Photoshop CS2: Don't need, should have, or must have?

[swanny338]

I dont use bridge, i messed with it, but meh... but I have always used Photo Mechanic from www.camerabits.com for browseing photos... Photo Mechanic is like insanely fast even with raws

[Bartman01]

Yea, I'm still out on Bridge. I like some of the improvements over file browser, but it does hog the system while it does the initial file scans. I guess if you had the entire Adobe suite, then Bridge would be even better as a one stop shop. If you get a chance, check out Russell Browns new tools for Bridge. You can open a RAW file as a smart object in CS2 and adjust the initial RAW conversion settings on the fly in PS. Pretty neat feature.

All in all, I do like the new features in CS2 and it is worth the upgrade.

[SandShark]

I received my copy yesterday and got to play with it last night for a little while. Before I used it, I watched the Total Training Video that came with it. As I was watching, I was very impressed with the new features, especially Vanishing Point and HDR support. One-click red-eye was also impressive, although I don't have many problems with red-eye as I don't do very much indoor flash photography.

I can't say I was particularly impressed with the built-in automatic exposure, shadows, brightness, contrast feature, but I do like the built-in curves feature in the Camera RAW window.

I've yet to put it through it's full paces, so I can't say for sure if it's worth the $150. In PSCS, I had my particular workflow, with the actions I use the most taylored to my specific needs. It'll take some time to get used to the changes and make the decision on whether or not the new features speed up and/or enhance my digital darkroom process. Whether or not my images come out better, that's the $150 question.

[speedydave]

I'll be buying it sometime around the same time I get a new computer (a few months). I "have" CS right now, but it's uhh, not a copy I can upgrade from.

[Hogleg 44]

Fry's has it this weekend for $129.99

[srwatters]

Originally Posted by swanny338

I dont use bridge, i messed with it, but meh... but I have always used Photo Mechanic from www.camerabits.com for browseing photos... Photo Mechanic is like insanely fast even with raws

Totally agree about Photo Mechanic. It FLYS on the Mac.

[Murph]

Out of my price range.

[Bartman01]

Originally Posted by Murph

Out of my price range.

Would $250 be in your price range? If so - and you have a copy of PS Elements from a scanner or camera purchase - keep an eye out for the upgrade deals. I couldn't justify the full price of PSCS, but I got it for $250 with one of those deals.

[OversighT]

Originally Posted by Hogleg 44

Fry's has it this weekend for $129.99

Full or upgrade?


T.

[MonkeyToes]

I know that if you purchased a Canon digi camera that came with photoshop elements 2.0, Adobe has a special offer to upgrade from PSE2.0 to PSCS2 (full version) for $299. The offer is good through November - all you have to do is give the Elements serial number that came with the Canon product. And this is eligible for ALL upgrades, tech support, etc. Haven't done it yet, as someone else said, my copy isn't *cough cough* eligible for upgrades, but when I have a little more dough I plan on purchasing through the Canon special offer deal.

[Murph]

Ok, that I could do. I purchased Photoshop Elements 3.0 recently. How do you get in on this upgrade?

Originally Posted by Bartman01

Would $250 be in your price range? If so - and you have a copy of PS Elements from a scanner or camera purchase - keep an eye out for the upgrade deals. I couldn't justify the full price of PSCS, but I got it for $250 with one of those deals.

[Silvernic]

I try to make up for bad photography with good photoshopping, so I went and got the upgrade right away. I would say that it was totally worth it! If for nothing else, the new RAW capabilities save me about half of my processing time. The new sharpening options and blur options also work very well!

[LoungeLizard]

Well, my upgrade worked! I'm a happy camper! The new RAW converter has some nice new features. Haven't played with much of anything else yet. Need to get my filters and actions moved over.

[Steelsun]

Just upgraded too.

Several nice new features: bridge (with exif), Raw viewer/editor with auto stuff, filter mass previewer, etc.

Still learning.