Just got Photoshop CS2 - Now What?

Hello All,

Had been using Paintshop Pro since version 6.x. Most recently using version 9. About two weeks ago I got Adobe Photoshop CS2. Installed it. Haven't done much with it. Also bought a book "The Photoshop CS Book for Digital Photographers" by Scott Kelby.

Now what do I do first?

pradeep,
I got the same book, mine was included with the PSCS2 Upgrade from Adobe (special offer). I have used Photoshop since version 7. I will not classify myself an expert but I can get some things done.

I think that Photoshop CS2 is excellent. Camera RAW has evolved to a very usable feature. I would not use Camera RAW in the past. This version, of Photoshop, is definitly aimed at photographers. Read the book at your computer with the program open. Scott Kelby has provided sample images (the same that you see used in the book) for you to use when trying the techniques. I think the "Adobe Bridge" program is also excellent for browsing your shots.

I used to use C1 Pro. Not anymore.
Cheers,
Rob

Open "Bridge" file browser. See all the fun things you can do with it.

I LOVE Bridge, it's such a step forward from before! Browsing through your thumbnails is wonderful, and you get to choose how so quickly (I like the vertical one with the big image in the center).

Have you also noticed that the Camera data info field contains so much more now, like what lens was used! (well it doesnt know the brand, but it knows what focal length it has, like mine said 80-200 at focal range 165 mm.... now that's cool and useful when you're starting to get old.

Am I the only one with this problem? Although I can open the files, Bridge doesn't show CR2 thumbnails for me.

Wildewinds. Have you updated to Camera Raw 3.1?? If not, do so and restart both Photoshop and Bridge.

I was fooled by that at first too. I just restarted Photoshop after I updated to Camera Raw 3.1, so the raw-files didn't show at all. But after a restart, it's all there!

Wildewinds wrote:
Am I the only one with this problem? Although I can open the files, Bridge doesn't show CR2 thumbnails for me.

What type of camera do you have? If you have the Digital XT, you will need to download the latest RAW update - version 3.1.

CyberPet wrote:
I LOVE Bridge, it's such a step forward from before! Browsing through your thumbnails is wonderful, and you get to choose how so quickly (I like the vertical one with the big image in the center).

Have you also noticed that the Camera data info field contains so much more now, like what lens was used! (well it doesnt know the brand, but it knows what focal length it has, like mine said 80-200 at focal range 165 mm.... now that's cool and useful when you're starting to get old.

Hmmm, I see the Camera name, but I'm not seeing the lens, just the focal length it was shot at.

KAC

Kenyc, go to View > Metadata. Make sure the Metadata tab is visible, and scroll down to and expand Camera Data (Exif) heading. The fifth property will be focal length, and the sixth will be lens. But you're right it doesn't show lens using View > As Details, just the focal length. I didn't notice this at first, since the first shots were with a prime lens.

Hmm, maybe I'm still missing something, but it's not there. I'm not talking about the details, I'm talking about the EXIF in the metadata tab which has:

Exposure....
....
iso
focal length
date..time
....
....

But not lens.

KAC

I have the Rebel XT and I've updated to 3.1. I can open the RAW files in both photoshop and bridge, but I just can't see the thumbnails in bridge like I can with the other image formats.

Take a look in Preferences/Metadata and make sure that these fields are checked off.

Does it show some sort of generic icon in place of the thumbnails? I'm having a hard time visualizing what you're seeing. Perhaps you can PM a screen shot of the window?

Yep.

KAC

They're checked and you still can't see them?? Sorry, you've reached the end of my admittedly limited knowledge. Perhaps one of the PS wizards around here can straighten it out for you.