photoshop CS vs photoshop CS2

[scott1120]

I currently have PS CS, but might have an option of getting CS2. I don't have equipment that shoots RAW, and probably won't in the near future. Is CS2 worth upgrading to?

[johnastovall]

Yes.. For nothing else than Bridge and Smart Sharpen.

[dsjsws]

Originally Posted by johnastovall

Yes.. For nothing else than Bridge and Smart Sharpen.

I agree. I could not do without either.

However, I couldn't go back to jpeg either. I am curious why you do not shoot in RAW...

Donna

[Gordon]

One thing to consider, CS3 is supposed to be in beta this weekend and the release version will probably be here early next year - might be worth saving the money and skipping a version (I'm assuming CS-CS3 upgrade would be the same as a CS2-CS3 upgrade and cheaper than doing CS -> CS2 -> CS3)

[Silvernic]

Why smart sharpen???

[scott1120]

Originally Posted by dsjsws

I am curious why you do not shoot in RAW...

Donna

My current equipment is only 3.2mp Canon. And while I have the desire to upgrade to DSLR I don't have the means.

[boxofrocks]

For one thing, smart sharpen can help remove motion blur, IMHO at least as good as some aftermarket tools do.

There was a writeup about CS2 in Pop Photog earlier this year (I think), you may want to search their website.

[Gordon]

Though there are lots of other good reasons not to shoot RAW,
disk space, time to delivery, tolerance of output etc

If you set the white balance correctly and are careful enough with exposure, JPEGs are perfectly acceptable for many uses.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by Silvernic

Why smart sharpen???

Here's a nice video, Smart Sharpen Filter — Photoshop CS2 (Photoshop 9) Video Tutorial about why.

[Silvernic]

Thanks John. I'm checking it out now.

[Sonny]

really doesn't explain anything.

[boxofrocks]

Originally Posted by Gordon

Though there are lots of other good reasons not to shoot RAW,
disk space, time to delivery, tolerance of output etc

If you set the white balance correctly and are careful enough with exposure, JPEGs are perfectly acceptable for many uses.

That's true, but that's also a lot easier to do in a studio than in an uncontrolled environment.

Not to turn this into a RAW vs JPG war or anything. I often shoot JPG when I can control the lighting and nail the exposure.

[Gordon]

I shoot JPEG quite often when I'm shooting sports like running. Lots of images to churn out, often predictable lighting (i.e., you set up in one place and shoot everyone that goes past)

Print quality is never that important, beyond it being good quality. Minimal to no processing going to happen

[metagore]

There's one other feature that CS2 provides that wasn't mentioned, HDR. Which for your situation may not be very useful.

I don't know that smart sharpen is worth the upgrade though. I've always had better results using a multipass high pass filter and unsharp mask processing. Smart sharpen generates too much noise for me (actually just 'enhances' the existing noise). But of course, this could all be 'user error' :)

I agree with the previous statement about waiting for CS3. And.... you can probably get a nice coupon for CS3 along with your DSLR when you get it :)

[markperez]

Wait for CS3. The new selection tool is worth the wait!