First Look Review: This image and photography editor includes new features that help users create more realistic 3D designs.
Photoshop CS5 Extended from Adobe Systems is an amazingly capable image and photo editor, equipped with features that make it a valuable tool for a broad range of professional endeavors, including CAD, DCC (digital content and creation), and visualization. Although a Standard version is also available, for this review, I evaluated Photoshop CS5 Extended, which offers high-end capabilities of interest to design professionals and the professional imaging communities. This release packs in more technological advancements from Adobe Labs than any other, and incorporates enhancements to everyday tasks requested by users. Advanced tools for 3D address the needs of the video, Web, medical, manufacturing, and engineering industries. New Features and Enhancements
One of the most dazzling new features in this release is content-aware fill. You can remove any image detail or object, and this tool fills the space left behind, matching lighting, tone, and noise so that it looks as if the removed content never existed. This tool operates quickly and is a real time-saver.
With Puppet Warp tool, you can precisely reposition or warp an image element. You can, for example, stretch text for special effects, or move a person’s raised arm to his or her side in a photo.
Enhanced 3D realism and rich materials are new, enabling you to enhance 3D objects and designs with easy shadow creation, image-based lighting, and materials like glass and chrome. Adjusting the range for depth-of-field lets you explore various focus points in your 3D scene. In addition, Adobe Repoussé enables the creation of 3D extrusions from any text layer, selection, path, or layer mask.
Using Adobe Photoshop’s Camera Raw 6 plugin, you can nondestructively remove image noise while preserving color and detail. You can add grain to make digital photos look more realistic, or match an inserted object to the surrounding photographic image. Post-crop vignetting is also possible now.
Automated lens correction lets you correct various types of lens distortions, including converting fish-eye barrel distortion to a correct rectilinear appearance. For those interested in HDR (high dynamic range) images, Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended includes HDR Pro and HDR Toning.
Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended’s automated lens correction lets you correct various types of lens distortions, including converting fish-eye barrel distortion (above) to a correct rectilinear appearance (below).
