I was sort of forced to upgrade because I discovered that my old version 7.0 wouldn’t work with Leopard. I would say it is certainly worth the upgrade from version 7.

The last version I had was Photoshop CS and this version has been worth the upgrade price. I’m not a fan of the digital licensing mechanism, but the product has met my needs.

Photoshop CS3. It’s the premiere photo editing software for your Intel-based Macintosh. Insanely powerful. Insanely difficult to use. Plan on spending some extra big bucks on training classes to really get the most out of it. Why not five stars? Because “Bridge,” the including photo-browsing/organizing software is just plain weak. Feeble, even. Awful. Might as well just use Mac Finder and save the installation space on your hard drive. Or better yet, use iPhoto ‘08 (free on your new Mac, or an eighty dollar upgrade with the rest of the excellent iLife suite) to organize your pictures, and Photoshop for your heavy editing needs. But Photoshop is still the end-all be-all of editing programs. Just understand what it can and cannot do.

Adobe continues to imptrove Photoshop with every upgrade. Soon we will just have to open a pic and TELL it what to do. “Make it pretty.”

I am a long-time photoshop user and fan on both Mac and PC platforms. Recently I bought this upgrade for my Mac (from CS-2)and it rejected my serial numbers: it seems I had the CS-2 suite, and could not upgrade the photoshop segment alone. The reason I had the suite (which I did not want) is that Adobe sent it to me (without my realizing it) when I did a cross-platform upgrade from CS-2 on my PC. Now if I want CS-3 I have to buy it as a stand-alone. Also: be careful with other Adobe products, e.g. Lightroom conflicts with Bridge (at least in CS-2).

You cannot upgrade to Photoshop CS3 from a Creative Suite product. Serial number check will not allow upgrade. I called Adobe customer service to verify. You must purchase stand alone. I wish something on the box had told me that.

The first time I launched CS3 I was thrilled to see I could go through the menus and turn off the 75% of things I will never use. CMYK output, dopey filters and so on. What a pleasure to pull down a menu and see exactly what I use and nothing else. I even found myself turning some things on, like soft proofing. Well, this would be enough for five stars. But where is the manual? Adobe manuals have consistently been excellent–and necessary. They are frequently better than the Classroom in a Book, Missing Manual, etc.

Photoshop just continues to get better and better! It is totally incomprehensible how a computer program can be designed to implement so many subtle interpretive and artistic adjustments. Each upgrade places noticable improvements and new wonders in the hands of photographers and designers. Each time you think this must finally be the version you surely could live with, and then along comes the next upgrade – which is even more compelling. I guess most readers can surmise that I use this product constantly and with great enthusiasm.

I guess I’m confused….. I’ve been told by Adobe that the only thing that changed in CS3 was Adobe Acrobat and Fireworks. So, why bother selling an upgrade to Adobe Photoshop CS3 or any other Adobe product that is included in the CS3 package??? I just don’t understand the logic in this? Maybe someone can inform me what I’m missing.

Working within Adobe Photoshop CS3 The first thing to do is create links for Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Bridge CS3 applications. I place both of them on my computer desktop for easy access. The Bridge CS3 application is the key for opening, sorting and keeping my camera images. Most of my Photoshop CS work is done in the Browser. I single-click the photos that I need for my Photoshop CS project. Now I have a group of highlighted photos that can be used in the Browser’s Automated menu. The inner core of the Photoshop CS Browser’s Automated menu contains Batch, PDF Presentation, Contact Sheet II and Online Services. Also, Automated menu contains Photomerge, Picture Package and Web Photo Gallery. The Photoshop CS3 Browser has Sort capabilities that contain the Filename, Flag, Rank, Width and Height. Also, the CS3 Browser has Sort capabilities that contain File Size, Resolution, File Type and Color Profile. The Photoshop Browser’s Sort contains Date Created, Date Modified, Copyright and Custom. You can sort them in ascending or descending order. Photomerge and PDF Presentations in the ‘Inner Core’ of Photoshop CS3 Photomerge is improved in CS3. The new Photomerge Layouts has Auto, Perspective, Cylindrical, Reposition Only and Interactive Layout. Now you can make a collage of photos and move them in any order. Also, I can take several sections photos of a large bridge without using a tripod. I then take the section photos and join them together with Photoshop CS3 Photomerge. I still have to edit the new Photomerge photo for length, size and contrast. In PDF Presentation, I can turn my photos into Acrobat PDFs and stitch them together. The fun is turning my new creation into a slideshow with various transitions. The PDF Presentation is cross platform that can be used on a Mac and Windows computers. Working with the ‘Outer Core’ of Adobe Photoshop CS3 Keyboard Commands The one-key letter shortcuts that I use quite often: M for Marquee, V for Moving objects, T for Text, I for Eyedropper and C for Crop. There is a multitude of Toolbox one-key letter shortcuts that you can use or change. Toolbox uses the Shift bar to get to related tools on the same pop-out menu. For example, to cycle through the Lasso, Polygonal Lasso, and Magnetic Lasso tools, hold down Shift bar and keep pressing “L” key. Change Keyboard Commands in Photoshop CS3 This means that missing Photoshop CS Menu keyboard commands can now be added. For example, I am constantly making changes to my images by changing the photos’ contrast and brightness. Now without using the computer mouse, I use the Command, Control, and C keys in unison. Like a piano chord, I can now change the contrast and brightness in my digital photographs. I use Command, Control, and letter keys for adding keyboard commands. This works well within the menus and plugin filters that I use in Photoshop CS3. Pro Reaction The new Photoshop CS3 offers flexibility and nondestructive editing. Photoshop has a Welcome screen and improved Help that ease the learning curve for new users. The Help menu is changeable. I find Photoshop CS Help menu an excellent way to learn the various functions of Photoshop’s program. Photoshop CS3 works within Mac OS X 10.4 and with native Intel Macs. Con Reaction The Bridge does not work in older Photoshop programs. Opening images from the Bridge to Photoshop ignores my Photoshop preference for file compatibility for prefer Adobe Camera Raw for JPEG files. Final Words Remember Photoshop remains the industry standard for professional photo editing, graphic design, and digital imaging. Digital photographers will benefit from Adobe Photoshop with its strong digital-camera raw work flow.

This product is a must have for any serious photographer. The new ‘Quick Select’ tool is worth the cost of the upgrade. Everything else is just added bonus. If you love photography you must have this upgrade.

There were considerable problems involved in installing the new software since I had previously test-run the CS3 demo, downloaded from the Adobe website and, it seems, that if something is left behind, it can block the new installation. I was passed from person to person to person as I tried to get someone to help, each time having to tell my story over from the start each time and to provide all my personal details to each new consultant, despite assurances that I need give the information once. All very frustrating and time-wasting…it’s up and working now, but….

I am waiting to see if I’ll get a refund… This software, which I bought for $ 200 approx, had an invalid serial number, and the seller was unable to provide me with a valid one. I have returned the software, and the seller has stated he will provide a refund.