Adobe Photoshop CS4
Masking Overhaul
Another area that sees an overhaul is the masking dialogues and interface.
In previous Photoshop versions, masking was a bit of an inexact science. Quite often if you wanted to apply a quick gradient mask, for example, getting it to cover the area of the image you wanted might take four or five inaccurate drags of the mouse.
However, areas masked in CS4 can now be adjusted after the masking has taken place, meaning it’s simpler than ever to select a specific area of the image.
Dodge and Burn tools were two more that weren’t always the most precise, though the tools now come with a ‘protect tones’ option, meaning that more local changes can be carried out over a wider area.
Again, these changes will no doubt benefit those who have, in the past, been put off from using the more ‘advanced’ side of Photoshop due to the steep learning curve it possessed, one that has now been significantly levelled out.
Have your say!
Latest comments
February 12 00:29
Paul Streeting
Having had the chance to try a copy i found the interface a bit more logical than in CS3. For photographers it is a very good program though most photographers will maybe never use all the features it has. My main concern about the program as in other versions, is down to the cost. At close to £600, and in times of recession i wonder how many will be able to justify the cost? The problem that Adobe have is that you either buy the limited 'Elements' software, or have to spend a heck of a lot more for the full Photoshop. I would like to see Adobe produce software priced at about £150ish that offers more than 'Elements' but not with the bulk of Photoshop. That would be a winner i think in todays market.