Hello

What do people think of the improved CS4, do they think it looks good......

:confused:

It looks exactly the same as CS3, CS2, & version 7.

Apart from it's bloatier & more stupidly expensive than the other versions. Best part of £500 for a full version, puh-lease. Adobe make me sick. They (since 7) code software with invasive installers & updaters, that install un-necessary services on your PC which slow it down, & unless you buy the upgrade version you need a bank loan to keep up with the versions. And if you DO buy the upgrade version to keep up with things it's a route to madness, after every computer re-install you'd have to (eg) install version 7, upgrade to CS, then to CS2, then to CS3.

Any new features since CS2 that can't be done by plugins I already own? Last thing I heard the only new thing you could do was write text to a curvy path, ooh yeh that's worth a few hundred quid isn't it. Bloody Word can do that!

</rant>

:hihi:

That feels a lot better now, thanks!

Well, that settles that... We'll just hold on to our wallets for now ;-)

:confused:

It looks exactly the same as CS3, CS2, & version 7.So I must have imagined the barrge of hate and death threats to Adobe over the recent UI overhaul.


Apart from it's bloatier & more stupidly expensive than the other versions. Best part of £500 for a full version, puh-lease. Adobe make me sick. They (since 7) code software with invasive installers & updaters, that install un-necessary services on your PC which slow it down, & unless you buy the upgrade version you need a bank loan to keep up with the versions. And if you DO buy the upgrade version to keep up with things it's a route to madness, after every computer re-install you'd have to (eg) install version 7, upgrade to CS, then to CS2, then to CS3. Complete nonsense.
Not to mention you could have updraded to CS3 from v7 and been given CS4 for free if you made purchase after the announcement of CS4.
Now CS4 is out you can only upgrade for CS1 as there is a 3 versions limit on upgrading. So certainly no need to install all versions inbetween.

Any new features since CS2 that can't be done by plugins I already own? Last thing I heard the only new thing you could do was write text to a curvy path, ooh yeh that's worth a few hundred quid isn't it. Bloody Word can do that!

</rant>

:hihi:

That feels a lot better now, thanks!Actualy CS4 is a huge improvement over CS3 which was a big improvement over CS2, which was....

So obviously not too knowledgeable about PS!:P


The best way to tell how good an upgrade is is to use old version after learning new tweaks. If older version you previously loved now feels clunky, then you know things have improved.
I couldn't bear to use CS3 after trying CS4.
CS4 :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: is hugely improved.

Well at CS2 time I was re-installing, & I payed Mr Adobe my pound of flesh for a full version just to find that I'd been sold an absolute turkey. Slow, buggy & generally crap. You quit it & try something else just to find that most of your RAM is still somehow being used.

CS3 & 4 I've tried briefly to basically see if they were worth it, & came to the conclusion quite quickly that they're just bloaty crap, getting bloatier every time, & basically look exactly the same. Anyone sending Adobe threats over the "UI re-design" needs to get out more. I mean come on. random googled screenshot of cs4 (http://data.idolforums.com/uploads/post-1109-1213302656.png), in what way is that different? Oooh sorry look there's some tabs, I take it all back :rolleyes: How they're shifting them paradigms huh? And a new loading screen! Ooh Mr Adobe you're turning me on!

I genuinely didn't know about the upgrade path though, & by the time I was writing that I was in full rant mode, there's a lot of mental momentum involved here y'know, but fair point there...

Been using Photoshop since 3.4 thank you very much, & I even know how to use some of the buttons other than clone brush. If you're some upgrade-obsessive Adobe fanboy then by all means go for CS4, but for the other 99.9% of us version 7 plus the third-party plugins we've accumulated will be more than sufficient, especially when considering the benefit you get compared to the price you'd have to pay.

The best way to tell how good an upgrade is is to use old version after learning new tweaks. If older version you previously loved now feels clunky, then you know things have improved.I can honestly say that I've never really experienced anything like that with Photoshop. The only graphics program I've used that has made me felt that way was going between 2 versions of CorelDRAW. Tekken on the Playstation was a bugger for that though :rolleyes:

Well at CS2 time I was re-installing, & I payed Mr Adobe my pound of flesh for a full version just to find that I'd been sold an absolute turkey. Slow, buggy & generally crap. You quit it & try something else just to find that most of your RAM is still somehow being used.I don't even recall any problems with CS2 and certainly nothing like what you describe. Plus sometimes it's MS or Apple that are to blame for these problems.

CS3 & 4 I've tried briefly to basically see if they were worth it, & came to the conclusion quite quickly that they're just bloaty crap, getting bloatier every time, Well I'd say you simply do not know how to use them, as I found both versions a marked improvement on the previous versions. And stuff has actually been stripped out of PS CS4.
Besides adding new features that people use and can save time is not adding bloat, it's adding functionality. Just because it's no use to you does not make it bloat. If features that only everyone wanted were addded, then nothing would ever get added.

...& basically look exactly the same. Anyone sending Adobe threats over the "UI re-design" needs to get out more. Idiots indeed but Apple users were somewhat resentful of the fact that the interface was now more like the Windows version. So hardly 'exactly the same'.

I mean come on in what way is that different? Oooh sorry look there's some tabs, I take it all back :rolleyes: How they're shifting them paradigms huh? And a new loading screen! Ooh Mr Adobe you're turning me on!The Apple versions of CS4 are markedly different from most Apple software and the PC version has also changed the Windows chrome, not to mention the application frame with tabbed files is indeed different. Something I feature requested many years ago too.

Besides it's the subtle little changes in how software works that make for for big improvements in workflow. And improved workflow is the most important thing for the professionals that PS is aimed at. Not to mention the fact that ACR5 alone is worth the upgrade as is the vastly improved Bridge.
Besides it's not about looking different, it's about working differently, i.e. better. CS4 saves time over CS3, which was faster than CS2 and so on.

I genuinely didn't know about the upgrade path though, & by the time I was writing that I was in full rant mode, there's a lot of mental momentum involved here y'know, but fair point there...You don't seem to know much more about the Software itself either.:P

Been using Photoshop since 3.4 thank you very much, & I even know how to use some of the buttons other than clone brush. If you're some upgrade-obsessive Adobe fanboy then by all means go for CS4, but for the other 99.9% of us version 7 plus the third-party plugins we've accumulated will be more than sufficient, especially when considering the benefit you get compared to the price you'd have to pay.Seeing as PS7 cannot even do a large of the Photoshop work I or many other currently do, it's certainly not up to scratch and nothing to do with Fanboism. Some of us have moved on and not everyone uses plugins. Anyone thinking PS7 is up to CS4 in power and efficiency is only fooling themselves.


I can honestly say that I've never really experienced anything like that with Photoshop. The only graphics program I've used that has made me felt that way was going between 2 versions of CorelDRAW. Tekken on the Playstation was a bugger for that though :rolleyes:Well as if you spent some time learning how to use the new versions of PS then maybe you'd notice the differences, they are substantial. Odd you mention CorelDraw as lately it seemed to have ground to a halt innovation wise and fallen behind. A shame as I like CD

Well, if you discount Mac versions (which I've never touched) we seem to agree on some (well, a) thing(s) & disagree on others. I'm not going to get into a "you suck at Photoshop" handbag fight, there's a whole series of videos about that...

The only thing I will pick up on is...

Anyone thinking PS7 is up to CS4 in power and efficiency is only fooling themselves.

...that I never implied any such thing, only that...

for the other 99.9% of us version 7 plus the third-party plugins we've accumulated will be more than sufficient

...you can't exactly disagree with that, especially if you count us relatively old geeks who have paid over the years for various plugins & would like to keep them, as some of them cost money. For those of us who don't have the money to keep up with things, & don't like doing clients' work on pirated software, what will suffice is good enough.

So we either agree to disagree, or it's step outside for the aforementioned handbag fight, after a suitable period of mourning for CorelDraw.

Mine's the one with photoshopped 6" quality rendered steel spikes.

Been nice whinging at you :D

**edit - Nice photo portfolio BTW, you played with Photomatix or other HDR stuff much?

Does anyone else think that they upgrade far too often? How much money do they think people have to keep upgrading?

I blew a great wedge of hard earned cash on CS3 Design Premium and i'm more than happy with it Judging by what i've been reading i'm not missing out much on CS4. I may buy an Illustrator license as that's the one I use the most but nothing else.

I only use Photoshop for re-touching images or optimizing images for the web, I would be keen to hear anybody's thoughts on Illustrator CS4... liking the idea of multiple artboards... reminds me of good old Freehand.

The feeling i've been getting about the last few Creative Suite releases is that the differences between the programs are getting less and less. You're able to do a lot of techniques across the board now.

Does anyone else think that they upgrade far too often?Every 18 months is hardly often and no one forces you to buy another copy.


I only use Photoshop for re-touching images or optimizing images for the web Fireworks is much better it seems for web saving.

I would be keen to hear anybody's thoughts on Illustrator CS4... liking the idea of multiple artboards... reminds me of good old Freehand.The gradient tool is way better and the new blob tool is quite clever. But I will admit to disliking illustrator, especially the stupid one page limit and the crappy interface, thankfully now changed to match rest of suite. Multiple art boards is however very useful as you can have multiple variations of a design in one file, especially as the artboards can be individually sized.

The feeling i've been getting about the last few Creative Suite releases is that the differences between the programs are getting less and less. You're able to do a lot of techniques across the board now.CS4 is markedly better than CS3. Faster, more coherence between various apps, more power, easier....

Well, if you discount Mac versions (which I've never touched) we seem to agree on some (well, a) thing(s) & disagree on others. I'm not going to get into a "you suck at Photoshop" handbag fight, there's a whole series of videos about that... and exceptionally funny they are too.


for the other 99.9% of us version 7 plus the third-party plugins we've accumulated will be more than sufficient
...you can't exactly disagree with that.That's the bit I particularly disagree with so :P. Version 7 is way inferior to CS4 with Bridge, ACR5, the amazingly powerful quick selection tool, customisable workspaces, customisable keyboard shortcuts, smart objects, application frame, vanishing point, photomerge, autoblend, auto align, content aware scaling, layer effects.....
Most of these things will save you more than enough work time to more than pay for the upgrade. Some on their own will do that on a single job.
And I'd say PS 7 is actually unsuitable for 99% of current serious photographers due to the poor RAW handling and complete lack of support for their cameras RAW files.
What ever plugins you've bought are not really relevent to how good PS is. Not to mention that many cost more than a PS upgrade.

So we either agree to disagree, or it's step outside for the aforementioned handbag fight, after a suitable period of mourning for CorelDraw.I'll be using my manbag thankyou! :D


**edit - Nice photo portfolio BTW, you played with Photomatix or other HDR stuff much?Ta, never done HDR/used Photomatrix! And the images I guess that that people assume are done that way, predate the HDR/Photomix craze.

I blew a great wedge of hard earned cash on CS3 Design Premium and i'm more than happy with it Judging by what i've been reading i'm not missing out much on CS4. I may buy an Illustrator license as that's the one I use the most but nothing else.You cannot upgrade just Illustrator if you have a suite. So it will probably be cheaper for you to upgrade all the programmes, rather than buy just Illustrator.

Photoshop is more faster when playing with large images , i think it's because it's now using your GPU cards ( i have 4 in SLI )

Photoshop is more faster when playing with large images , i think it's because it's now using your GPU cards ( i have 4 in SLI )

It's also native 64bit on PCs as of CS4.

Now that makes me happy.

I upgrade every other version. Dealing with incoming files from a variety of sources I don't really have the option to not upgrade, to be honest. I really can't see the problem with the new versions, and CS2 has always been rock solid on my machine.

It's also native 64bit on PCs as of CS4.

Now that makes me happy.

I upgrade every other version. Dealing with incoming files from a variety of sources I don't really have the option to not upgrade, to be honest. I really can't see the problem with the new versions, and CS2 has always been rock solid on my machine.

Yes that too, it's installed 64bit +32bit on my xp64 machine. I thought it might have just installed 64bit ?

Im still using CS2*, its up to my basic wants for an image editor so far, but the versions before that seem abit rough these days.