Adobe Photoshop CS3 Mac

Adobe PhotoShop CS3 for Mac. Does NOT include full printed User Guide in the box; Fulfillment will include: 30-50 page Getting Started Guide in the box; A PDF of the unabridged User Guide on the CD/DVD; Generic doc fulfillment card outlining policy and our commitment to the environment in the box 2; Online help (both on web and on the desktop) which includes readily accessible training beyond what manuals include. Full printed User Guides will be available at adobe.com

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars Bring Back the Powerbook
My previous computer was an Apple 12-inch Powerbook. I had purchased a Leica Digilux, and it came with Adobe Photoshop Elements (1 I think). I enjoyed the program. I was using Photoshop at work, and always wanted to upgrade. Elements installed just fine, and I had a lot of fun using it. Then, I upgraded to a Macbook.

Elements would not install. A message came up saying that the system would not support it. Frustrated and angry, I decided to just use iPhoto for a while. I got more into retouching photos, and decided to purchase a Wacom 6×8 tablet. It came with Photoshop Elements 4.0 (for Macs), and had a flyer inside the box that would allow Wacom users to upgrade Elements 4.0 for up to 50 percent off. Seeing as how I had been wanting CS3, I upgraded.

The software took forever to load, but it did install okay. A short time after installation, I had a 35-minute update from Adobe Updater. The update was fine, but installing some new items didn't go so well. A problem/error message came up saying something about how the updates wouldn't install. I could either cancel the updates and continue later, or skip the item, and try installing the rest of the items. Cancelling and continuing later didn't help, so I tried continuing. Only some of the items would install.

Then, moments later, here came a 45-minute update. Same problem message came up. This is f-ing CS3, not yo' momma's software! As far as I know, Adobe charges for tech support. So out of frustration, anger, and who knows what else, I called Adobe to cancel and return the product.

This Photoshop is different than other versions…or at least different than my old Elements. You have to de-activate the software before removing it or placing it on another computer (if you're not getting rid of it, and want it on another computer). Once it is de-activated, don't just drag it into the trash. You have to go through an uninstall procedure, and drag some extra things into the trash afterwards that the uninstallation doesn't remove.

Once you have uninstalled the program, it's on to speaking with Adobe customer service (India?) You don't actually return the software. You have to print and fax/e-mail/mail in what Adobe calls a Letter of Software Destruction. I did all of this, and even sent back my Wacom 6×8.

I am considering a different Wacom….but I'm not sure. I had a few things I didn't like, but these products seem to be what's available. I was just going to use Photoshop Elements 4.0 that comes with the Wacom, but reviews are not looking so hot. What is someone to do? What are people using? I'm reading bad reviews on Aperture and Lightroom as well. What the heck is everyone using? This is soo maddening I can't stand it.

Damn you Intel Macs. Bring back the Powerbook.

5 Stars Big Difference
I was going to skip CS3 (since I have CS2) and wait for the next version they come out with, but I just recently bought an Imac and decided to download the trial version of CS3 (with intentions of transitioning my CS2 licence from PC to mac) but the new ACR and Bridge are so much better, I decided to buy it and keep my CS2 version for my backup PC. Adobe Raw Converter is now functional enough that once you make your edits and save as .tif & you are done with it. I usually made some changes in ACR (on CS2) saved and then tweaked the .tifs again to get my images where I wanted them. Sometimes, I do very slight changes and the image really blossums into a beautiful photograph. I have only had this for a couple of weeks and am still learning about the differences so I am a little premature in my ability to cover all of its capabilities, but I will say that what I see so far is very impressive. Adobe Bridge is also easier to work with and I like the new layout of it as well.

1 Star Beware new copy protection scheme will drive you nuts!
Don't buy CS3! The only major refinement is the integration of Image Ready. But you'll pay a huge price in the constant nagging for the software to be activated & reactivated. After 3 weeks of this I uninstalled it and sent it back to Amazon for a refund. I'm back to CS (version 1) and it works just fine without the activation headaches. And I've got $200 back in my pocket from the upgrade. Please vote NO with your dollars by telling vendors this kind of annoying copy protection will not be tolerated. What Adobe needs is a competitor to Photoshop. How about it Apple?

5 Stars Much Faster than PS2 with Intel Processors
I am a profesional photographer. I often work in photoshop with very large (200-300 MB) files. I use a new Imac with the new intel processor. With CS2 there was considerable lag time with many of the applications when working on the large files. With CS3 the lag time has been eliminated. All the applications are almost Instantaneous. To me this is the single most important improvement in PS3.

Other improvements that are very useful to me are, a significantly improved Camera Raw dialogue, improved Curves dialogue with histogram, an improved Bridge. In all I feel that PS3 is well worth the money for profesional or serious amature photographers, particuarly if your running an intel processor.

5 Stars A huge step up from Elements
I had a hard time convincing myself to shell out over $600 for this product. I downloaded the 30 day trial and worked with it for a few days, but the price was still a sticking point for me. So I decided if it ever went below $600 I would buy it, and fortunately Amazon put it on sale for a couple of days for $585. I took the leap and am glad I did. Now that I have worked with it seriously for about a week the performance gains from native Intel support and automation of workflows has made me very productive. Keep an eye out for occasional deals, they will pop up.

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