Dynamic Learning Photoshop CS3
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Creating better composites

With the new Auto-Align feature in Photoshop CS3, you can align multiple layers quickly and accurately.

The Auto-Align Layers command quickly analyzes details and then moves, rotates, or warps layers to align them perfectly. This is a big boost for photographers who regularly shoot photos of groups, and for anyone else who wants to combine images more accurately.

This new feature includes the Auto-Blend Layer option, which blends color and shading seamlessly into the final image. You could achieve the same high-quality results in earlier versions of Photoshop, but it was very time consuming. The new automatic layer alignment and blending features get you there faster, and with less work. You'll have the opportunity to use the Auto-Align feature in the Lesson 2, "Exploring Adobe Photoshop CS3."

The new Auto-Align Layers feature.

Camera Raw improvements

Camera Raw is a file format option for many digital cameras. Camera Raw file formats can vary depending on the camera manufacturer and model, but Photoshop CS3 can handle most Camera Raw files. The Raw format is gaining popularity, especially among serious photographers, because it stores the largest amount of original digital image data-almost no processing occurs in the camera. This means that you have a lot more information to work with when you make adjustments, such as lighting, sharpening, and color changes.

Photoshop has supported Camera Raw files in the past, but Photoshop CS3 is faster and supports more than 150 different versions of the Raw file format.

Photoshop's improved Camera Raw processing

Photoshop CS3 now supports opening Raw, JPEG, and TIFF images in the Camera Raw Plug-in. By simply selecting a file from Adobe Bridge or choosing File > Open, you can open most Raw files. The Camera Raw interface in Photoshop CS3 allows you to make incredibly precise adjustments to an image. It includes new Fill Light controls, which are used to reduce the contrast of a scene and provide illumination in the shadows, and Vibrance controls, which are used to enhance or diminish the intensity of the colors in less-saturated areas of an image.

In this exercise, you'll open a Camera Raw file so you can investigate the capabilities of working with these files using Photoshop CS3.

Choose File > Browse, or select the Go to Bridge button in the options bar.

 

Double-click on the image named ps0104.CR2, a Camera Raw image from a Canon EOS Digital Rebel camera. The Camera Raw window opens.

The Camera Raw window.

Click and drag the Recovery slider to the right to a value of approximately 50. Notice that the detail is recovered in the sky.

When you are finished experimenting, click Open Image to open the Camera Raw file in Adobe Photoshop.

While you could continue to edit this file using Photoshop, you will not be performing additional edits at this time. Choose File > Close. If you are asked to save the changes, choose No.

Understand the improved Vanishing Point filter

You can now edit images in perspective with more creative options using the enhanced Vanishing Point feature. You can create multiple planes in an image-areas that are built in perspective-connect them at any angle, and then wrap graphics, text, and images around them. This is especially useful for package designers.

Artwork pasted into multiple perspective planes, such as the fence on the left which was added to the image.

The painting tools also work in perspective, allowing you to clone and to take advantage of retouching tools for healing.

Photoshop CS3 vs. Photoshop CS3 Extended

If you purchased the Creative Suite 3 Design Premium Suite, Web Premium, or Master Collection Suite, you have Photoshop CS3 Extended. If you purchased the Design Standard Suite, you have Photoshop CS3. You can find out easily which version of Photoshop you have by choosing Help > About Photoshop (Windows) or Photoshop > About Photoshop (Mac OS). The version of Photoshop is listed in the welcome screen. Photoshop CS3 Extended is for multimedia and video professionals, as well as other users who have a need for extended capabilities to analyze data and build 2-D images from 3-D files. The features discussed below are available only in the Extended version. 

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