Photoshop Insider

1. ^#1

   Hi Scott,

   is the polll gor Photoshop or Lightroom 2?
   (Suspect a minor spelling error in the title of the survey)

   PS. Thanks for the best photoblog on the internet

   /Andreas

   Andreas on June 27th, 2008 at 4:09 am
2. ^#2

   I think he meant Photoshop (CS4 - not Lightroom). Think about it, why would you want Lightroom’s crop tool to be done more like Lightroom’s? That’s the one thing about LR that I think was bad marketing - trying to make it appear like one part of a family of “Photoshop” apps.

   Jason on June 27th, 2008 at 5:09 am
3. ^#3

   Good to see shadow highlight up there.

   Adam on June 27th, 2008 at 5:17 am
4. ^#4

   I would love better noise control plug-ins built natively into Photoshop

   Mark on June 27th, 2008 at 5:47 am
5. ^#5

   Bear in mind that photoshop is not just used by photographers, but a massive range of industries. Concept art, 3D texture creation, graphic design, website design, etc.
   To make this poll work, people from all industries would have to have a say in the feature list.
   One of my top features would be a colour mixing palette, which would allow the artist to smear colours together and mix them, then use the palette with a colour picker, but this would not be too useful for photography.
   Also, I do most of my photography work in Lightroom now. The features that i’m looking for would be features that do not appear in lightroom. It would be good to find out what most of the people voting here use photoshop for.
   Good idea though!

   james on June 27th, 2008 at 6:32 am
6. ^#6

   The history palette has a feature where you can see what the original was like. You can even take snapshots. Unless I’m missing something about the before/after feature.

   Isaac on June 27th, 2008 at 7:09 am
7. ^#7

   I agree with James - I use Photoshop 10 hours a day, every day, as a designer and not one thing on the top 10 really matters to me as they are so photographer centric.

   Gidget on June 27th, 2008 at 8:43 am
8. ^#8

   I would like to see the cross platform up higher!

   On every computer I have (except servers) I have Photoshop running constant.

   I use Photoshop for Web and Graphic Design mainly, but now I am using it to help the Radiologist with the 3D CAT Scan at the hospital I work at use it. It such a powerful tool that any one that uses a computer could use Photoshop.

   Its like the Pixar Film “Ratatouille .. Any One Can Cook!”

   Any One Can Use Photoshop!

   Sheldon Dokken on June 27th, 2008 at 9:23 am
9. ^#9

   I agree with both Jame and Gidget. Many of the photoshop wishlist items are to make more like lightroom. They’ve already solved this problem for photographers by creating a special app just for that purpose called….. LIGHTROOM =). Lightroom has a host of features that most photoshop users probably wouldn’t need, such as exposure compensation..etc. Only photographers would need this. I use both photoshop and lightroom as I do graphic design and photography. Why try to make photoshop BE lightroom? I bet many carpenters carry in their belt a hammer and a screwdriver, but they don’t stay up at night wishing that one day they’d be able to drive a nail with a screwdriver. It doesn’t make sense.

   Toby on June 27th, 2008 at 9:57 am
10. ^#10

    I think Matt Kloskowski had some really terrific ideas in his “Guest Blog” on Wednesday. I think Adobe would be well advised to take a close look at many of the mods proposed my Matt.

    Ross on June 27th, 2008 at 10:15 am
11. ^#11

    I agree, I don’t want photoshop to be too much like lightroom. I like having the two seperate apps. The poll was a great idea.

    egower on June 27th, 2008 at 10:17 am
12. ^#12

    Good point James, yes it is interesting to find out how others are using photoshop. As a PS instructor I’m discovering unique uses from students all the time. From artistic needs & forensics to headstone mock ups for a mortuary. And that would an interesting survey as well to see what every one uses PS for.

    For my needs, I’ve been teaching photography for 25+ years so it was only natural to jump on board with PS a number of years ago. I’ve also volunteered for Operation Photo Rescue. If you enjoy restoring photos - volunteer for that group. You can really hone your retouching skills working for a group like that. PS really shines when it comes to putting a photo back together.

    keith on June 27th, 2008 at 10:26 am
13. ^#13

    What about making Photoshop a Module in Lightroom. I think it would really kick ass! I know that wouldn’t work for all users but i think Adobe could make it work for Photographers. Hell I’d pay an extra 100 bucks for that edition.

    jared chapin on June 27th, 2008 at 10:50 am
14. ^#14

    All adjustments, filters, etc to work in 16 bit????

    Robert Hicks on June 27th, 2008 at 11:00 am
15. ^#15

    I love seeing what others think would be the best new filters. As a Nikon shooter I use Capture NX instead of Camera Raw/Lightroom as a first step and use CS3 for finishing. There are Lightroom-like features I’d love to see as part of CS4 also.

    Gayle on June 27th, 2008 at 11:05 am
16. ^#16

    Wow I knew it would be biased photographic wise, but I would not have thought that it would be that much. Why want every thing to go in photoshop… Adobe did a tool only for Photog it’s called Lightroom !! Advanced photographic tools should go in there, like most of the thing in this whislist. Why not think the other way around and add specific tools to lightroom as we might be the only one using them.

    The default for layer style.. that’s a good one because it would benefits all.

    Sebastien on June 27th, 2008 at 11:32 am
17. ^#17

    I agree with Gidget and james wholeheartedly.
    Over the years, I’ve also come to the opinion that we’ve seen Photoshop and Bridge directed disproportionately toward the desires of photographers… while at the same time Lightroom was in development just for them. We might have seen major improvements and developments for the needs of the rest of the Design Community and Creative Suite users, had Photoshop and Bridge not been directed toward the narrow focus of the desires of this segment of the Photoshop community.

    Not on your list…
    1) How about having the ability to drag an image from Bridge or the OS onto a Photoshop document… just as we can drag onto an InDesign or illustrator document… in Photoshop, we have the image first open, then we have to move content from image to image–would InDesign be where it is today if you first had to open an image before bringing it into the document where you want it?
    2)How about Vector information in Smart object being preserved as the Vector information most folks believe they are protecting? You place an Illustrator file in Photoshop for what reason? Vectors. The Vector information remains editable as Vectors… but it is rasterized at document resolution for output rather than reading the Vector information.
    3)How about the ability to Place Linked files… when we place a file in Illustrator or InDesign, at least as an option, the placed file is linked and can be easily updated. If I edit the linked file that has been placed in Photoshop, I would like to see the behavior of the file handling the same as in other CS applications

    those are my three biggies, not on your list

    thanks

    Walt on June 27th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
18. ^#18

    The way the polls are looking there should be two.

    Take the top 10 add those to Lightroom (If not already there)

    Take the rest and add to Photoshop.

    Sheldon Dokken on June 27th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
19. ^#19

    I second comment #13! It’d be nice to have a Photoshop module in Lightroom.

    Ann on June 27th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
20. ^#20

    I’m sorry, I don’t mean to come across negative, but I wish people would read the instructions and background behind this survey before questioning the relevance, making additional suggestions etc. it’s really not that difficult a concept to follow………

    johnathan on June 27th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
21. ^#21

    @johnathan, that does come across as negative. What difference does it make if we are pleasantly discussing this, making suggestions?

    As a rule of thumb, if you have to say “I hope you don’t take this the wrong way”, it probably isn’t helpful.

    Gidget on June 27th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
22. ^#22

    well then I apologize, maybe I had too much coffee this morning…. I just got the impression that people were missing the point of the poll (maybe it’s me that is deficient in that area), have a good weekend everyone!

    johnathan on June 27th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
23. ^#23

    Disappointed that Linux compatability is not higher up the list. Been using Photoshop since version 4 and I would prefer to have a Lightroom application that does what photographers want and a Photoshop application for non photographers.

    Iain Gunther on June 27th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
24. ^#24

    I would like to see the color mixing palette that James mentioned also. I love that feature in Painter.

    Ian on June 27th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
25. ^#25

    It would be cool to drive software changes through the user community… and I think your audience is a pretty fair representation of the average community (as in nice combination of beginner and advanced users).

    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.

    Richard H on June 27th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
26. ^#26

    Photoshop for linux would be awsome! Even better than MAC

    Johnny on June 28th, 2008 at 8:02 am
27. ^#27

    Don’t know if this was on the list of suggestions that you got Scott, and I only seen this for the first time the other day but do you what would be cool and isn’t on the list which might also be very wanted is the “live view” application of filters eg, in Fireworks CS4 beta when you apply a gradient you can see how the gradient will look and manipulate the effect by dragging and moving the line along which it was drawn. It might fall under the filter suggestion in the poll is I voted for it!

    David on June 28th, 2008 at 9:21 am
28. ^#28

    Coll Pool… There are so many things that I stil have to learn in Photoshop…
    Whatever they choose to improve, I know that is making my work look better.
    Paulo Jordao

    Paulo Jordao Photography on June 28th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
29. ^#29

    These are all incredibly MINOR features. They will help a bit, perhaps (I tried Lightroom and was unimpressed, I don’t need PS to be contaminated with workflow alterations TYVM).

    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.

    Charles King on June 28th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
30. ^#30

    Charles:

    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

    Matt Webster on June 29th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
31. ^#31

    Charles King is looking for adjustment layers whose output go into layer masks. This is already possible using Apply Image, Calculations, making a duplicate copy of the image and constructing the layer mask there, etc.

    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.

    Kurt Shoens on June 29th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
32. ^#32

    I just found this blog today, I know I’m jumping in on the middle of an ongoing conversation (and a week late).

    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.

    JC Dill on July 2nd, 2008 at 6:13 pm

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