ZMAngNotes

Adobe Photoshop CS2 is the latest version of Adobe’s premier professional-level graphics editing software. It is the key component of the Adobe Creative Suite, and is widely used by designers of varying levels of ability and experience.

New Features in Photoshop CS2

Like every new version of Adobe Photoshop, CS2 comes with bug fixes and new features of its own. They are:

1. Adobe Bridge - The standard File Browser in Photoshop has been replaced with an independent sub-application: Adobe Bridge.
2. Optimized Layers Palette - The ever-important Layers palette has been improved, with several new shortcuts to select multiple layers, etc.
3. Improved Info Palette - More information and settings have been packed into the info palette.
4. New Tools - Two new full-featured tools were introduced: The Spot Healing Brush and the Red Eye Tool.
5. New Filters - Of the new filters introduced, there is one 3D Perspective filter, i.e. Vanishing Point, and 3 blur filters, i.e. box, shape and surface blurs.

Components

Photoshop CS2 is built out of multiple components, which when used in synergy, result in the legendary productivity claimed by many designers worldwide.

Adobe Bridge

Adobe Bridge is the control center of the Adobe Creative Suite, and manages assets for each individual member of the suite, including Photoshop CS2. The assets involved include image files and applications of both Adobe and non-Adobe nature. Unlike the File Manager present in older editions of Adobe Photoshop CS2, Adobe Bridge can be launched independently of any Creative Suite member - allowing you to manage your assets without launching their respective Creative Suite software.

In Adobe Bridge, you have access to several supplementary components of the Adobe Creative suite, including:

1. Adobe Bridge Center
2. Adobe Version Cue
3. Adobe Stock Photos
4. Overall Colour Settings

Adobe Bridge Workspaces

An Adobe Bridge Workspace is a specific Bridge layout that you have saved in order to reuse at some other time. By saving workspaces, you can switch between different workspaces as you work to streamline your workflow. To save a Bridge Workspace: Window > Workspace > Save Workspace.

Key Features

Several key features underpin both the basic and advanced functionality of Adobe Photoshop CS2. Among them are:

Layers

Layers can be visualised as a stack of transparent sheets, each of which allow you to work on particular segments of an image without disturbing other segments. Layers can not only be rearranged to change their stacking order, but also grouped together to reduce clutter. Nested groups are also possible.

It is this feature that substantially differentiates low-end graphic editing software from professional-level software as layers can be used to produce complex effects with ease, especially when you take into account more sophisticated layers, such as fill layers and adjustment layers.

Layers Palette

You can view your layers and layer groups in the Layers palette - one of the many floating menubars in your workspace. Within your Layers palette, you can create, modify and reorganise your multitude of layers. To show the Layers palette: Windows > Layers.

Optimizing Photoshop CS2

With power comes high resource usage. That’s the mantra of any experienced Photoshop user. Hence, in order to streamline resource usage, and thus performance, it will be necessary to tone down the various features available in CS2. There is an excellent article on the necessary steps at [http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1910435,00.asp ExtremeTech].

Plug-In Optimisation