Dateline: 09/06/99

We all know that Photoshop is the industry standard for image editing and creation. Whether or not you need Photoshop is not up for debate. If you create or work with images in any kind of a professional capacity, there's no question about it... you need Photoshop. But there may be some of you who are straddling the fence about whether or not to upgrade to this latest release. I'd like to take you through an in-depth look at all the new features of Photoshop and let you decide for yourself. Since I'm personally coming to Photoshop 5.5 from version 4, I will cover all the new enhancements from 5.0 and 5.5.

Below I've listed all the new features and enhancements that I intend to show you throughout the upcoming weeks. Each item will be linked as it is added so you might want to bookmark this page and keep checking back for updates. If you're bookmarking this page, please make sure you use the following URL:
http://graphicssoft.about.com/library/weekly/aa090699.htm

New in 5.0 | New in 5.5 | Imageready

New in Photoshop 5.0

History
The History Palette, Snapshots, and the History Brush.

Selection Tools and Commands
Reselect Command, Path and Selection Transformation, Magnetic Lasso Tool, Magnetic Pen Tool, and Freeform Pen Tool.

Measure Tool
The measure tool can provides information on distances and angles. Useful for rotating images precisely.

Type Tool & Editable Type Layers
The Type Tool, Type Layers, editable text, and new type enhancements in 5.5.

Layer Alignment
Learn how to utilize new layer alignment features. The visual examples will help you understand.

Layer Effects
Explore the variety of layer effects and their options.

Transformations
Path & Selection Transformations, 3D Transform Filter.

Color Enhancements
Improved color management, expanded support for 16-bit color, color samplers, spot color, enhanced Hue/Saturation, and channel mixer

Automated Commands
Action Palette enhancements, Batch command, Conditional Mode Change, Contact Sheets II (new to 5.5), Fit Image, Multi-Page PDF to PSD, Picture Package (new to 5.5), Web Photo Gallery (new to 5.5).

Other Improvements
Expanded scratch space, interface improvements, live previews, PDF Import, new Save As options, DCS 2.0 support, Postscript Level 2 support

New in Photoshop 5.5

Save for Web
Exploring the new Save for Web command dialog box.

New Tools in 5.5
Magic Eraser Tool, Background Eraser Tool, Art History Brush, and Contiguous Options.

Extract Command
The new Extract Command dialog box allows you to easily separate a foreground object from its background, even on selections with intricate or undefined edges.

Web Photo Gallery
This new feature in the automated commands allows you to automatically generate HTML index pages with thumbnail images and hyperlinks to the full-size images.

Other Improvements:
Auto Contrast, New indexed color options, GIF & PNG transparency support, direct GIF support for RGB images, expanded TIFF support, new JPEG save options, PDF color support for CMYK images

Imageready

Optimization

Slicing, Rollovers, & Image maps

Animation

Layer Effects, Styles, and Shape Tools

Filters - Dithering and Tile Maker filters

Also see: Photoshop Resources

If you'd like to discuss anything about this article, I encourage you to post your comments, questions, and concerns in the forum.

Sue Chastain Your Guide to Graphics Software Questions? Comments? Post to the Forum! Previous Features