Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended Review

Recently, I bought Adobe Photoshop CS4. A friend and I bought it at the same time and I have taken experiences that we have both had to compose this article. We both got the extended version, which has a number of extra features.

First, we will focus on what's new from in CS4 from previous versions. Most notably, to me at least, is that all the tools are much easier to use, but more importantly "smarter." The magnetic lasso doesn't annoyingly assume that you are done lassoing, effectively cutting off half of your subject. It lassos much closer to the subject, so you do not cut parts of the background out as well. The blending options and filters are much more "aware" of your photo. For example, if you are stretching a picture, the people in your background do not stretch with the background.

The Extended Edition of CS4 offers the ability to edit video and create animated clips. My friend has utilized this far better than I have. He was able to make a moving character across a stationary background. The ability to do this in photoshop is something that most of us weren't expecting, but it is an absolute essential for anyone who works with 3D or video.

Also, the image adjustment tools are all easier to access due to the fact that they are now all in a sidebar at the right, this cuts time in editing a photo down immensely, especially if you, like me, use these tools more than anything else.

If you feel like you don't know what you are doing, there are endless archives of tutorials online especially geared to Photoshop CS4 and CS4 Extended.

My only complaint about this is CS4's install and update difficulties. Adobe requires you to close your web browser and all Microsoft applications while installing. So, while the installer takes its sweet old time installing, you can't do anything at all. (Well, technically you can play solitaire from what my friend tells me, but I hate solitaire).

So, in short Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended is filled to the brim with amazing features that will have you working in Photoshop for hours and hours whether you are an amateur, Photoshopping friends faces into NBC's The Office, or if you are a professional making business ads or correcting photos for weddings or public appearances. The uses for this application are almost endless. If you have the cash to buy this, I highly suggest it. If not, you can get special discounts if you are a student or teacher using this for your program (that's what I did... much cheaper).

And if you're just not sure yet, the adobe website has a 30-day trial available for download. (That's what I did, too. I never buy anything without trying it myself first).