Review of Adobe Photoshop CC - new functionality, the new tariff plans

Adobe has abandoned the sales model of lifetime licenses for boxed versions of its main products. Instead, introduce a paid subscription with multiple tariff plans. The name “cloud” – on the one hand the fashion (applications are still installed and functioning on the users’ local computers), on the other – an attempt to extend the functionality (synchronization settings, and transfer files, 20 GB of cloud storage).

Price issue

Previous versions of Photoshop cost from $ 700 (for normal) to $ 1000 (Extended), and included in numerous variants kits Creative Suite. Upgrades are expensive: up to $ 400 in 2012 was a big debate as to how much Adobe wants to update with early – CS 3 and CS4 – versions. However, the payment was a one-off and the program after activation can be used indefinitely. The subscription model assumes a sort of rental program. Do you want to pay for just one month – please be a year – monthly bills will come. Everything happens in Adobe Creative Cloud.

Now, there are several options, the base – $ 20 a month for one program (legitimate users CS3-6 was the first year for $ 10 a month). Written in greater detail here . Separation of normal and advanced canceled, now Photoshop again united.

Simple calculation shows that in the short term, it has become much more profitable. First, do not immediately put out a tidy sum (this is particularly important for start-ups). Second, the cost of the regular version is reached after 35 months, that is three years (with the first trial, a free month). In the history of Adobe similar between the new versions have been twice – CS2 (version 9) was introduced in 2002, CS3 (version 10) – in 2005, and CS4 (version 11) – in 2008. Normal “lifetime” – about two years. For the Extended version looks even more attractive.

In the medium term is not so rosy, however, given a two-year period, the release of new versions, updates, to which the user was not required, the price seems to be adequate.

In the long run … At the current pace of technology development in five years things could change dramatically.

Subscribe to multiple users within an organization is more expensive, but there are also advantages in the form of centralized management (good news for system administrators) and group work (in the realities of our download speed in the direction of “there” yet only words, 100 GB space in the cloud storage is unlikely to be seriously popular.) Twice a year, can be eye-to-eye remotely communicate with an expert from Adobe.

Photoshop 14

In 2001, Adobe has abandoned the individual numbering of each product in favor of the overall numbers Creative Suite. Now everyone is called Creative Cloud, and, like CS, yet do without the numbers. If we consider first, the version of Photoshop – Fourteen, and its official name Photoshop CC.

In connection with the transition to a subscription model we were promised regular updates (not just fix bugs or errors, but the addition of new functions), as will be the case with numbered – wait and see.

Installation

The installation process is now done without physical media – you first need to download a small program Adobe Creative Cloud, it prompted for credentials and then (depending on the subscription plan) – to select and install the appropriate application. As such, there is no activation procedure – all tied to the Adobe ID and entry in Creative Cloud.

Adobe Creative Cloud monitors and updates when they appear prompts you to install. There also set the interface language and space on your hard drive where the application will be installed.

At the same time on the computer get along several versions of the program, but you can only run one.

Filters from previous versions are not automatically picked up, they will have to be reinstalled.

What’s new?

With Photoshop CC module comes “developer» RAW-files, Adobe Camera RAW 8. It differs from its predecessor not only a list of supported models, but also a few new tools.

Brush Spot Removal learned how to draw, you can now select an area of ​​irregular shape and treat it in one sitting, previously had to put a lot of circular patches, which significantly slowed down the work on the file.

On the Options Spot Removal appeared checkbox Visualize Spot. It allows you to quickly see the edges of objects, which helps remove traces of dust on the sensor. The slider changes the sensitivity threshold of the instrument.

Dub littered horizons and to correct perspective distortions became easier with the tool Upright (Manual tab of the Lens Corrections).

In addition to automatic mode, it can only correct level, or the level and vertical distortion or level, vertical and horizontal distortion. The result is a control grid mesh variable, if necessary, modifying manually. Introduced slider Aspect stretches / compresses the image, which helps when working with highly distorted frames.

Tool Radial Filter – is long overdue. Linear gradients, of course, great, but do not have enough radial. Now all the tools to work with the image of the linear gradients are available in Radial Filter, plus a selection of the area to which they are applied – from the outside or inside.

Camera RAW is now being called as a module for the assembly of the HDR-files from a series of images taken with AEB. It can handle 32-bit images are clear and simple tools, I wrote more here .

To complete the theme Camera RAW, it should be noted very useful novelty. In Photoshop CC is not just a module handling RAW-files, but also a full-fledged multi-filter that can be used in a system of layers (with blending modes and algorithms merge). In principle, a similar focus has been possible for a long time (thanks to the free script Edit Layers in ACR from Dr. Russell Brown , by the way, be sure to check his other scripts), but it became easier and easier for beginners.

The next portion of the changes in one way or another, related to the sharpness.

The mechanism of the size of the image is reorganized. First, it is now an additional window on top of the moving image. Secondly, there was a lot of useful presets that reduce the time to work on projects. Third, and perhaps most importantly – recycled algorithms enlarge images. Two choices – from sharpening and without it, the results are impressive. Previously had to use third-party plug-ins. A twofold increase in the quality of the originals is given the program easily.

 Smart Sharpen filter will be needed more than its predecessor: it appeared separately controlled intensity sharpening in highlights and shadows, and the creation of masks is controlled by two sliders – the tone and blur.

Unfortunately, the rate is still not high, but there is a parallel noise reduction.

For my taste, the new algorithm does not give such a “ringing” image as a combination of two layers with classic Unsharp Mask and blending modes Lighten and Darken the same values ​​of strength and sharpening radius.

Instrument Shake Reduction managed to spoil the reputation, pointing to the MAX conference in 2011 to work with pre-prepared in a graphics editor shots. He was expected to CS6, but there he did not show up.

As frank marriage, which previously belonged and the “camera shake”, I try to delete, find a lot of files to experiment failed. It is clear that to revive damaged when shooting frame – a very difficult task. If the colors are distorted, helps translate into shades of gray. But remove the parts that are not actually … you can mathematically calculate, but the chances of hitting the target are slim.

To describe the experience in one word, it would be “mediocre.” Maybe one more step on the average EV telezume. If the displacement of the camera was a strong and uniform (as is often the case when shooting SLR cameras – the rise of the mirror gives a boost to the body), then the chance is great artifacts in the form of an additional circuit.

Perhaps in the next version of the result will be better. At least, that was the case with technology, Content Aware (it is used among others in the Shake Reduction).

However, not all that bad. Sometimes (when applied to the camera motion nerazmytym HR) Shake Reduction produces better results than the Smart Sharpen and other sharpening filters.

Non-destructive editing technology, embodied in the Smart Object, continues to evolve. In the SS version adds support for two important filters – Blur Galery and Liqufy. This means that at any stage of editing, you can return to configure their settings, and these changes will be immediately addressed. In stratified keeping to regulations, you can return even after reopening the file.

Web-oriented professionals have long used Photoshop to create a prototype and site elements. Developers have taught the program elements of the export CSS. For example, because the code looks a rectangle with rounded edges.

. Rounded_Rectangle_1 {
border-width: 34.1px;
border-color: rgb (255, 255, 255);
border-style: solid;
background-color: rgb (0, 0, 0);
position: absolute;
left: 309px;
top: 1064px;
width: 909.8px;
height: 1113.8px;
z-index: 3;
}

Photoshop imports the color codes of HTML, CSS and SVG – now easier to achieve accuracy.

Vector primitives become more complex. Now, the program is able to unite them or subtract one from the other (in this case they are converted into ordinary way). Work has become more convenient – primitives are edited individually, or several, as each is on its own layer, you can select using the mouse or the Layers panel.

In Photoshop CS, a new type of Action – Conditional. Besides being able to record a sequence of actions, the program offers to add a point of decision making. If the file meets certain conditions (the list is available in the drop-down menu), then the set of actions A. If not – then the action set B. A very useful innovation, but it will be in demand primarily in large companies where formalized business processes.

Working with 3D-objects appeared in Photoshop long ago. The function is not the most in demand, but the designers are (rumored) it is used. In the improved version of the SS drawing on texture (according to the developers, the rendering speed has increased by two orders of magnitude), creating lighting effects and editing surface maps. The panel is to work with 3D-objects in the scene has become more convenient. Previously, 3D-functionality (as well as the analyst) were only in the extended version, now all the tools available to any user.

At the same time the list of innovations is not limited. Photoshop can simulate on-screen rendering of fonts, download and save the style of the text, save images directly in the portfolio in the social network Behance, etc.

Photoshop Has the Best? At first glance – yes. Payment plan in the next three to five years is also quite attractive. Updated? The answer probably is yes.

Review of Adobe Photoshop CC - new functionality, the new tariff plans