Adobe Photoshop CS4

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Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Premium: InDesign CS4; Photoshop CS4 Extended; Illustrator CS4; Flash CS4 Professional; Dreamweaver CS4; Fireworks CS4; Acrobat 9 Pro; Adobe Bridge CS4; Adobe Device Central CS4; Version Cue CS4

Adobe Creative Suite 4 Web Premium: Dreamweaver CS4; Flash CS4 Professional; Photoshop CS4 Extended; Illustrator CS4; Fireworks CS4; Acrobat 9 Pro; Soundbooth CS4; Contribute CS4; Adobe Bridge CS4; Adobe Device Central CS4; Version Cue CS4

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Adobe Creative Suite 4 Master Collection: InDesign CS4; Photoshop CS4 Extended; Illustrator CS4; Acrobat 9 Pro; Flash CS4 Professional; Dreamweaver CS4; Fireworks CS4; Contribute CS4; After Effects CS4; Adobe Premiere Pro CS4; Soundbooth CS4; Adobe OnLocation CS4; Encore CS4; Adobe Bridge CS4; Adobe Device Central CS4; Dynamic Link; Version Cue CS4

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Reviews and awards

Reviews

2009

"If you're a photographer, the enhancements in Camera Raw alone may well be worth the upgrade and for everyone else, the additions along with the improvements to existing tools makes for a much more enjoyable Photoshop experience."
Lesa Snider King, Macworld,
October 22, 2008

"The new version of Photoshop comes dressed in a revamped interface, contains new tools for manipulating photos and boasts vastly improved performance, thanks in part to graphics processing capabilities. By offsetting some computing power to your computer’s graphics chips, Photoshop CS4 gains the ability to zoom in, pan and scroll through images with smooth and elegant motions."

"… Photoshop CS4 concentrates less on new features and more on refinements. While there are some new bells and whistles — we’re wondering how we lived without the new Content-Aware Scaling tool now that we have it — much effort was spent on improving the behind-the-scenes code and reworking the interface."
Scott Gilbertson, Webmonkey,
September 22, 2008

"In this release of Photoshop, there are lots of tweaks and a few truly cool new toys and tools."

"Professional photographers will absolutely want to consider making the move to CS4, especially because some of the better parts of Lightroom are built right in, and once you’ve used Content Aware Scaling in the right setting, you’ll be hooked. Anyone who makes heavy use of layer masks will be blown away by the new masking tricks, which are true innovations and worth every penny. This might not be the most radical Photoshop update ever, but as we adjusted to it over the last several weeks, we grew to love the overall picture."
David Biedny, Mac|Life,
December 2008 issue

"Now on Version 11, it’s hard to imagine that Photoshop can continue to make large changes. It seems that just about everything but the kitchen sink is already in the application, but once again Adobe has found ways to take a mature application and improve it."

"Photoshop CS4 is a solid upgrade to one of the most popular image-editing programs. With a good mix of new features and improvements to old favorites, this is a worthwhile upgrade. If you skipped CS3, now is the time to move forward."
Jon Canfield, Shutterbug,
December 2008 issue

"CS4 gave me the ability to move back and forth between layers and to adjust the mask as needed to create the effect I wanted much more quickly than I could have done in CS3."

"...if you are using Photoshop extensively, CS4 can enhance your productivity in many ways, from its ability to address large amounts of RAM to speeding up adjustment layers and masking. If you’re not using Lightroom 2 and if you buy a new digital camera and love Camera Raw, you’ll definitely need CS4."
Rangefinder, Stan Sholik,
April 2009 issue

"[Photoshop CS4] looks different, feels different and has some way-cool new features that enhance workflow and extend Photoshop’s already powerful editing capabilities into amazing new realms of image editing."
Stephen Romaniello, Digital Graphics,
January 2009 issue

"This is one of the most useful, most workflow-friendly (and coolest) Photoshop upgrades to date. …with CS4, there are so many new and updated features, you’d have to be crazy not to upgrade."
Gary Small, Studio Photography,
January 2009 issue

"At first glance you might not think this version of Photoshop is worth the upgrade from CS3 but after learning how to use all the new features I have to say that I really do think it’s a worthwhile upgrade. A lot of things were made faster and easier to use in CS4 and at the end of a marathon editing session you'll find that you either got a lot more done, or you got done with it earlier."
Robert Jensen, Digital Media Net,
February 13, 2009

"Whether you’re a photographer, designer, special effects wizard, or any other kind of Photoshopaholic, this upgrade could have a bigger impact on your work life than a major upgrade to your computer’s operating system."

"Photoshop CS4 is a very impressive upgrade. Adobe has improved the interface without making the transition uncomfortable (and while preserving your ability to remained with the old interface), and has added important new features and updates."

"Photoshop CS4 is far and away the best image-editing tool around, whether you're talking about ease of workflow or editing and adjustment power."
Ben Long, Creativepro.com,
October 23, 2008

"…if you need a Swiss Army arsenal for editing digital images, there’s nothing better than [Photoshop] CS4"
The Houston Chronicle, Bob LeVitus,
March 23, 2009

"…Photoshop CS4 is more than just an upgrade. Its entirely new imaging technologies set it apart from previous versions... Some of the new features greatly simplify tasks, like the very handy rotate view tool, while others, such as content aware scaling, modify an image in ways that were previously almost impossible."

"Photoshop has always set the industry standard for image applications. Now, in what would be version 11, it sets that standard even higher."
Photo Industry Report, Ron Eggers and Wendell Benedetti
March 2, 2009

"Adobe's new Photoshop CS4 sports an updated user interface, faster and significantly smoother graphics, and an impressive array of 2D and 3D features that should help you reach new levels of inventiveness and creativity"
ASMP NorCal Quarterly, John Jerney,
Spring 2009 issue

"If you do 3D work, this product is spectacular and will provide much that you've been waiting and looking for. If you do primarily photographic work, this is a great update with some very important tools and improvements."
Applelinks, Gary Coyne
February 28, 2009

"Photoshop, although it's nothing more than zeros and ones, increasingly makes me want to believe in magic."
Bill Blinn, TechByter Worldwide,
December 7, 2008

"This is a considerable upgrade from CS3… Adobe has made so many improvements that will be welcomed by all, and the extra speed and ease of use are key factors here. The number of improvements is so extensive, that it would be difficult to cover them all in one review, and even when it comes to printing and colour management, there are new things to discover."
Renderosity, Daniel O’Byrne,
January 12, 2009

"This software is the industry standard for a wide variety of jobs in creative and technical professions. I don’t know how anyone using an older version of any graphic design software would not want to move to Photoshop CS4 or Photoshop CS4 Extended."
Software Editorial, Mike Hubbartt,
March 05, 2009

"There are many features in Photoshop related to this broader context not needed by photographers, but it is by far the most sophisticated digital darkroom application, and the parts I don't use are not in my way. Nothing else comes close to its capabilities for maximizing my photographs, even those that do not rely on special artistic effects."

"If you have CS3 and are a professional or a serious amateur digital darkroom user, I think this upgrade is well worth the price. If you have CS2 or before, I absolutely beg you to go for it!!"
Diane Miller, Adorama,
December 4, 2008

"As a full version, [Photoshop CS4 is] highly recommended. As an upgrade from CS3 or earlier, it’s highly recommended. As an upgrade from some other company’s product, it’s extremely highly recommended."

"One of the most beneficial changes is the new adjustments panel. …no longer do you have to deal with the popup window every time you want to change the settings. Just click on the layer in the layers palette and the context-aware panel shows you the current settings. I’ve become so accustomed to using this now, I actually forgot the way it used to be."
Kevin L. Kitchens, photographyvoice.com,
February 13, 2009

"The new interface, tabbed document windows, consistent palettes and 64-bit flavors alone make the move up to CS4 more than worthwhile. Add the new features and GPU support and you now have a compelling reason to make the move to the professionals’ standard in image-processing."
Darrel Willman, Lake of the Ozarks Business Journal,
February 2009 issue

2008

"If you've been waiting to take the plunge, Adobe Photoshop CS3 is as good as any version to dive into, and if you're a pro considering the upgrade, it's probably worth the $300 or so bucks it will cost you."
Lori Grunin, CNET,
April 27, 2007

"It’s simple, really: if digital imaging is an important part of your creative life, you’ll want Adobe Photoshop CS3."
Jim Heid, Macworld,
April 19, 2007

"...the bottom line is that Photoshop CS3 is the best, most full-featured image-editing program available for photographers and designers."
Jim Heid, Macworld,
April 19, 2007

"The company's high-end image editor gets new tools — of course — but the interface enhancements are even better."
Alan Stafford, PC World Online,
March 26, 2007

"The brand-new features do things that were previously impossible in Photoshop, and refinements make existing features more flexible and powerful."
Bill Troop, MacDirectory,
Summer/Fall 2007

"The brand-new features do things that were previously impossible in Photoshop, and refinements make existing features more flexible and powerful."
Lewis Kemper, Outdoor Photographer,
May 1, 2007

"There are plenty of new tools to keep even the most advanced Photoshop user happy and many new features that will make image editing easier for beginners, as well."
Lewis Kemper, Outdoor Photographer,
May 1, 2007

"Photoshop CS3 delivers a few head-turning new features, and many fixes to older features."
Ben Long, Creativepro.com,
April 23, 2007

"This upgrade is a no-brainer if you're a regular Photoshop user. The combination of enhancements to staple features, such as Curves and the Clone Stamp, combined with powerful new additions like the Black and White conversion and Camera Raw enhancements, mean that there's something for everyone in this update.... Kudos to Adobe for listening to what users need and making simple but effective enhancements."
Ben Long, Creativepro.com,
April 23, 2007

"When I worked with the new Adobe Photoshop CS3, I realized that I am facing one of the key versions in the history of Photoshop, the new updates in Photoshop CS3 take it to a new era of creativity."
Rafiq R. Elmansy, Graphic Mania,
September 18, 2007

"Photoshop CS3 offers something for every type of digital media professional to be excited about."
Matt Kloskowski, Layers Magazine,
May/June Issue, 2007

"Anyone serious about image editing will want CS3. It gets our stamp of approval without hesitation."
David Biedny, MacLife,
May 25, 2007

"Photoshop CS3 is a natural upgrade for anyone with an Intel Mac and offers enough innovation to satisfy just about anyone using it on a daily basis."
David Biedny, MacLife,
May 25, 2007

"Photoshop — the latest version of the world’s most powerful image — editing program has just gotten better, big time!"
Rick Sammon, PC Photo,
July/August Issue, 2007

"[The] new interface is elegant, easy to use and, most important, gets out of your way when you don’t want it around. The Clone palette, ACR 4.0 and Intel-native version alone are well worth the price of admission."
Andrew Rodney, Digital Photo Pro,
May/June Issue, 2007

"One of the most astounding new features is the Smart Selection tool — essentially a Magic Wand with a genius IQ"
Ric Getter, MacDirectory,
Spring-Summer Issue, 2007

"With the new features, Intel compatibility and excellent performance it’s doubtful you’ll want to revert back to the earlier versions…."
Ric Getter, MacDirectory,
Spring-Summer Issue, 2007

"Professional photographers will find a new interface and a number of key new features to enhance images and streamline workflow."
Andrew Rodney, Digital Photo Pro,
May/June Issue, 2007

"Photoshop CS3 offers a number of innovative features that increase the image editing software’s already awesome power to manipulate images."
Stephen Romaniello, Digital Graphics,
June Issue, 2007

"If you are using any of the new operating systems, an upgrade is essential to enhance performance.… But above all, you’ll have access to lots of dynamic media features."
Stephen Romaniello, Digital Graphics,
June Issue, 2007

"I have to admit that I’ve loved it since its inception and love it and use it every day. I strongly urge you to investigate it if you are unfamiliar, and advise you to upgrade if you haven’t already."
Todd Sheridan Perry, Animation Magazine,
June Issue, 2007

"I've always been impressed with the things Photoshop allows me to do. But Photoshop CS3 blew me away."
Bob LeVitus, Houston Chronicle,
September 17, 2007

"Photoshop CS3 is an excellent upgrade to an industry-leading application. Photoshop CS3 Extended is an impressive tool if you need the additional capabilities."
Paul Vaughn, San Antonio Express-News,
May 26, 2007

"The new Adobe Photoshop CS3 offers an array of new and improved features and tools aimed to please current Photoshop users and bring new ones into the fold."
Linda Knapp, Seattle Times,
June 9, 2007

"Ultimately, Photoshop CS3 is a very worthy successor to CS2 and it’s definitely worth the upgrade if you’re a heavy user."
Karl Kwasny, BetaNews,
July 17, 2007

"Adobe has stepped it up a notch and there are some great new features that make the whole image and photo browsing/management experience much more robust."
Matt Kloskowski, Photoshop User,
June Issue, 2007

"Well Done Adobe. Photoshop CS3 is just about perfect! It’s a huge step forward for this program with a virtual cornucopia of new features and improvements!"
Beatriz Mariniello, Designer Today,
July 16, 2007

"I honestly can’t think of a reason not to upgrade."
Jeremy Schultz, Designorati,
May 26, 2007

"Photoshop CS3 has many new features, and several of them contribute major advances in how creative professionals work with images."
Jeremy Schultz, Designorati,
May 26, 2007

"There is a lot to like about this latest Photoshop update, not the least of which is the fact that it runs natively on Intel-based Mac and Windows Vista and is significantly faster in just about all aspects of operation."
Dan Havlik, PDN,
July Issue, 2007

"There are enough new features and user-friendly tweaks in Photoshop, Bridge and Raw to warrant a hearty recommendation from me. For my money, CS3 is the best version of Photoshop I’ve used yet."
Dan Havlik, PDN,
July Issue, 2007

"In short, this is an amazing release of Photoshop. This has to be one of my favorite Photoshop releases in many, many years. Enjoy."
Gary Coyne, Applelinks,
May 7, 2007

"Photoshop is the kingpin of the Suite programs…each iteration of Photoshop not only has to be better than the last, but significantly better than the last…For this version, Adobe took their gloves off and gave the user new capabilities that were just not possible before."
Gary Coyne, Applelinks,
May 7, 2007

"Kudos to the Photoshop team in terms of taking feedback from the community and adding much-needed new features."
David Em, TechRevu,
June 8, 2007

"Photoshop CS3's Photomerge feature is simply incredible. I have thrown images at it that even expensive standalone stitching programs had problems with and the new and improved Photomerge handled them perfectly."
Robert Barnett, PC Review Online,
September, 2007