Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows
-
Discontinued
The Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software from Adobe is the industry-standard image editing suite for photographers, graphic designers and web designers. The software is used to edit images using a powerful layer-based approach. It also features smart filters to add artistic effects, powerful color and curve controls, digital camera raw image support and text tools.
- Unified Tabbed Interface
- Photoshop features a unified tabbed interface, complete with self-adjusting panels. This interface helps to reduce clutter, giving you a cleaner workspace. Each image is assigned its own tab, eliminating the need to arrange multiple windows. Of course, you'll still have the option to manually arrange floating windows and panels, allowing you to compare multiple images in a side-by-side manner.
- Layer-Based Editing
- Photoshop features a powerful layer-based approach to image editing. You'll be able to work on one layer of an image without modifying other layers, giving you a non-destructive way to make fine adjustments to images. You'll also be able to apply filters to specific layers. Photoshop features masking tools to help you create layers from "flat" still images, such as digital camera photos and scans.
- Filters and Image Controls
- You'll be able to browse through Photoshop's filter gallery to see how different filters will change an image. Filters are applied as smart layers that are completely non-destructive, can be modified on the fly and can be stacked.
- RAW File Support
- Photoshop features support for over 150 digital camera RAW file formats. RAW images can be saved in any file format, including PSD, JPG, TIFF, and DNG. There is even a dust busting tool to help you remove "green spots" that appear on your photos as a result of dust on your DSLR's CCD.
- Quick Select Tool
- The quick select tool allows you to isolate objects in an image in order to create a mask or separate layer. The tool is a great way to separate a subject from the background in order to make changes to each separately.
- Image Alignment and HDR Support
- Photoshop allows you to align a series of images to compensate for slight camera movement. It features tools that allow you to remove unwanted bystanders from a series of pictures. This can also be used to better create HDR images from a series of exposures of different lengths.
- Adjustments Panel
- The Adjustments panel gives you quick access to Photoshop's nondesctructive correction tools. You'll be able to adjust curves, levels, hue/saturation, and other parameters from this panel. You'll be able to control each parameter independently, without the need to change tools or navigate through menus.
- Enhanced Panorama Support
- Photoshop CS4 improves on the software's ability to create panoramic images. The Photomerge module now features enhanced blending options, vignetting control, and geometric distortion correction. Support for 360° panoramas and fish eye compensation have also been added. These tools work together to help create better stitched panoramic images.
- Extended Depth of Field
- Lenses are often praised for the quality of their bokeh, their out of focus blur, but shallow depth of field is not always desired. Photoshop allows you to combine several images that feature shallow depth of field and different focal points. The result is a single image with a very large depth of field. This tool allows photographers to capture images with a large depth of field, even in low light situations.
- Fluid Canvas Rotation
- Photoshop's Rotate View tool is a nondestructive editing tool that allows you to spin a canvas to any orientation. It eliminates pixel distortion, going so far as to automatically adjust selections, grids, rulers, and other tools to match the chosen orientation.
- GPU-Accelerated Painting Tools
- Photoshop CS4 leverages your computer's GPU to improve image editing performance. You'll be able to zoom down to a pixel-level, with perfect clarity. Stutter and preview lag are eliminated for smooth scrolling within an image. The Pixel Grid appears at magnifications of 600% or higher, allowing for extremely precise pixel editing.
- Bridge CS4
- Bridge CS4 is included for image browsing. Bridge allows you to browse though images on a folder level, view image metadata, and search for images. It features a Carousel View for large image-group selections, and can even create contact sheets in PDF format. Bridge can also create web photo galleries and upload them to the Internet.
- Lightroom 2 Integration
- Photographers will appreciate the enhanced integration with Lightroom 2. Images can be exported from Lightroom 2 to create HDR images, panoramas, or smart objects in Photoshop. Because both applications share the same RAW processing engine, image adjustments made in Lightroom are reflected in Photoshop and vice versa.
| Application | Image Editing |
| Compatibility | Windows |
| System Requirements |
Computer: 1.8GHz Operating System: Windows XP SP2 (SP3 recommended); Vista Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, Enterprise SP1; Certified for 32-bit Windows XP and 32/64-bit Vista Memory: 512MB (1GB recommended) Hard Drive: 1GB; Cannot install on flash-based storage devices Display: 1024 x 768 (1280 x 800 recommended) with 16-bit video card; Some GPU-accelerated features require graphics support for Shader Model 3.0 and OpenGL 2.0 Hardware: DVD-ROM drive Software: QuickTime 7.2 Broadband Internet connection required for online services |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 22 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
86%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Versatile (13)
- Accurate colors (12)
- Easy to collaborate across programs (10)
- Easy to navigate (10)
- Easy to customize (8)
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional quality (16)
- Presentations (6)
- Educational purposes (5)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Quality oriented (15)
- Primary use:
- Personal (10), Business (9)
Most Liked Positive Review
lightroom + cs4 perfect for photography
The combination of lightroom 2 with cs4 on a fast computer is a joy for photographers wanting to organize, crop, and fix or enhance photos.
Lightroom is designed specifically for photography a...Read complete review
The combination of lightroom 2 with cs4 on a fast computer is a joy for photographers wanting to organize, crop, and fix or enhance photos.
Lightroom is designed specifically for photography and allows easy adjustments for exposure, contrast, saturation, softening, sharpening, cropping, etc. cs4 is a professional-level tool more focused on editting of images such as removing distracting backgrounds and merging multiple photos for high dynamic range or panoramas. cs4 has the ability to turn a simple photo into a magazine advertisement or movie poster. It's much more powerful than lightroom, but also more complex. To make the same adjustments available in lightroom is more difficult in cs4.
What's nice is the images can be sent back and forth between lightroom and cs4 to allow the best tool for the task at hand.
I'd recommend lightroom 2 for photographers first, and if more editing is required beyond the abilities of lightroom, add cs4.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Buyer Beware
Buyer beware, Photoshop CS4 may not install on your computer. Every attempt to install has resulted in an error that will not complete the installation process. I have downloaded an error analyzer from Adobe...Read complete review
Buyer beware, Photoshop CS4 may not install on your computer. Every attempt to install has resulted in an error that will not complete the installation process. I have downloaded an error analyzer from Adobe and followed all procedures for correcting the installation issue to no avail. I have been on the phone with no less than 4 tech support personnel who walk me thru a limited number of procedures and then hang-up stating they will call me back within ½ hour, and do not. I am sitting here with a [$] box of software that I cannot use. The issue is not my computer. My machine has core a 2 quad processor with 2 gigs memory, a 500 gig hard drive and high end graphics video card. The issue has to do with color profiles in the computer registry keys that prevent installation. Oh, did I mention that tech support is terrible beyond belief. I will be attempting to install again over the weekend, instead shooting and processing photographs. Good luck if you buy this program.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 22 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Easy To Navigate
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Presentations
- Professional Quality
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
Prior to purchasing Photoshop CS4 I had read numerous reviews concerning installation problems. I am happy to report that I have installed it on both my desktop, which has Windows XP and on my laptop, which has Windows Vista operating systems. Smooth sailing for both.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
- Easy To Customize
- Easy To Navigate
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional Quality
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
I have purchased many editing software products on the market that all do similar things and are somewhat less expensive but nothing compares to this product with all the versatility and power at your disposal. Aside from that there are a huge variety of plug ins and add ons that set you on a level above the normal day to day photographer. This product has revolutionized the digital industry and justifies the cost.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Easy To Navigate
- Extensive options
- Powerful
- Versatile
Cons
- Expensive
- Poor HDR function
Best Uses
- Educational Purposes
- Presentations
- Professional Quality
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
I use photoshop CS4 to process photographs for my photography business. It is extremely powerful software for adjusting color, sharpening, cropping, applying filters, and the use of adjustment layers. The last version of photoshop I used was Photoshop 7, so I've been extremely impressed with the new features, particularly the "merge" function for stitching several photos to create panoramics. It is easy to integrate into your workflow with Lightroom as well!
On the other hand, the software is expensive, and the HDR function is not very user friendly or effective.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
- Easy To Customize
- Easy To Navigate
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Presentations
- Professional Quality
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
[...] If you are ready for the investment, it is totally worth it.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional Quality
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
I purchased cs4 in a bundle package with light room. The price was good. Light room was installed with no problems. Now comes photoshop !!! The program installed to about 95% then kicked out with a 1603 error. This appears to be a common problem with cs4. Adobe support was called and naturally there is no service center in the usa. It takes about 8 to 13 min's to get connected to India. As expected try and talk with some one that speaks english well !! Impossible !! After more than 12 hours on the phone, disconnect's, waiting ect. Well guess what no results and they never call back when disconnected!!! If they do it could be up to 3 days later and hope your home !! After more than 3 weeks playing around with their service center Geek Squad was called. It appears that if you have any other photo shop program installed it must be unistalled and reinstalled after photoshop loads. Photoshop is a very good program how ever hope you don't need support. Its a nightmare !!!!! I would not recommed this program because of its support and service center.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
- Versatile
Cons
- Difficult to learn layers
- Difficult To Navigate
Best Uses
- Editting of images
- Professional Quality
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
The combination of lightroom 2 with cs4 on a fast computer is a joy for photographers wanting to organize, crop, and fix or enhance photos.
Lightroom is designed specifically for photography and allows easy adjustments for exposure, contrast, saturation, softening, sharpening, cropping, etc. cs4 is a professional-level tool more focused on editting of images such as removing distracting backgrounds and merging multiple photos for high dynamic range or panoramas. cs4 has the ability to turn a simple photo into a magazine advertisement or movie poster. It's much more powerful than lightroom, but also more complex. To make the same adjustments available in lightroom is more difficult in cs4.
What's nice is the images can be sent back and forth between lightroom and cs4 to allow the best tool for the task at hand.
I'd recommend lightroom 2 for photographers first, and if more editing is required beyond the abilities of lightroom, add cs4.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Navigate
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional Quality
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
I upgraded to CS4 from the basic photoshop so I have a lot to learn! However Adobe has a lot of good tutorials, and I have also bought some photoshop books in order to learn more techniques! So far I'm having a lot of fun with this product. I'm a semi-pro photographer and I love to be creative with my images and CS4 has given me the opportunity to be as creative as I want!
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
- Options for Days
- Versatile
Cons
- Poor handling of high-ISO
Best Uses
- Photo editing
- Professional Quality
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
I'm a professional photographer and Photoshop is a must-have product for me. Although I think that the price is somewhat high, overall it's still the best product out there for professional photo-editing.
I love the adjustment layers and other major feature upgrades from previous editions, and I'm sure CS5 will also have notable upgrades.
The only complaint I have is the way that Photoshop CS4 (and Adobe products in general) handle high-ISO shots in ACR, especially with non Canikon cameras. Pretty much every other piece of software meant to handle RAW files does a better job than CS4 does. Adobe needs to increase its level of performance on Sony files in future editions.
Overall it's a great product at a decent price. Hope Adobe fixes its ACR treatment of Sony and other non-Canikon camera filetypes.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
- Easy To Customize
- Easy To Navigate
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional Quality
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
This was a gift for my wife. So far she really enjoys the program although there is a lot she is finding that is new from the CS version. She is looking forward to enjoying all that is has to offer.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
- Easy To Navigate
- Versatile
Cons
- Price
Best Uses
- Professional Quality
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
Having used various versions of PS over the years, I can safely say that CS4 is the creme de la creme from Adobe.
Virtually anything you can think of doing to or with a photo is within the realm of possiblility with this program. It's not very hard to pick up, although, if you're new to the PS family, it does require that you follow some kind of instruction. Luckily, there are hundreds of online tutorials available.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
- Easy To Customize
- Easy To Navigate
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Educational Purposes
- Presentations
- Professional Quality
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
adobe photoshop CS$ has everything. there is a learning curve involved, but once you start to understand the vocabulary it starts getting easier. it makes your good photos into great stunning photos.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
- Easy To Customize
- Easy To Navigate
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Educational Purposes
- Presentations
- Professional Quality
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
adobe cs4 has everything. it has a learning curve to get up to speed but once you get the terminology you start to get the hang of it. you can make your good photos into great photos.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Customize
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional Quality
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
How can any serious digital photographer survive without this?
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
Cons
- Complex as ever
Best Uses
- Educational Purposes
- Professional Quality
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
In all honesty, with a little over a year's experience using CS2 I remain a neophyte to Photoshop. I believe I only use 10-20% of the power of PS. I was pretty much forced to upgrade because Canon RAW for the 50D requires that one use the RAW converter in CS4. The transistion has been fairly easy. I do not find that CS4 is much different from CS2, except it does offer a few new features and a slightly different user interface. CS4 remains the gold standard for post processing for professional digital photographers.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
- Easy To Customize
- Easy To Navigate
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Educational Purposes
- Presentations
- Professional Quality
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
Photoshop CS4 is useful for print enhancement, it's very powerful, although, if you've never used it, just know that there is a steep learning curve. After you purchase it for the first time, settle in and explore whatever tutorials are available out there. You'll need it. Good luck!
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
Cons
- Freezes or Crashes
- Will not install
Best Uses
- A paper weight
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
Was not able to load the program due to something with HP and Adobe not working together. I spent over 4 hours on the phone with HP and Adobe to try to fix the program and still no luck. Adobe says that they have never had a problem, but when I looked online, there's TONS of forums about people having problems with the program. For [$], I should be able to put the CD in, and hve it work! Not happy. Thinking about trading down to CS2!
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- 64 bit compatibility
- Easy To Customize
- Huge range of features
- Versatile
Cons
- Cost
Best Uses
- Professional Quality
- Saving the impossibl
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
As an "all purpose" photographer I use Photoshop a lot and always dread the arrival of a new version becaus of the cost and the need to relearn. CS4 is expensive and is significantly different from CS3. Most of the improvements, especially what can now be done in camera raw are very welcome: the new "tabbed file' format in photoshop really doesnt work for me. Bridge improvemnets are great. I found the need to get (free from Adobe) a camera raw plugin for the Canon Eos 5D Mk 2 irritating.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
Cons
- Difficult To Use
- Hard To Setup
- Really bad tech support
Best Uses
- None so far
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
Buyer beware, Photoshop CS4 may not install on your computer. Every attempt to install has resulted in an error that will not complete the installation process. I have downloaded an error analyzer from Adobe and followed all procedures for correcting the installation issue to no avail. I have been on the phone with no less than 4 tech support personnel who walk me thru a limited number of procedures and then hang-up stating they will call me back within ½ hour, and do not. I am sitting here with a [$] box of software that I cannot use. The issue is not my computer. My machine has core a 2 quad processor with 2 gigs memory, a 500 gig hard drive and high end graphics video card. The issue has to do with color profiles in the computer registry keys that prevent installation. Oh, did I mention that tech support is terrible beyond belief. I will be attempting to install again over the weekend, instead shooting and processing photographs. Good luck if you buy this program.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Easy To Set Up
- Easy To Use
- Quality Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Upgrade
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
I use this for photo editing. It is a robust tool and I would recommend it to anyone. Very slick compared to earlier versions.
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Great Features
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 Image Editing Software for Windows:
Very complex and advanced program. Not for beginners. If you have not worked with Photoshop before training is an absolute must. [...]
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