Noob question

[jdfccb]

Is the new cs3 significantly better than photoshop 7 or cs2, because the price is much different.

[daveneale]

If you don't have the cash to throw all over the place, then go for 7, it's got all the important things you need, especially if your just starting out:)

[Elwell]

If you're on an intel Mac, you'll want CS3.

[proj235]

CS3 is leaps and bounds ahead of PS7, if you are as anal about keeping your layers organized as I am you'll definitely want to upgrade. Plus, you can use bigger brushes than PS7, I think the limit is 2,500px wide—this changed in CS1.
The expanded color picker range is also handy, in addition to a bunch of other updates. The big eye candy things that Adobe have been touting aren't really that amazing, but the small tweaks have really made a huge difference for me. As someone who went from PS7 to CS3 (at work—I use CS1 at home) it's like getting opposable thumbs.

[+mw.pmi]

As I've discovered in using CS3, there aren't that many things that wow'd me, its like a mildly upgraded CS or CS2, or a PS7 on steroids, as far as dimensions, and brushes, and extras, and new effects, filters and so forth, but the program almost runs itself and does everything for you, placing all your actions into SHORT TERM MEMORY, where you rely on the program and Bridge, instead of your own Memory and Knowledge. Sort of makes for a "lazy artist". Whereas PS7, and CS made you use your own thought actions, cultivating everything you do into LONG TERM MEMORY, and made you work, sort of forces you to think of how to do this and that without having to click a tab or click Filter to make some of the effects in it, cultivating technique applications and applicatives needed to making whatever you wish, and when and if CONFRONTED, PS7 and CS strengthened those Memory synapsis to a level to where you could describe in explicit detail without having a .PSD or Layers of the File opened. You could go off of your own Memory, and not some Video Tutorial speaking for you in the event that your PC wasn't operating.

CS3 is a new step in a right direction, but perhaps Adobe should have or could have incorporated traditional learning experiences into the new engine, without making you a fabulous "eye candied" Artist with no brains because of lack of actually knowing what you're doing, since the program does almost all the work for you.

My opinion and my experiences of late.

[GriNGo]

I think CS2 is your best bet for functionality and price. I mean, CS doesn't have good layer managment options, PS 7,even worse, doesn't have them at all). & layers are one of the reasons that makes digital painting so special! The better layer capabilities of CS2 and better performance options make CS2 an option to consider. CS3 is overhyped, but the new UI is pretty good (takes some time to get used to though). (i currently use CS3 at home, and CS at work).

[Edicius]

i've recently upgraded to cs3 and feel that I could have stayed with cs2 and not really noticed much for things that I do. It looks prettier

[bumskee]

I loved ps7.. shame half of my own brushes didn't work on it. CS2 is sluggish than ps7.. I've just upgraded so I am waiting for CS3.. see if it's any better...

[ODISAP]

CS2 and CS3 are the same, except CS3 has a better interface look

[Arshes Nei]

CS2 and CS3 are the same, except CS3 has a better interface look


No it isn't. CS3 has worse loading times, doesn't handle 3d objects and works with intel processors better.

[Digital_Blacksmith]

Well, it all depends on what you would be using it for. Me for instance, I use 7. Why? Because I only use it to make textures and touchups on my models, and I only need some basics. 7 is good if what your looking for is fairly basic and does what you need it to do, and while the CS's add more extras, some of the things I will never even need.

[ODISAP]

Try the 30 day demo!
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/index.html