It appears as Adobe are evolving they’re getting better and better. CS3 showed us new features such as non-destructive smart filters, quick selection, 3D composting, enhanced RAW image processing and HDR support.

Adobe’s newest software creation, Creative Suite 4, was designed to meet special challenges such as effective collaborations between designers and developers, embracing new media, reinventing publishing and embracing the explosion of connected media. Chad Seigel, Group Manager for Creative Suite has said, “Adobe is trying to break barriers and integrate all products.”

Improvements to Photoshop CS4 include an enhanced user interface with the entire application enclosed in the frame, meaning that dual monitor users can have more than one application running. The workspace switcher is for swapping between applications such as Camera RAW 5 and Bridge.

Some welcome improvements include zoom ratio which is less likely to show jagged or pix-elated lines and also boasts a flicker free zoom. You can also now rotate the canvas without jagged lines and the brush size can be previewed on the document. This means that when the tool is placed over the image it can be moved in size and allows you to see it before you use it.

The Dodge/Burn tool has been improved so when you’re adjusting the shadows, mid tones or highlights the tool won’t impose on the other two. When adjusting the saturation on the sponge tool it won’t move out of acceptable gamma.

Adjustment now has its own dedicated window that includes all the tools found in the area such as levels, curves, brightness/contrast and exposure. Another change is the preview window which is now in the tab instead of a new window that overlaps the image. Because of this change your picture can be viewed in its entirety and as an added bonus tools such as curves can be adjusted directly on the image for localized amendments.

The icons are also simplified for well-organized use; now you can see what you want to do much faster than before.

One part of the existing features that’s been improved upon is the clone tool. When your area is selected by stamping on it, a preview of the selected area will show on your brush. Meaning if you’re cloning small detail items or subjects such as bricks, this allows you to line them up easier.

The mask panel allows you to select an area which can be manipulated and even inverted which is good for selective color images.

One of the more amazing features is a content aware cropping facility. It works by first masking the areas you wish to retain in the picture. The image can then be resized and the parts that are protected won’t be cropped into. The program will start to remove areas in between which is an amazing feature to see and use.

An improved blend layer mode has been added and is a useful tool for techniques such as focus stacking. The program will adjust the exposure and colour automatically so there’s no need to mess about first.

Please note that the images must be loaded in as layers and highlighted. Once you have done that click on Edit>Auto blend layers and the images will be composites together. Also note that you must be patient as the process can take some time.

This process can also be helpful if you want to create HDR images if you prefer the ones without the ethereal effect that most systems produce.

Photoshop Product Manager, Bryan Hughes, is quite adamant that this isn’t a HDR tool as it doesn’t give a full high dynamic range in all areas so the familiar ethereal look of a HDR image is absent. He added that if need be it could be described as a clipped version of HDR.

Photoshop CS4 Extended features support for 3D. Two dimensional images can be changed to 3D by giving them x, y and z co-ordinates and these images can then be wrapped around imported 3D images. Photoshop CS4 works in conjunction with Google 3D warehouse where you can import thousands of 3D images. Merging a 2D image onto a 3D image is simple since the only command you need use is the Merge button. The 2D layer acquires all the 3D attributes such as decay detail, color and reflections. The 3D image can be manipulated as well and you can also enjoy features such as creating cut-outs, adding detail or changing colors to the interior of the cut-out.

As an added bonus, a feature has been added for help with people who are color blind. Colors in Photoshop CS4 can now be adjusted for true color blindness.

One feature missing in CS4 is the quick tools from the image window bar. When you’ve opened an image, right clicking on the header bar has brought up five options of duplicate, image size, canvas size, file info for metadata and page set up. I often used these, especially file info, and to find it’s not there has added time to my workflow.

At the press release for Photoshop CS4 I was bursting with excitement when I saw the features it could do. The newest features such as the auto blend and content aware cropping feature are astounding. I also enjoy using the localized adjustments on Light room 2 so it’ll be really beneficial on Photoshop CS4.

Look at the noted upgrades box and see if you’ll use all those extra features. Add to that the efficient zooming and 89 percent less drag on the mouse making it move across the screen faster.

Bear in mind that the list is for the Extended version which supports the 3D applications. If you don’t need those then don’t bother with Extended but as far as I’m concerned this new version is the best one yet