Adobe Photoshop Extended CS4 [Mac] [OLD VERSION]

I've been using Photoshop since v4, and have been occasionally underwhelmed with some of the updates. However, CS4 continues the more recent trend of outstanding enhancements, which tells me the product team is really paying attention to customers as much as possible.

For some background, I purchased an 8-core Mac Pro specifically to work with the Adobe Creative Suite 4 Master Collection [Mac], and have been an early adopter for the various suites since about the time the first Creative Suite was released. For CS4, the first release felt a little too early, but the update has solved most issues I've had with small bugs and performance lags. With the (now) current updates, Photoshop CS4 has been fantastic.

I really enjoy the UI enhancements, especially with the Configurator extension. This lets me customize the work space for different tasks quite easily, including putting all my tools for a given project in one spot, which can quickly be changed out as needed. Of special note is the canvas rotation and zooming features - I've started using them quite a bit more now that I'm used to them. They lend a more fluid experience to my work flow, and in some cases have enabled me to be more discerning about my edits because it's much easier to move the canvas around.

Performance has been great after the update. Previous problems included some redraw issues and a little lag when using certain brushes. However, I have not encountered these problems lately. Some 3D operations are still a bit slow, but livable, none-the-less.

For folks wondering if the price is worth it to move from previous versions, all I can say is that most of the new features - adjustment panels, canvas operations, work space configuration, etc - are geared towards enhancing the experience. While there are some significant, if subtle, updates to existing tools, I don't believe these alone would be worth the price. Taken as a whole, moving from CS2 or below would be a good move, though, and even from CS3 if you are in a production environment.

Of special note for high-volume, broad production is the ability to use the Configurator. This widget allows you to create a custom toolbox, complete with links, scripts and actions, as well as being able to consume some online content. The Configurator can be used as a project guide of sorts, allowing you to share key project elements easily - notes, links to online or networked resources, tool presets, actions, etc.

Overall, I think this is a great move forward, so if your budget allows, and you use Photoshop for production work, make the leap. If, on the other hand, you are forced to restrict your purchases or don't have need of the new features, then wait for a bit.Get more detail about Adobe Photoshop Extended CS4 [Mac] [OLD VERSION].