I’m onboard with a bunch of the already made suggestions such as all filters as layers, live preview on all filters, 16 bit for everything, same UI and controls in PS as LR.

One thing that I haven’t see yet is a way to take something you already did and make it into an action. Often I’m quite a way into a process when I realize I’d love to have it as an action. I would love to be able to finish the process, then “make action from history” and select the first step in the history, and have that step until now made into an action.

Watermarking is also high on my list. I want to make a watermark and define (and place) it as a percentage of the width of the document. Ideally, I would have 2 watermarks, one for landscape orientation, and one for portrait (and square) orientation, and have the right one applied automagically when I watermark an image (or a batch of images, some landscape and some portrait). I want the same watermark options in both lightroom and photoshop, so I can batch export and watermark images from lightroom directly.

It would also be nice if one could specify in the prefs that the original layer be named with the filename of the image rather than “background”. (Only use “background” for new images that don’t yet have a filename.) I do a lot of moving layers from photo to photo to stack images (e.g. HDR where the auto function doesn’t do what I need) and it would be a huge help if the layers came “prenamed” with the name of the image they came from. When I open the images as a smart object they are pre-named with the filename, but when I open them from lightroom I have to manually name the layers.

On my lightroom wishlist, I want a preferences option in lightroom to “open as smart object” in photoshop. I would use this as one of my two “open in external editor” choices.

However, as Photoshop works today, that sort of mask construction is an iterative process, where you tweak the mask just so in whatever preparation process you have, then copy the result into your layer mask and see if you like it. If not, back to your mask construction for another try. The limitation prevents you from simultaneously making a change in your mask construction and seeing its effect live on the image.

I for one would love such an ability, if for no other reason than to document exactly what I did to an image. I think it would require more changes to Photoshop than the ability to add adjustment layers to a layer mask, given the useful twists and turns through color space, false profiles, false separations, channel blends, and what-all.

The resulting software might look like a spreadsheet for image processing. Of great value for some, an excellent platform for plug-in/processing authors, but perhaps not what most photographic users want.

Regarding the relevance of the list: they were suggested by readers of the blog. It’s not a scientific survey but I’ll bet representative of the sorts of things the photographic community wants.

Adjustment layers? Already in PS. Explanation? Smart filters for masks? What? Some more explanation as to why one would need that would be helpful.

As for your comments towards the list Scott provided, these are features he has suggested and are not wrong (or “insignificant” as you mention).

You should add your suggestions as to what you would like and leave it at that.

Matt

There is one feature that Photoshop DESPERATELY needs and which will benefit everyone: adjustment layers (and, ideally) smart-filters FOR MASKS.

Masking is a critical part of any truly creative use of Photoshop, and the use of masks applies to professionals working across the whole range. Allowing non-destructive, editable changes to masks will make EVERYONE’s lives a whole lot easier.

I know that this demand will involve significant coding (and UI) alterations, but it is the ONE THING that I find myself butting against every time I use PS in a truly creative manner. The changes you suggest are either insignificant or undesirable.

E.g:
‘Add Clarity and Vibrance to Photoshop’: these effects can already be produced with ease in PS by anyone who’s got beyond the basic tutorials.
‘Add a Better Noise Reduction Filter or Plug-in’: Why bother? The noise-reduction algorithm in ACR already shares a place at the top of the pack, and ACR can be configured to process jpeg and TIFF images. If you feel a different algorithm would be better for a certain image, then you are free to purchase the plugin and use it.
‘Add a Built-in Watermark feature’ Like there aren’t 1001 actions out there that will add a watermark already /rolleyes.
‘Add a More Realistic Clouds filter’ Seriously, WTF?!?
‘Make Photoshop for Linux’ Scraping the bottom of the barrel? Do you REALLY think Linux-groupies will give up on GIMP? /rolleyes again.

I expected a FAR more relevant list from someone of your caliber.

As a business software developer and systems analyst, I’m always determining business requirements and converting them into tools to make everyday work easier and more efficient.
The software that’s designed on what we think our clients want is rarely as successful as one that’s well planned and has involvement from the impacted parties.

Tell ‘em what to do Scott… change the world… please!!

I just wish there was a preview for the motion blur filter. I mean, who wants to guess where it should be centered only to undo and redo a number of times to get it perfect. Who’s idea was that?
I fit this specific example under the “improve filters” option.

Also, is there a way to default to full screen mode? I’m tired of double-pressing F whenever I open an image.

There’s obviously plenty of room for improvement, and most of it is small stuff compared to new features that they’ve released in newer versions (eg video/animations, vanishing point).
It would be nice to be able to submit a _complete_ list to the Adobe developers and have them explain why they wouldn’t include ANY of the improvements that were suggested.
At the same time, it’s obviously hard to satisfy everybody’s needs.