Photoshop CS3 question

[Darlene]

Everyone,

Adobe E-mailed me an offer I may not be able to refuse--I can buy Photoshop CS3 for only $300.00 if I order it before July 31. I am currently using Photoshop Elements 5.0. I have a few questions. One, does anyone know if they're offering such a good deal because a new version is about to come out and CS3 will be obsolete? Two, I have all of my 13,000 + photos tagged. Would those tags automatically transfer to CS3? And does CS3 have the same type of tagging system? And last of all, is CS3 similar enough to Elements that I could start using it right away, or would I likely need to either get a book on it or take a class? Keep in mind I just know how to do basic editing--I have no idea how to use layers, or what you guys mean by using a mask!

[gb_eh]

Darlene:

I cant help out much but.... I know that lightroom Ver2.0 is due to be released soon, the Beta version expires in August so I expect a commercial release soon after. As for a new release of Photoshop, I've been told that Adobe releases a new version every 18months or so? I'd scan the Adobe and Adobe news site for a news release. A savings of $300 is better than 1/2 off the price ($649) shown at Adobe. If you buy CS3 now you should be entitled to a lower priced upgrade to CS4 in the future, I'd make sure the offer is indeed from adobe and not some scam too.

I converted from elements to CS3 about a year ago... I'm still a newbie but I'm starting to get involved/learn more about masks and adjustment layers etc... You can make the same edits you do in elements today with out too much of a learning curve and take advantage of the extras as your skill set advances. I'm not sure what you can do in CS3, that you can't already do in elements.. CS3 is the 100 pound sledge hammer editor, where you may only need a mallet (elements). I do my tagging in Lightroom (LR) which is great (was using ACDsee) it interacts with CS3 perfectly and i use both in my workflow. LR for import, tagging and global image correction and cropping (which is excellent using the "lights out" feature) then CS3 for area adjustments and sharpening and Jpg creation/conversion from RAW for the web. Not sure if CS3 or "Bridge" which is included and handles CS3 tagging will support your element tags?

You might want to download and look at the beta version of Lightroom (expires in aug) to see if you like it also. Sorry i could help more.. Glen

[Dennis]

Darlene, I think that Glen hit upon all the items that needed to be answered and I think that Bridge that comes with CS3 should be able to tag your images for you. The question is that the price is less then half for the software, and I checked both the Canadian and US web sites and the prices are what Glen mentioned in his message.

I'm with Glen on this and that is I would confirm that the price is from Adobe, and if so I would jump at it. Much more plug-ins etc for the CS3 version and I don't think that its being discontinued as they go every 18 months or so, and even if the updates come out you will be still ahead on this. As using the software, its almost the same and there are some things that you could learn on the go, and getting a book really helps but you can get this down the road.

[Darlene]

Glen and Dennis,

Thanks for your replies. I do believe that the offer is not a scam. It was E-mailed to me by Adobe, and I called the 800 number listed in the E-mail offer and talked to one of Adobe's sale staff. If I order by phone, I have to mention the registration number for my Elements 5.0.

A friend of mine convinced me I should get CS3 when he told me that the cloning tool on CS3 can be made to hover over the area to be corrected, so you can actually see how it will look before you release the mouse. For example, if you are trying to get rid of a twig passing over a wing, you can match up the feathers exactly. This alone is enough to make me want to buy it!

But one important question--can I tag my photos in CS3 the same way I can in Elements?

[ARoger]

Hi Darlene.
I am not a PS user, but if you do go the PS route, you can find (free) video tutorials at:
http://www.thedigitalphotographyconn....com/index.php
These can also be viewed and downloaded with Itunes and kept for reference. There is also ones on LightRoom. Other authors can be found at the Itunes store. Hope this helps.
Roger

[Dennis]

Hi Darlene.
I am not a PS user, but if you do go the PS route, you can find (free) video tutorials at:
http://www.thedigitalphotographyconn....com/index.php
These can also be viewed and downloaded with Itunes and kept for reference. There is also ones on LightRoom. Other authors can be found at the Itunes store. Hope this helps.
Roger

Roger, I want to start getting users to put this sort of stuff in the links area on the system. I think that this information would be better served in that area. I just wanted to point this out to you and the others. I have placed this one in that area today. Oh yes very nice information on this site. I'm gooing back later on to check this out more. Good Find and thanks for the link.

[Darlene]

Roger,

Thank you so much for the link to the CS3 video tutorials--they were extremely helpful! I did have a problem with several of the ones I watched--they stopped dead right in the middle of the tutorial. I tried watching them using iTunes, and they worked fine.

Darlene

[ARoger]

Hi Darlene.
You are welcome. If I find anything else I will post it in the links section as requested by Dennis.
Roger

[gb_eh]

Darlene:

I'm doing some experimenting for you.. but the weather has been improving so i'm going to head out.. I'll post some findings later today/nite etc...

[gb_eh]

Darlene:

I re:installed my old copy of Elements 5.0 (PSE5) to have a look at the Tagging/Keywording available (didn't use it before, I used a program called ACDsee). I finally figured out you need to use organizer duh!!, and I was able to add a few test tags. When you purchase Photoshop CS3 you get another application called "Bridge" it replaces the organize area of PSE5. It creates thumbnails of your images (Jpegs or RAW), shows the EXIF data (Shutter speed, F-stop etc..) it also allows you to create and assign Keywords or Tags. My test tags created in PSE5 didn't show up in Bridge and visa versa the tags created in bridge didn't show up as PSE5 tags. I read a little on the web and it appears that the PSE5 tags do not get assigned to the metadata with the image files, but remain separate in a database, same way Lightroom (LR) works. Did some more reading, it appears that you cant assign tags to image files until PSE6. See Web article here You can do this in LR so your tags are attach to the image files and will be used by any application.

So yes you can do your tags in CS3 but you need to use an application call Bridge (included) which is like a file/image browser meant to replace your PSE5 organizer. I would however recommend buying LR also which is a great tool to be used along with CS3. I do my tagging with it and it's very easy. Unfortunately it doesn't see the PSE5 tags either, however there is an "import from elements" option available? This might be a work around, I didn't test this since not sure of it's outcome and I don't want to blow away may tags testing it :D But i would look around the web I found this article which does give the impression that it works, however it takes a long time and may require that your tags exist in a single category?

Hope this long winded answer helps.. Glen

PS: if you have any more questions or want me to try something else.. let me know I'll leave PSE5 installed for a while etc...