Home > Consumer Reviews > Adobe Photoshop CS (Mac)

It's all about control. Now you have the photo editing control power in your hands with Adobe Photoshop CS.

Raw format allows photographers greater latitude in how they want their pictures to appear. Open the camera raw image files. Next, quickly apply adjustments such as exposure compensation or tonal adjustments without compressing the image or losing any of the original image data.

Shoot photos in your digital camera's raw format when image quality is the most important factor. Raw format saves all related image data with no in-camera processing.

Photoshop CS allows photographers to:

Control their raw camera images

View live histograms as they work

Create lens blur effects

Simulate photo filter effects

Easily correct exposure problems

Quickly replace color

Automatically crop and straighten photos and Create Adobe Photoshop CS panoramas

The 'Inner Core' of Adobe Photoshop CS

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. Running these automated menu tasks from the File Browser saves me a lot of time. I can avoid opening each photo file separately in Photoshop CS.

The Photoshop CS Browser has Sort capabilities that contains the Filename, Flag, Rank, Width and Height. Also, Sort capabilities that contains File Size, Resolution, File Type and Color Profile. Finally, the Photoshop Browser's Sort contains Date Created, Date Modified, Copyright and Custom. You can sort them in ascending or descending order.

Photoshop CS Photomerge and PDF Presentations

In Photomerge, I can make a collage of photos and move them in any order. Also, I can take several sections photos of a large bridge using a tripod. I then take the section photos and join them together with Photoshop CS' 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.

The 'Outer Core' of Adobe Photoshop CS

The epiphany moment for me was using Adobe Photoshop Toolbar's one-key letter shortcuts. During an SIG (Special Interest Group) meeting on how to use Adobe Photoshop, the SIG teacher showed the club members the basic one-key letter shortcuts.

Keyboard Commands

The one-key letter shortcuts that I use quite often is 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 CS

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 CS.

Pro Reaction

Photoshop CS offers flexibility and nondestructive editing. Photoshop's Welcome screen and improved Help 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 program. Photoshop CS comes with a paper, hardcopy paper manual.

Con Reaction

You have to read and work with hardcopy paper manual. Photoshop CS is not compatible with older Mac OS. Photoshop CS requires Mac OS X 10.2.4 or greater.

Final Words

Photoshop is the industry standard for professional photo editing, graphic design, and digital imaging. Adobe Photoshop is considered the industry standard. Photoshop skills are required for employment in the graphic design field. 

Digital photographers will benefit from Adobe Photoshop with its strong digital-camera raw workflow. Adobe Photoshop is made for Jaguar (Mac OS 10.2) and Panther (Mac OS 10.3).

I have been using this software since version 7, i was totally satisfied with it, but since i am using the CS for PC and MAC (i use both platform), this is more than a perfect software, i really think that after this one, Adobe Photoshop needs to fix some small buuuuugs maybe but a slight work. it happens to me once that it just damage the file while i was working on it, i had to rework on it, but it happened just on time. I have been a graphic-designer for almost 11 years, and in 2005 i have both the 2 cs version (MAC/PC). they are so far expensive, but i do not regret bying them, i recommend this 100%. there are some little problems but they are no harm for your work. GREAT, GOOD, PERFECT SOFTWARE.
Designers, trust me that is worth the price eighter for Mac user nor PC.

PERFECT!!! Not only is it what I was looking for, it has many bonus features I never dreamed of having that will be thoroughly utilized.