Adobe Creative Suite 5 Production Premium Upsell Review

Adobe Creative Suite 5 Production Premium Upsell
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
CS5, what can I say? However, the look of different versions are the same. So if you bought a full version online make sure you check the box. Sometimes,things do happen.

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Meet today's deadlines and tomorrow's challenges with breakthrough performance: Adobe Creative Suite 5 Production Premium software accelerates workflows from scriptwriting through post-production, delivers the industry's best tapeless workflows, and introduces new CS Live online services.

Upgrade to Adobe Creative Suite 5 Production Premium Customers who have a license for the following applications are eligible for upgrade pricing:
Creative Suite 3 Design Premium, Design Standard, Web Premium, Web Standard, Production Premium, Master Collection
Adobe Premiere Pro 1.x, 2.x, CS3, CS4, & CS5; or any version of Adobe Premiere
After Effects 7.x (Professional or Standard), CS3 Professional, CS4, & CS5
Photoshop CS2, CS3, CS4, & CS5
Photoshop CS3, CS4, & CS5 Extended
Illustrator CS2, CS3, CS4, & CS5
Flash 8 (Professional or Basic); Flash CS3 Professional, CS4 Professional, & Professional CS5

Top reasons to upgrade to Adobe Creative Suite 5 Production Premium
Breakthrough native 64-bit performance Work fluidly at HD and higher resolutions using all the available RAM in your system with native 64-bit support in Adobe Premiere Pro CS5, After Effects CS5, and Photoshop CS5 Extended. Run multiple suite components efficiently thanks to new shared memory settings. Eliminate intermediate rendering when moving assets between After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Encore, and experience faster performance between these components.
Mercury Playback Engine in Adobe Premiere Pro Work dramatically faster thanks to the revolutionary native 64-bit, GPU-accelerated Mercury Playback Engine, which provides rock-solid performance and stability, even at 4K resolution and beyond. Open projects rapidly, and create multilayer, effects-rich sequences without rendering.
Supported NVIDIA graphics cards for GPU acceleration include Quadro CX (Windows), Quadro FX 3800 (Windows), Quadro FX 4800 (Windows and Mac OS), Quadro FX 5800 (Windows), and GeForce GTX 285 (Windows and Mac OS). For an up-to-date list of supported cards, visit www.adobe.com/go/64bitsupport.
Script-to-screen workflow through integration with Adobe Story Speed up production and post-production through integration with Adobe Story, a new Adobe CS Live online service that allows you to collaborate on scriptwriting, create shot lists from your scripts in Adobe OnLocation, and then develop a preliminary rough cut in Adobe Premiere Pro. CS Live online services are complimentary for a limited time visit www.adobe.com/go/cslive for details.
Roto Brush in Adobe After Effects Isolate moving foreground elements from their--backgrounds in a fraction of the time using the Roto Brush. Efficiently find the edges of complex foreground elements and fine-tune selection edges, with extremely precise results.
Eye-popping 3D and naturalistic painting in Adobe Photoshop Extended Create eye-popping 3D logos and artwork by extruding any text layer, Smart Object, selection, or layer mask. Paint more naturally with expressive new painting tools, and cleanly remove unwanted objects with Content-Aware Fill.
Roundtrip editing with other NLEs Integrate CS5 Production Premium with your workflow, no matter which NLE you prefer. Move projects easily back and forth between Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro or Avid editing software.
Intuitive perspective drawing in Adobe Illustrator Represent depth and distance accurately on the flat surface of your Illustrator canvas. Generate perspective grids for 1-, 2- or 3-point linear perspectives automatically, with controls for horizon lines and vanishing points.
Use high-performance production tools to create engaging content for virtually any screen
Comprehensive, best-of-breed video production environmentWork faster as you tackle a broad spectrum of planning, production, and post-production tasks. Each component of Production Premium works smoothly with other components thanks to timesaving integration, roundtrip editing with other NLEs, and faster Adobe Dynamic Link performance.
Native 64-bit performance and the new Adobe Mercury Playback EngineWork fluidly at HD and higher resolutions with native 64-bit support in Adobe After Effects CS5, Photoshop CS5 Extended, and Adobe Premiere Pro CS5. The new Mercury Playback Engine is native 64 bit and GPU accelerated* and provides rock-solid performance and stability, even at 4K resolution and beyond. Open projects rapidly, and create multilayer, effects-rich sequences without rendering.
* Supported NVIDIA graphics cards for GPU acceleration include Quadro CX (Windows), Quadro FX 3800 (Windows), Quadro FX 4800 (Windows and Mac OS), Quadro FX 5800 (Windows), and GeForce GTX 285 (Windows and Mac OS). For an up-to-date list of supported cards, visit www.adobe.com/go/64bitsupport.
Broad format support in Adobe Premiere ProExperience the industry's best tapeless workflow while working with virtually any format including DV, HDV, RED, DPX, Sony XDCAM, XDCAM 50, XDCAM EX and XDCAM HD, Panasonic P2, DVCPRO HD, AVCHD, and AVC-Intra. Edit video from DSLR cameras such as the Canon 5D Mark II and 7D; Nikon D90, D300s, and D3000; and others.
Richer, more compelling 2D and 3D images with Adobe Photoshop ExtendedExport video sequences from Photoshop Extended and import them into After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Adobe Encore. Work with new painting tools; make complex selections more easily; and create 3D logos from text, masks, or vectors.
Compositing and animation tools in Adobe After EffectsDesign groundbreaking motion graphics and blockbuster visual effects with industry-standard After Effects. Get everything you need to create opening titles, animated graphics, and visual effects or to create and move images in 3D space.
Roundtrip editing and streamlined collaborationMove projects back and forth between Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro or Avid editing software. Accelerate workflows by taking advantage of integration with new Adobe CS Live online services, such as Adobe Story for developing scripts. CS Live online services are complimentary for a limited time--visit www.adobe.com/go/cslive for details.
Script-to-screen workflow through integration with Adobe StorySpeed up production and post-production through integration with Adobe Story, a collaborative scriptwriting tool that's part of CS Live online services. Integrated metadata support makes it easy to create shot lists in Adobe OnLocation and rough cuts in Adobe Premiere Pro. CS Live online services are complimentary for a limited time--visit www.adobe.com/go/cslive for details.
Editing efficiency through metadataAdd intelligence to your assets using innovative metadata features that make editing and compositing easier, and raise the value of your content when it is distributed online.
Encoding and delivery for screens everywhereBatch encode source files to a broad selection of formats that meet a variety of standards with Adobe Media Encoder. Author once in Encore CS5 for DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and searchable web DVDs. Preview and test content for mobile phones and other devices in Adobe Device Central.
Pristine audio creation in Adobe SoundboothUse Soundbooth to accomplish everyday audio tasks quickly while maintaining high-quality results and creative control. Remove noise from a recording, polish voiceovers, customize music to fit a production, and much more.
Interactive design with Adobe Flash Catalyst or Flash ProfessionalDesign interactive online video portfolios without writing code using Flash Catalyst, a new interaction design tool. Easily add video to sophisticated interactive experiences with a flexible, industry-standard workflow in Flash Professional.
Adobe Premiere Pro CS5--Accelerate production with the new Adobe Mercury Playback EngineCraft your story efficiently with Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 software, the high-performance video production solution that enables you to work dramatically faster thanks to the native 64-bit, GPU-accelerated Adobe Mercury Playback Engine. Edit natively with the video formats you want. Save time by batch encoding source content to a wide variety of video formats for web, disc, broadcast, film, device, and mobile delivery. Easily exchange projects with Final Cut Pro and Avid software, and enjoy efficient, collaborative workflows that accelerate production from scriptwriting to editing, encoding, and final delivery.

Improve your production workflowFocus on telling your story with powerful, flexible editing tools. With the native 64-bit Adobe Mercury Playback Engine, the industry's best native tapeless workflow, and unparalleled Adobe integration, Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 sets a new standard in editing efficiency.
Collaborate openly and effectivelyWork in an open, extensible post-production environment. Write scripts collaboratively. Efficiently gather feedback from clients and teammates. Easily exchange projects with other Adobe software, Final Cut Pro, and Avid software.
Deliver engaging video practically anywhereCreate video optimized for online viewing as well as for broadcast, disc, film, device, and mobile distribution. From capture to final delivery, use metadata to make assets easier to find in production, create engaging interactive experiences, and help audiences discover your videos online.
Adobe After Effects CS5--Create motion graphics and visual effects with the industry standardAdobe After Effects CS5 delivers the visual richness required to get noticed in today's media culture. Use open-ended creative tools. Work efficiently on high-resolution projects thanks to native 64-bit support. And benefit from tight integration with Adobe's other leading software. Whether you're working in film, broadcast, online, or mobile media, Adobe After Effects enables you to create groundbreaking motion graphics and blockbuster visual effects.

Get 64-bit performanceWork more quickly with groundbreaking 64-bit performance that dramatically improves the experience of creating HD and higher resolution content. Streamlined tools and tight Adobe integration also accelerate your workflow.
Innovate visuallyExpress your visual ideas with freedom. Adobe After Effects CS5 revolutionizes motion design with an open-ended environment that fosters creative experimentation.
Composite efficientlyRealize your vision quickly and efficiently by drawing on a broad and deep set of tools designed to help you solve any creative challenge.
Deliver everywhereMaster modern media: Deliver your completed projects to the widest range of formats, from large format feature films and high-definition television to websites and mobile devices.
Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended--Create powerful images with the professional standardAdobe Photoshop CS5 Extended software helps you create the ultimate images for print, the web, and video. Enjoy all the state-of-the-art editing, compositing, and painting capabilities in industry-standard Photoshop CS5, and experience fast performance thanks to cross-platform 64-bit support. Also create 3D extrusions for logos, artwork, and motion graphics; edit 3D objects with advanced tools; and create and enhance motion-based content.

Innovate in 3DGo beyond traditional image editing by bringing 3D elements to your 2D artwork directly within your favorite digital imaging application, which now offers an easy on-ramp to 3D image creation.
Maximize creative impactExplore new creative possibilities with breakthrough tools that enable you to select, adjust, paint, and recompose images with tremendous precision and freedom.
Boost productivityAccelerate your workflow with fast performance on 64-bit hardware systems, smoother interactions thanks to GPU acceleration, and dozens of time-savers throughout the application.
Adobe Illustrator CS5--Explore new paths with the essential vector toolCreate distinctive designs for any project. Used by creative professionals worldwide, Adobe Illustrator CS5 software provides precision and power. Paint expressively with vectors, draw in perspective, and explore designing for interactivity. Move easily between Illustrator, other Adobe products, and Adobe CS Live online services. Get the job done efficiently but beautifully, moving quickly from multiple ideas to multiple outputs with complete control and delivering exactly what you had in mind.

Design with powerful creative toolsTake advantage of exceptional precision and power to create distinctive vector artwork. Combine highly controllable drawing tools with expressive natural brushes and dramatic effects to make unique, striking designs.
Work smoothly and efficientlySpeed up your workflow with innovations that encourage efficiency. Get the job done with purpose and agility using shortcuts and time-savers to take multiple ideas to multiple outputs.
Deliver virtually anywhereIncorporate vector artwork into essentially any project and deliver resolution-independent graphics across media. Enjoy tighter-than-ever integration with other Adobe products and go anywhere your creativity takes you.
Adobe Flash Catalyst CS5--Create expressive interfaces and interactive content without writing codeAdobe Flash Catalyst CS5 software is an approachable new interaction design tool. Use it to transform Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Fireworks artwork into expressive interfaces and fully interactive content without writing code, and publish as SWF or Adobe AIR files. Collaborate with developers who can open your project files with Adobe Flash Builder software to extend functionality, and leverage the reach and consistency of the Adobe Flash Platform.

Leverage the power of the Adobe Flash Platform to create interactive projectsRapidly create expressive interfaces and interactive content to your exacting design standards. Deliver your creative vision with the reach and consistency of the Adobe Flash Platform.
Approach interaction design without writing codeTransform static designs from Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Fireworks software into fully interactive projects without requiring development or coding skills. Define behaviors and control sophisticated interactions with simple yet powerful menu-based commands.
Speed the design and development processUse familiar design applications to easily create and edit artwork. Developers can open Flash Catalyst projects directly in Adobe Flash Builder software, preserving design fidelity and interactions defined by the designer.
Adobe Flash Professional CS5--Create and deliver rich interactive contentAdobe Flash Professional CS5 software is the industry-leading environment for interactive authoring and delivery of immersive experiences that are presented consistently across personal computers, mobile devices, and screens of virtually any size and resolution. Design expressive content with professional typography and pixel-precise drawing tools, write code precisely and efficiently with code completion and customizable code snippets, and deliver superior-quality video to audiences practically everywhere.

Design with expressionCommunicate your creative vision without sacrifice and set the bar for interactive design with typographic precision, layout fidelity, and expressive motion-editing capabilities.
Write code quickly and easilyQuickly and efficiently write code with powerful authoring tools and integration with Adobe Flash Builder software. Easily add interactivity directly in the ActionScript language by injecting extensible code snippets.
Deliver in fewer steps and in more placesSave time and reduce the number of required steps when moving content from design, to development, and ultimately to delivery. Distribute consistently across personal computers, mobile devices, and screens of virtually any size and resolution.
Adobe Soundbooth CS5--Create and edit audio with easeAdobe Soundbooth CS5 software is a professional audio editor that makes it easy to create, edit, and clean up audio for all your productions. Intuitive, task-based features and tight integration with other Adobe applications save time and help you achieve professional results. Mix royalty-free, customizable soundtracks and sound effects with dialogue in the improved multitrack environment for complete creative control.

Simplify audio workflowsMake short work of everyday audio with a smooth, intuitive workflow that features task-based tools and tight integration with other Adobe Creative Suite Production Premium components.
Fix audio problems fastAutomatically detect and fix common flaws in audio such as hisses, hums, phase problems, crackling, and pops. Add reverb to match on-location room ambience. Match the volume of different dialogue clips.
Create soundtracks easilyDrag and drop Soundbooth Scores to create soundtracks. Make the music fit your visuals with easy adjustments to timing, and suit your project's mood with easy adjustments to intensity, atmosphere, and instrumentation.
Get professional-sounding mixesCombine music, dialogue, and sound effects on multiple tracks. Easily control EQ, volume, pan, and effects on each track using automation. Add mastering effects for final polish.
Locate dialogue quicklyConvert spoken dialogue into searchable text, and use custom dictionaries to increase the accuracy of asset search. Export transcripts to create searchable video.
Searchable web DVDs and other enhancements in Adobe Encore CS5Adobe Encore CS5 software is a versatile, interactive authoring tool for video distribution that allows you to deliver your projects beyond DVD and Blu-ray Disc. In a single operation, you can easily turn your DVD and Blu-ray Disc projects into web DVDs that now include a search interface. The new interface gives viewers a more engaging experience by enabling them to search within a web DVD using keywords. During authoring, Encore automatically creates a search database using metadata from speech-analysis text, subtitles in timelines and slideshows, and menu and button names.
Also new in Encore CS5 is the ability to:
Further enhance the viewing experience by creating web DVDs with a sleek, customizable playback interface that features easy-to-use playback controls and the option to watch HD video in full-screen mode.
Create a smoother experience for viewers when they choose from options across multiple menus on Blu-ray Discs. Browsable multipage menus show options across multiple menu pages without interrupting the playback of audio and video background elements. Multipage menus can be easily created in Adobe Photoshop or directly in Encore.
Working in the Adobe Premiere Pro timeline, you can take 4K projects directly to high-definition Blu-ray Discs using a workflow that maintains the original 4K content all the way to output, when it is finally encoded and scaled. This capability is especially meaningful to video editors and motion graphics and visual effects artists who work on projects at film resolutions.
Experienced Encore users will appreciate the ability to share Encore CS5 projects without worrying about platform compatibility. Encore projects can be moved between Windows and Mac platforms freely, without conversion. Editors and motion graphics and effects artists can benefit from native 24p project support for Blu-ray Disc, DVD, and web DVD titles, complete with 24p timecode in the timeline. (Previously, Encore placed all assets in timelines with a defaultframe rate of 29.97, irrespective of the properties of the assets.)
Continue authoring while you transcode your media assets. Adobe Media Encoder, a separate, 64-bit software application, encodes your files in the background, freeing Encore to process your authoring tasks. This separation of authoring and encoding is particularly important with 4K workflows, which can be taxing on your computer.

Efficient production and tapeless camera support in Adobe OnLocation CS5Adobe OnLocation CS5 provides an impressive array of production tools to help you shoot better and faster while saving time and money, both on set and off. New support for tapeless cameras extend the ways you can use OnLocation in your production workflows.
Spot problems in imported tapeless footage. Thanks to new tapeless camera support, you can use the comprehensive software waveform monitor and vectorscope as well as the audio spectrum analyzer in OnLocation to identify image and audio problems in imported files by quickly scanning your footage for audio pops, clipping, and video overbrights.
Logging with tapeless cameras. Get all the benefits of real-time, on-set logging when working with tapeless cameras. Simply tell OnLocation which shot is currently recording and then enter notes, comments, and additional metadata into placeholder clips. Using timecode as a reference, OnLocation automatically matches the information to the recorded clips when they are imported from the tapeless media, regardless of whether the camera is tethered to OnLocation on-set or whether the clips are imported during post-production.
Faster logging with Turbo Comments. While recording, the new Turbo Comments feature lets you add frequently used words--cast names, sports highlights, and so on--with a single keystroke to log live action accurately, consistently, and efficiently. OnLocation lets you store up to nine comments with unique shortcuts, for immediate, timecode-accurate logging.
Adobe Creative Suite 5 With powerful new creative tools, enhanced performance and workflows, and the ability to integrate with timesaving new Adobe CS Live online services, Adobe Creative Suite 5 software provides the edge you need to create rich content for virtually any media--print, web, interactive, video, audio, and mobile. Whether you need to produce printed pages efficiently or design and distribute engaging content online, on film, on air, and on device, you'll find the right combination of Adobe tools to increase your productivity and keep pace with your creative vision.


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School Zone Second Grade Win/Mac Review

School Zone Second Grade Win/Mac
Average Reviews:

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My daughter went through the entire exercises in one afternoon. This CD-ROM might be more of a challenge for 1st grade students. She did enjoy the exersices, and it was a great way for her to practice her computer skills. Overall she enjoys reviewing the material on the disc. Great for beginning readers.

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Lock On Platinum Review

Lock On Platinum
Average Reviews:

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I have tried out various sims, and I've found Lock On and Falcon 4 Allied Force to be the best sims for the money.
Get a TrackIR for these: it will greatly enhance the immersion: you won't feel like flying without it.
Pros:
1. Very realistic.
2. Beautifully detailed cockpit, and weapons system.
3. Flight performance is nicely modeled.
4. AI isn't dumb as a brick: you'll have to earn the kills.
5. Runs on older hardware.
Cons:
1. The menu user interface is slightly crummy.
2. Not available as a game download: you need the physical media.
3. Graphics aren't as good as IL2.
4. Minor glitches: on my setup, after landing if I am looking straight, it looks like the entire field is underwater. Looking slightly up makes the glitch go away.
This game is a lot of I highly recommend getting a copy for yourself and your friends.


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Adobe Photoshop CS5 Upgrade Review

Adobe Photoshop CS5 Upgrade
Average Reviews:

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The new features are worth the upgrade. I installed this on a Windows 32 bit XP system with 4GB memory and dual CPU's and the installation went on without a hitch. The Twain interface for my scanner was not installed by default and even when I downloaded the interface from Adobe and upgraded my Canon 8400 scanner drivers the interface does not work. Adobe does not recommend using the twain interface with CS5 and fortunately I still have a working twain interface on CS4 so I don't think I'll be spending any time making it work on the upgrade. Obviously Adobe does not plan on supporting this older technology in the future.
I really have not noticed any speed improvements with this upgrade over CS4 but there are definitely new features. Content aware fill itself is probably worth the upgrade as it allows one to eliminate items quickly without using the clone tool via either filling a selection or using the spot removal tool to draw in a fill area. Adobe Raw renders a bit better and there are improved sharpening and noise reductions in this plug-in which may be of value to some. The edge refinment changes for selections are also useful for getting quicker selections. I have not yet done much with puppet warp so I can't comment on this addition.
For someone who has CS2 or CS3 this upgrade will provide even more improvements and is even more compelling. If you upgrade from CS2 this is probably your last chance since it appears that upgrades are only allowed from the previous past two versions so next time you will have to purchase the full installation for triple the cost. And for CS3 users Camera RAW is becoming the defacto preprocessor, even for JPG images because it makes all adjustments non distructively and because it allows one to make local changes via the adjustment brush.
As anyone who uses Photoshop already knows, this is the photo improvement software that has the most books associated with it and is most discussed over the internet. Users are already starting to show photos that were dramatically improved/changed via Photoshop CS5. Now if only I could get the twain interface to work with my scanner...

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Adobe Photoshop CS5 delivers breakthrough capabilities to help you create images with impact. Refine your images with reengineered photography tools for removing noise, adding grain, and creating high dynamic range (HDR) images. Get precise results when making complex selections. Remove any image element and see the space fill in almost magically. Paint with naturally textured brushstrokes and realistic color blends. Also work fast with cross-platform 64-bit support and dozens of other time-savers.

Upgrade to Adobe Photoshop CS5 To install an upgrade version of Photoshop CS5 software, you must have an eligible earlier version of Adobe software:
Photoshop CS2, CS3, & CS4
Photoshop CS3 & CS4 Extended

For more information on eligibility, visit www.adobe.com/go/upgradeinfo.
Top reasons to upgrade to Adobe Photoshop CS5
Complex selections made easy Get precise results in fewer clicks when selecting intricate image elements, such as hair, and eliminate background color around selection edges. Automatically vary selection edges and perfect masks using new refinement tools.
Content-Aware Fill Remove any image detail or object and watch as Content-Aware Fill magically fills in the space left behind. This breakthrough technology matches lighting, tone, and noise so it looks as if the removed content never existed.
Superior HDR imaging Create photorealistic or surreal high dynamic range (HDR) images with unprecedented speed, control, and accuracy. Get better-than-ever results thanks to automatic ghost removal and greater control with tone mapping and adjustments, and even give single-exposure photos the look of HDR.
State-of-the-art raw image processing Use the Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw 6 plug-in to nondestructively remove image noise while preserving color and detail; add grain to make digital photos look more organic; enjoy more control as you perform post-crop vignetting; and more.
Extraordinary painting effects Achieve natural and realistic painting effects with the Mixer Brush, which offers on-canvas color blending, and Bristle Tips, which let you create lifelike, textured brushstrokes.
Puppet Warp Precisely reposition or warp any image element. Swing a raised arm to a person's side in a photo, stretch text to create new effects, and more.
Automatic lens correction Save time with automatic correction of lens distortions, chromatic aberration, and vignetting. Photoshop CS5 uses an image file's EXIF data to make precise adjustments based on the type of camera and lens you used.
Efficient workflow Enjoy productivity and creativity boosts thanks to dozens of features and enhancements requested by Photoshop users. Straighten images automatically, pick colors from an onscreen color picker, adjust the opacity of many layers at once, and more.
Better media management Easily manage media with more flexible batch renaming, and access your assets in the context of what you're working on by using the customizable Adobe Mini Bridge panel in Photoshop.
Faster performance across platforms Speed up day-to-day imaging tasks and process very large images up to 10 times faster by taking advantage of cross-platform 64-bit support. (Requires a 64-bit-capable computer with a 64-bit version of Mac OS, Microsoft Windows 7, or Windows Vista. Actual performance varies depending on amount of RAM, driver types, and other factors.)
Streamlined creative reviews through integration with CS Live services Use Adobe CS Review, part of new CS Live online services, to initiate a more secure review without leaving Photoshop. Reviewers can add comments to your images from their browsers, and you see those comments appear automatically on your screen. Adobe CS Live online services are complimentary for a limited time. Visit www.adobe.com/go/cslive for details.
New GPU-accelerated features Take advantage of GPU-enabled enhancements to everyday tools. Crop with the Rule of Thirds grid; zoom with click-and-scrub functionality; and sample colors with better visualization and an onscreen color picker.
Easier user interface management Use the collapsible Workspace Switcher to quickly navigate and choose among favorite user interface configurations. Live workspaces automatically record your user interface changes so panels will remain in place even if you switch away for a while.
Superior black-and-white conversion Explore an endless variety of black-and-white looks. Use the integrated Lab B&W Action to interactively convert color images; create gorgeous HDR black-and-whites with greater ease and speed; and experiment with new presets.
Create powerful images with the professional standard
Easy access to core editing power Get just the tools you need--exactly when you need them--as you perform common editing activities. Adjustments and Masks panels guide you in making precise adjustments and masks.
Extraordinary creative tools Achieve realistic painting effects with the ability to mix colors on canvas and create natural brushstrokes. Merge multiple exposures into stunning high dynamic range (HDR) images. Move, remove, warp, or stretch any image element.
State-of-the-art photography Easily merge multiple exposures to extend the dynamic range with more power, precision, and fidelity than ever before. Convert to black-and-white in new ways. And use Dodge, Burn, and Sponge tools that intelligently preserve color and tone details.
Industry-leading raw image processing Enjoy superior results when you convert raw images with the Camera Raw 6 plug-in, which offers support for over 275 camera models plus nondestructive editing so you can experiment without harming your original photo.
Automated compositing tools Easily create a single image from a series of shots that have different focal points, smoothly blending color and shading and extending your depth of field. And take advantage of accurate, automatic layer alignment.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom integration Enjoy tight integration with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom software (sold separately), easily moving files from Lightroom to Photoshop CS5 to create HDR images, panoramas, and multilayered Photoshop documents. Roundtrip your files back to Lightroom.
Efficient media management Manage your media visually with Adobe Bridge CS5 software. Enjoy more flexible batch renaming plus the ability to access files in the context of your work using the customizable Adobe Mini Bridge panel.
Powerful printing options Get outstanding prints in less time with automation, scripting, and a print dialog box that's easier to navigate.
Broad file format support Import and export hundreds of image file formats, including PSD, AI, PDF, NEF, CRW, TIFF, BMP, Cineon, JPEG, JPEG2000, FXG, OpenEXR, PNG, and Targa, and video formats including 3G, FLC, MOV, AVI, DV Stream, Image Sequence, MPEG-4, and FLV.
Extensibility Personalize Photoshop and extend its capabilities with custom panels that developers create to accomplish specific tasks, the Adobe Photoshop Marketplace for third-party plug-ins and resources, and Adobe Community Help for tips and tricks.
Top new features of Photoshop CS5 and Photoshop CS5 Extended
Intelligent selection technology Photoshop CS5 takes the time and frustration out of making precise image selections and masks, providing you a faster way to extract subjects from their backgrounds and create realistic composites. New intelligent selection technology offers better edge detection and faster, more accurate masking results of complex subjects, like hair. Automatic color decontamination helps you eliminate background color around the edges of a selection, resulting in more seamless compositions when placing extracted subjects on new backgrounds.
Experienced Photoshop users know that the best selections are created by constantly adapting the selection technique for differences in the subject's edges--one method for hair and another for the edge of a building. With Photoshop CS5, you can produce highly accurate masks and selections faster and more simply than before with a set of new adaptive selection-edge modification controls. Smart Radius automatically matches the best selection approach with the subject's changing edge characteristics, and the extra view modes assist you in previewing the quality of your selections. The Refine Radius and Erase Refinements tools customize your masks and selections as you make them. These tools, in combination with the color decontamination settings, help eliminate any residual background color from around the edges of your selections.
Content‐Aware Fill One of the most exciting new features in Photoshop CS5 is the remarkable ability to remove an image element and magically replace it with details that match the lighting, tone, and noise of the surrounding area so that it looks like the content never existed. Now, you can make substantial changes to photo composition quickly and easily, as even large complex subjects can be seamlessly erased.
You can use Content-Aware Fill with the Spot Healing Brush or as an option of the Fill feature to replace content in an active selection. Selecting the Content-Aware setting with the Spot Healing brush changes the way the tool fills in the areas you paint. This retouching approach is designed to account more fully for the structure and detail of the image elements that surround the painted area, providing a near-invisible result when removing unwanted objects. Alternatively, you can select the object to be removed, and then replace the area with synthesized details from the area surrounding the selection, simply by using the Content-Aware option in the Fill dialog box.
HDR Pro for creativity and precision with the next generation of high dynamic range imaging With just a few clicks, you can go beyond the capture capabilities of your camera by combining multiple exposures into a single high dynamic range (HDR) photo that preserves the full tonal range of a scene with high contrast. Photoshop CS5 introduces HDR Pro for more control over the HDR merging process and greater adjustment power over the mapping of tones and the styling of HDR output, resulting in images that range from photorealistic to highly surreal.
HDR Pro offers extended controls, an enhanced dialog box, and improved image processing. New algorithms enable more accurate alignment of source files and automatically deghost any problem areas that occur when trying to merge source photos where subjects have moved during capture. You can even select a source file to be used as the sole reference for any ghosted areas or allow the feature to do this automatically for you.
New tone-mapping tools and adjustment controls give you the power to implement your own HDR vision, producing photos that range in style from fully textured images of high-contrast scenes to wildly hyper-realistic creations. Save your favorite styles as presets and apply them to multiple groups of source files to provide a common look and feel to your HDR photos. And for times when you don't have multiple source files, create the look of an HDR-processed image from a single photo with the new HDR Toning feature that allows you to mimic the tone-mapping results traditionally achieved in high dynamic range photos.
Together with the existing Photomerge feature (which allows for image stitching), the exposure-merging capabilities of HDR Pro can add up to high-bit-depth, 360-degree panoramas ideal for composite photography, video, and beyond.
The Auto Stack Panorama/HDR files option in Adobe Bridge CS5 and the new panelized Mini Bridge groups source files together into stacks for quicker creation of HDR images in Photoshop CS5. You can even start the creation of an HDR file by choosing Tools > Merge To HDR from the Mini Bridge panel inside Photoshop.
State-of-the-art raw-image processing The Adobe Camera Raw 6 plug-in, which ships with Photoshop CS5, now supports more than 275 camera models as it continues to provide you with the industry-leading conversion of raw files. In addition, the utility provides advanced, nondestructive image editing and enhancement for raw files, as well as for other standard formats, including JPEG and TIFF. Now you can remove noise, achieve better quality sharpening, and creatively apply new styles of vignettes and film-like grain.
You can now shoot at higher ISO settings with confidence, because the updated controls in the Adobe Camera Raw 6 plug-in remove the noise common in such high-ISO images (as well as in photos captured with long exposures and pictures from consumer cameras) while still preserving excellent color and detail.
New controls for adding grain and additional post-crop vignetting settings join many creative options already available in this utility, such as the Adjustment Brush and the Graduated Filter. For the first time, you can add grain-like texture to photos as part of your nondestructive editing workflow. Adjust amount, size, and roughness of grain to easily give composites a more natural, seamless appearance by matching levels of grain across all source images--or simply use the feature to make a digital photo look more organic or film-like.
Updated post-crop vignetting options offer more creative control over the corner darkening and lightening process, and your favorite vignette effects can be saved as presets for quick application across multiple files.
Upgraded sharpening options produce clearer photos with fewer artifacts while providing better control over key details, especially when working with high-resolution pictures produced by multi-megapixel cameras.
Extraordinary painting effects With a new Mixer Brush, a Bristle Tips feature, and a new mechanism for blending colors, Photoshop CS5 redefines the way you paint. You can take advantage of more natural and realistic painting effects, making it easy to take your imagery and designs in new artistic directions.
The Mixer Brush lets you define multiple colors on a single tip, and then mix and blend them with the underlying hues on your canvas, achieving creative results that rival traditional painting media. When starting with a photo original, you can use a dry, empty brush to blend the existing colors while at the same time adding a painterly effect to the image. Mixer Brush settings provide extensive control over the wetness of the canvas colors, the load rate that determines amount of paint loaded on the brush, the mixing rate between brush and canvas colors, and whether the brush is refilled, cleaned, or both after each painting stroke.
In conjunction with these new mixing features, Photoshop CS5 incorporates unprecedented control over stroke characteristics of its painting tools with Bristle Tips. Bristle Qualities define key bristle properties such as shape, length, stiffness, thickness, angle, and spacing, which affect how the color is laid on the image as you paint.
The Bristle Brush Preview feature provides a visual representation of these changes, and you can save your tip configurations for future use, allowing you to build a customized collection of Bristle Tips to experiment with when using Photoshop brush tools.
Puppet Warp Puppet Warp gives you more freedom when pushing and pulling elements within an image. The feature lets you recompose an image to make it more appealing, or to fit a specific layout, by allowing the precise repositioning of any element within a Photoshop document, or selection, by simply clicking and dragging. After you reposition an object, Photoshop adjusts the rest of the image to account for the shifted pixels.
After choosing Edit > Puppet Warp, click on your image to drop pins establishing anchor points where you want image parts not to move, and handles that you can use for warping. Then drag any of the pins to reposition the picture elements. Use Puppet Warp to swing a raised arm to a person's side, warp and stretch text to create new effects, or reposition intrusive objects in a photo to create a more pleasing composition.
Automated lens correction The Lens Correction features in Photoshop CS5 create better quality captures by removing or correcting the three most common lens-based errors: geometric distortion, chromatic aberration, and vignetting. This means you can use a wider range of lenses with the confidence of producing images of the highest quality. With the aid of the Adobe Lens Profile Creator (available separately as a free download from labs.adobe.com) you can produce custom profiles characterizing the optical aberrations of your camera lenses. When installed and selected in the Lens Correction filter in Photoshop CS5, the profile automatically removes or corrects the three types of distortion.
The Lens Correction filter in Photoshop CS5 is redesigned to include manual adjustment controls under the Custom tab, and settings for locating and applying custom Lens Correction Profiles (LCP files) under a new Auto Correction tab. Installed profiles that match your camera and lens combination are used to apply precise distortion corrections to your photos. Suitable profiles can be located easily based on the EXIF data automatically recorded with the image, and if a suitable profile is not present in the Lens Correction filter, then with a single click within the dialog box, you can search online for the correct profile to meet your needs.
Individual error types can be selected in the filter's settings, as can options for handling any transparent areas that surround the corrected image.
User-inspired productivity enhancements Photoshop CS5 helps boost productivity and creativity throughout the editing workflow with dozens of enhancements inspired by Photoshop users. Some of these include:
A neutral-density preset for the Gradient tool
The ability to save 16-bit Photoshop documents in 8-bit JPEG format in a single step
An option for reversing the clone source using the flip buttons in the Clone Source panel
A Don't Show This Message Again option when saving files with maximum compatibility
Default value for Shadows/Highlights changed from 50% to 35%
The ability to move a selection while the active layer is hidden
An on/off option for trackpad gesture support on Mac and in Microsoft Windows 7
A new layer command for deleting all empty layers via scripts
A Straighten button on the Ruler tool options bar
A Close All Open Images Without Saving option
A Save As option for always defaulting to the folder to which you last saved an image
The ability to drag and drop a file onto an open Photoshop document to create a new layer
Multiple improvements in Lens Correction filter options, including:
Grid Display is off by default
Show Grid, Grid Size, and Grid Color settings are now sticky
Default grid size is increased from 16 to 64 pixels
Decimal point adjustments are allowed as values for the Chromatic Aberration sliders
A third Chromatic Aberration slider enables the correction of green/magenta fringing
The Background Color Edge setting is replaced with the Black Color entry
A White Color option is available in the Edge menu
Reset options are changed so that only the calibration settings are reset, not the Grid options

A new Cache Tile Size control in the Performance section of the Preferences dialog box
Zoom in and out with the new scrubby zoom tool
Presets for setting Cache Tile Size and Cache Levels simultaneously
The ability to use keystrokes to set values in the Adjustments panel text fields
Performance increases of up to 50% when importing OBJ files
Sample colors faster using the new on screen color ring built into the eyedropper tool
Customizable default values for Layer styles
New creative resources, including actions, tools, presets, brushes, swatches, shapes, gradients, styles, and tool presets
Window and Door shapes added to list of meshes that can be created from a layer
An option for changing the opacity of multiple selected layers
The ability to create a mask from the transparent areas of a layer
Pick colors faster using the new on-screen color HUD
Print settings saved with the image file, allowing one-button printing with user-selected values
Selecting a printer automatically lists the profiles installed for that printer at the top of the profile list
Printer-specific profiles are selected automatically when choosing a printer
Customized print settings can be recorded as part of a Photoshop Action
An overlay grid can be displayed when using the Crop tool
Layer groups can be nested more than five levels deep
New Paste Outside and Paste Inside commands, along with the previously existing Paste In Place option, are included in a new Edit > Paste Special menu

Streamlined creative reviews through integration with Adobe CS ReviewCollaborate with colleagues and seek client comment quickly and easily with Adobe CS Review, a new CS Live online service* designed to simplify and accelerate the design review process.
With CS Review, you can avoid the hassles of large email attachments, logon problems with FTP servers, and time-consuming next-day air deliveries usually associated with client reviews by instead initiating a secure, shared review. Comments are displayed in near-real time and in context, providing convenient feedback on your images and designs. You can access the CS Review service from within Photoshop CS5.
Faster performance with cross-platform native 64-bit support Tight deadlines and large file sizes make performance a high priority for many Photoshop users. Photoshop CS5 and Photoshop CS5 Extended deliver cross-platform 64-bit support, allowing you to perform day-to-day imaging tasks up to 10 times faster. Video and photo professionals, especially, benefit from the extra performance, as gains are even greater if you regularly work with very large files, where processing can be up to ten times faster when you take advantage of higher addressable RAM amounts--limited only by what your hardware accommodates.
To help you tweak the performance of your setup, Photoshop CS5 lets you adjust history, tile, and cache controls in combination.
Greater access to key resources via flexible custom panels Photoshop CS5 offers easy ways to integrate and extend your workspace with customized panels. With the aid of the Configurator 2.0 panel utility (available separately as a download from labs.adobe.com) you can produce your own panels, bringing together your most used tools and menu selections and incorporating your favorite web feeds or video tutorials.
Stay connected to the greater Photoshop community and all facets of your digital life directly from within Photoshop CS5 by using panels you create or those produced and distributed by other users. You can access anything that lives on the web--favorite blogs, video content, even your email--with these integrated panels. You can even expand content beyond a panel's standard viewing area when you need a magnified view.
Easier interface management with Live Workspaces and Workspace Switcher Creating dedicated, task-specific workspaces that mimic your individual workflow increases productivity and efficiency by hiding the features you don't use and exposing the ones you do. New Live Workspaces auto-save any changes you make to a task-specific workspace, so that if you switch to a different workspace and then back again during an editing session, your panels remain exactly where you left them. The number of entries displayed in the collapsible Workspace Switcher can be altered, and the position of each workspace can be rearranged. This provides quicker navigation between frequently used setups.
Superior black-and-white conversion Photoshop CS5 continues to support the tradition of producing finely crafted monochrome photos with the inclusion of new ways to explore an endless variety of black-and-white looks. You can use the integrated Lab Black & White Technique action, located in the Default Actions group of the Actions panel, for an easy and interactive way to convert color images. Create gorgeous HDR black-and-whites with greater ease and speed by taking advantage of the new and updated features in HDR Pro. Take your monochrome creations in new directions with conversion presets in the Black & White panel.

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EffectsLab Pro 1.5 Review

EffectsLab Pro 1.5
Average Reviews:

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Both the laser gun and Jedi light saber effects are stunning when you see them at work and there are a fair amount of tutorials on the web to get you started. My biggest complaint is about the user interface. 3D graphic and video design programs are notorious for proprietary, hard-to-understand interfaces, and EffectsLab Pro is true to that form. The timeline ribbon at the bottom of the screen can have a half a dozen or more parameter slots for each effect you use in your movie. But the relationship between them is never really explained. With several of those being critical to how an effect appears, it's really easy to make a mistake that messes things up badly enough that you've got to start over. You'd expect tool buttons and menu items to be grouped by a common function they share, but this is not always the case. The preview image size control is an example of this, tucked far away in the upper right of the program's main window.
It supports a decent amount of movie formats but unfortunately MP4 isn't one of them. This introduces an extra step if you want to work with MPEG 4 files. I use QuickTime Pro to convert to .MOV and no problems importing those.
The software has been fairly stable though it does have the occasional annoyance of locking up completely after you've saved a project and tried to exit. I haven't lost any work because of this, but having to use Force > Quit from the OSX system menu just to shut down the program, isn't really the user experience I'd hoped for.
For the money, this is not a bad buy. It's capable of effects that rival anything I've seen in blockbuster sci fi movies. The user interface could really use a good rethinking though.

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Command and Conquer Generals Review

Command and Conquer Generals
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C&C Generals is definitely one of the best RTS games there ever has been. And with the low price for the game and the expansion, this is a great deal.
Generals was a very solid game. A good challenge with excellent graphics and gameplay. the only problem I had was the difficulty settings. If you play this on easy, it was too easy. It you played it on hard, it was extremely hard. Other than that, the only other thing would be that I wouldn't reccommed this game if your computer is below the following: P3 1000mhz, 256 ram, 64meg video card. It was quite laggy, but playable. I upgraded to a P4 2.8mhz, 256ram, 128meg video card and this game played great on the highest settings.
You also get the expansion pack Zero Hour which I believe is the second best expansion pack ever (behind only Warcraft 3).
You get 15 more missions that are pretty challenging with more units, maps, and just plain fun.
There is also something called the Generals challenge which allows you to choose 1 of 9 different generals and you play against the other generals in 7 different battles (they mix them up depending on which general you choose). And this is quite challenging (again, don't play this on easy as it is too easy) and very fun. You can also use these generals for games vs the computer opponents or for on-line/LAN play. The generals give you more units and buildings. this expansion pack is what really makes this game rock. Alot of replay value here.
If you haven't gotten any of the C&C Generals games yet, here is your chance to get the whole thing at a great price and enjoy a great game.

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Color Efex Pro 3.0-Select Review

Color Efex Pro 3.0-Select
Average Reviews:

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A lot of people think there is value in using free Photoshop plug-in filters. I've tried many of those and also have bought quite a few.
I read about Nik Color Efex Pro 2.0 in "Photoshop for Photographers" magazine and downloaded a 15-day trial of version 3.0 from Nik. After using it for a couple of days, I was a goner. I wish I could afford the Complete Edition, but settled on the Select Edition based on bang for the buck.
If you have an earlier version, you should consider upgrading due to improvements to the user interface. The user interface is superb. I think I know what I'm talking about because I design user interfaces for a living. The user interface is intuitive, flexible, and attractive. They clearly thought about the design for a long time.
Some of the filters do amazing things. It's very easy to compare the results to the original and to move from filter to filter.
[...]
Don't try the 15-day trial unless you're prepared to spend the money. Otherwise you will miss this product once it expires.

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