, since you'll know right off the bat how well particular designs will translate to the web. No more going back to the Photoshop drawing board after getting a phone call from your development team, telling you that what you had envisioned doesn't have a chance of being displayed on the web. You can immediately visually and interactively test your designs, which permits you to then make changes to either esthetics or functions while it's still relatively early on in the design process.

Pricing and Availability
Mac OS X and Windows versions of the SiteGrinder unlockable demo are available now via download. SiteGrinder can be ordered from Media Lab's online store.

Photoshop CS3 Book - CS3 Essential Skills - By Mark Galer And Philip Andrews

Brimming with beautiful pictures, Photoshop CS3 Essential Skills guides you through a project-based, progressive curriculum so that you can build all the essential skills to enhance photographs creatively and professionally with Photoshop CS3. If you are an aspiring professional, enthusiastic amateur photographer, or a student learning photography, digital imaging, art and design, or design graphics, you'll be amazed at the stunning results you can achieve. A DVD is included free.

The Essential Skills Photography Series from Focal Press uniquely offers a structured learning experience for photographers of all ages, with both the underlying theory and loads of invaluable 'how to' and real-life practice projects - all from the most talented photography practitioners/educators in the world.

Read 2 free sample chapters:
Adjusting Exposure in Adobe Camera Raw CS3
Photoshop CS3 Tutorial High Dynamic Range

Special book offer - save 24%
Photoshop CS3: Essential Skills (Amazon.com - $28.08 - save 24%)

Photoshop CS2 Book - Photoshop CS2: Essential Skills - By Mark Galer And Philip Andrews

An inspirational and user-friendly guide to creative image editing, Photoshop CS2: Essential Skills provides direction for photographers and designers alike who have ventured into the realm of the 'digital darkroom.' The book offers a progressive curriculum to guide you through Photoshop with a series of clear, step-by-step projects designed to place knowledge into a practical context.

Whether you simply want to retouch an image, create a glamour makeover or create a highly sophisticated montage - this book will give you the essential skills to complete the work to a professional standard.

Read 2 free sample chapters:
How To Sharpen An Image In Photoshop — Advanced Sharpening Techniques
Working With Shadows In Photoshop - Advanced Shadow Techniques

Special book offer - save 37%
Photoshop CS2: Essential Skills (Amazon.com - $20.76 - save 37%)

Exclusive 20% Discount On Select Total Training Products & Bundles

To redeem our exclusive discount coupon, use promotion code save20pss in your shopping cart. You could save hundreds of dollars. Use this special link to see the full offer.

Total Training for Adobe Photoshop
Learn Adobe Photoshop with 21 hours of interactive Adobe Photoshop tutorials. This is training for real-world situations and includes additional tips and techniques used by the pros.

View Sample Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Flash Pro Video Tutorials
Free Adobe Photoshop CS3 video tutorials
Free Adobe Photoshop CS2 video tutorials
Free Adobe Dreamweaver video tutorials
Free Adobe Flash Pro video tutorials

PHOTO CREDIT: Apollo 11 Images — Earthrise sequence - Earth emerges over lunar horizon.
© NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). Scanning credit to Kipp Teague.