Using Photoshop CS4/CS5 and Lightroom 2/3 on Win 7 vs OSX

I do NOT want to re-ignite the no-win discussion of pc vs mac. Now that CS5 is announced, yet again as I preprare to upgrade from CS4, I ask if I should convert fromWin7 64-bit on a PC to MAC Pro running OSX. I currently run a WIN 7 64-bit PC with 8 GB Ram. I would consider buying a MAC PRO with 8 GB RAM. The machine(s) are used strictly for image processing, no general office work or general internet surfing except as relates to supporting my software, etc.
I don't want to discuss PC vs MaC but I would like to understand the limits, advantages/disadvantages of one platform vs the other as specifically relates to CS4/CS5 and/or Lightroom 2/3. In other words are there functions or processes that I can do on one platform and not the other, or do better on one compared to the other, not does one cost more than the other any comments or help?? Mike

As a casual user of CS products, I find no substantive differences between using them on a Mac vs. PC. I can cross post this question over to the Photoshop forum (originally posted to the Photoshop.com web site forum, which is not just about the desktop app).
It's probably going to become a Mac vs. PC discussion, since the question is inherently 'which is better', but hopefully people will remain objective and constructive!
-Mark

Similar Messages

Photoshop CS4, CS5 and CS6

I've just upgraded to Photoshop CS6. I still have applications for CS4 and CS5. This includes Bridge, Device Central, Extendscript Toolkit, and Extention Manager. Each version has one.
Can I get rid of all relating to CS4 and CS5 now that I'm using CS6? Any downsides?
I also have some plugin programs like the Topaz Suite and now Perfect Photosuite 7. How do I migrate them into CS6?
Thanks for any suggestions and help.
Bob Collins

Generally, you would have got the option to remove the old versions. However, you can uninstall the old versions but you should do it from Windows Add/Remove modules in the Control Panel so that it doesn't remove the common files from your machine.
If you are not constrained by disk space then the best thing is to leave the old programs on the system until you are familiar with the new features of the upgraded program.
I have renmoved the old programs from my Windows 7 because I wasn't using them. These days I use "Corel Paintshop Pro X5" and "Corel Draw Graphics Suite X6".
Photoshop is for something I need to test for my colleagues who are not familiar with certain features in Corel so I tell them how to do it in PS CS6.
Hope this helps.

Cursor disappearing using Photoshop CS4, CS5, CS6

My cursor started dissappearing in Photoshop on not 1 but 2 iMacs right after I installed Mountain Lion. As I am having this issue on 2 machines running 2 different versions of Photoshop and the fact it started happening the minute after I installed Mountain Lion. I have contacted both Adobe and Apple people. Adobe has been great responding to all of the Digital Design professionals that rely on these products to make a living. I have no doubt Adobe has done everything they can just for the simple fact that they are still talking to people about this on a discussion group that I started on Adobe's website 4 months ago. Apple's support people on the other hand are no longer acknowledging my emails regarding this very serious flaw in the new OS code. Apple has the money, resources and people to fix this issue. An issue that in my opinion, should have never happened.

nope... this is a known issue for users. Hopefully will be resolved soon (not holding my breath though). Some people have suggested resetting pram, uninstalling flash, quitting Safari, updating java, installing third party mouse driver software etc... but for me nothing has worked yet.
I have 2 monitors and this happens quite a lot, but ONLY on my iMac monitor. If i move the mouse cursor to my second screen it's visible there, move it back to my iMac screen and it disappears.
My workaround is to hover over the dock to claim my cursor back, but that is really just an annoying thing to do every 5 mins.
I am convinced this is a OSX issue but the two companies are just pointing fingers which will not result in any fix any time soon.
Thinking about selling my two Apple machines because of this bug.

Problem to write urdu paragraph in PhotoShop cs4,cs5,cs6.

Hi All,
Calling out for help from #Pakistan here
I want to write #urdu paragraph in Photoshop cs4,cs5 and cs6 or in any support version. please guide me with tutorial. have serious problem in this regard.
Cheers in advance (I hope)
Shahbaz
online urdu video tutorial - Online IT Tutor

nope... this is a known issue for users. Hopefully will be resolved soon (not holding my breath though). Some people have suggested resetting pram, uninstalling flash, quitting Safari, updating java, installing third party mouse driver software etc... but for me nothing has worked yet.
I have 2 monitors and this happens quite a lot, but ONLY on my iMac monitor. If i move the mouse cursor to my second screen it's visible there, move it back to my iMac screen and it disappears.
My workaround is to hover over the dock to claim my cursor back, but that is really just an annoying thing to do every 5 mins.
I am convinced this is a OSX issue but the two companies are just pointing fingers which will not result in any fix any time soon.
Thinking about selling my two Apple machines because of this bug.

Which iMac for use with Photoshop CS5 and Lightroom

Any opinions on which iMac is best for use with Photoshop CS5 and Lightroom. Not sure if the 2.7 i5 with 512 graphics card is Plenty of power or if upgrading to the 3.1 i5 or 3.4 i7 is a wiser choice given the price differences. Appreciate the help

So I was reading over your post, and even though this is older and has to do with CS5, I have some information for CS6 that will be relevant to your question now that it is time to upgade the software. In general Photoshop has always been more about RAM than Processing power, though that is important too. Until CS5 it could never quite take advantage of what multi-core processors really had to offer, and even the graphics card didn't really effect much of it outside of certain features and the 3D optio
Now that is no longer true and Adobe can effeciently use all aspects of the computer to give you much better performance.
So much so that I was able to buy a brand New ASUS with the following specs:
Dual Core 2.2GHz Processors
8GB of RAM (4GB original to the machine)
Windows 7 Home Premium 64Bit OS
320GB HDD w/ 5400RPM
This machine not only runs photoshop CS6 and Launches in less than 5 Seconds... it can run Premier and After Effects as well, and this Laptop cost me less than $400 (on sale at Best Buy 2 Weeks Ago. You don't have to buy something this cheap, but isn't it great that you can and still run Master Collection effectively?
You can read my details on how to buy a Photoshop CS6 Laptop, what specs you need, comparison between Mac and PC and watch the video of my Photoshop Speed Test by reading this article:
http://robertoblake.com/blog/2012/06/buying-a-photoshop-cs6-laptop

Warning CS4 CS5 and CS6 Photoshop Action Users

Adobe introduce the Adjustment Panel in CS4 and included two option that you should NEVER CHANGE from their default setting. For if either or both are change from their default settings some actions that add adjustment layers will fail to work properly. They may or may not produce error pop-ups.
I have been trying to get this fixed for a couple of years now. The other day I received an e-mail from an Adobe programmer informing me that he had been assigned the task to fix the problems I've been having. He included information he was considering. It was clear he did not fully understand the problems and that keeping one of the options would make it impossible to maintain compatibility with previous versions of Photoshop. I wrote two e-mails explaining the problems and a third detailing what the problems I saw with what was proposing. He wrote back the all he wanted to do was to work on part of the problem not the whole problem. I wrote a fourth note but Adobe is back is stealth mode.
The two options in the Adjustment Panel fly-out menu are:
"Add Layer Mask by Default" checked by default. This is how Photoshop always worked prior to CS4 there was never an option not to add one so nothing was ever recorded whether or not a layer mask was to be added they always were. Changing this will make Photoshop not backward compatible.
"Clip to Layer" not checked by default. There has always been an option to clip adjustment layers to the previous layer. So when the option is used the action recorder records the option "With Clipping Mask" in the make adjustment layer step. When the Adjustment Layer is not clipped the option "with Clipping Mask" is not recorded. In the past these recordings played back correctly and still do if the Adjustment Panel fly-out option "Clip to Layer" is not checked. However if Adjustment Panel option is checked even though is was nit when the action was recorded for the option "With Clipping Mas" is not recorded Photoshop clips the layer because of the Adjustment Panel current Option setting. That could be fixed. The current option setting has no meaning in this context in fact the Adjustment panel may not have even been used to recode the Make Adjustment Layer step.
Here is a link to a simple action recorded in CS6. It opens a new default size document add an Levels Adjustment Layer deletes the layer mask and then clips the adjustment layer to the previous layer. The Action will play correctly in all versions of Photoshop prior to cs4. It will fail in CS4, CS5 and CS6 if either or both of the Adjustments Panel fly-out options are changed from their default setting. http://www.mouseprints.net/old/dpr/CS6AdjLayer.atn

Generally, you would have got the option to remove the old versions. However, you can uninstall the old versions but you should do it from Windows Add/Remove modules in the Control Panel so that it doesn't remove the common files from your machine.
If you are not constrained by disk space then the best thing is to leave the old programs on the system until you are familiar with the new features of the upgraded program.
I have renmoved the old programs from my Windows 7 because I wasn't using them. These days I use "Corel Paintshop Pro X5" and "Corel Draw Graphics Suite X6".
Photoshop is for something I need to test for my colleagues who are not familiar with certain features in Corel so I tell them how to do it in PS CS6.
Hope this helps.

Nvidia Quadro 600, GeForce GTX 560 Ti or cheaper for Photoshop CS5 and Lightroom 3?

Hello,
I am a professional photographer and I am setting up a new PC (i7, Windows 7 64bit). But I have some troubles to choose the graphic card.
I use Lightroom and Photoshop CS5 3, no video editing.
Between the Open GL, Open CL, CUDA accelerations etc ... professional graphic cards models and consumer ones I am lost!
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 Ti seems more powerful and more versatile but I tell myself that if Nvidia has professional range there must be a reason.
So in Photoshop CS5 and Lightroom 3 what would be the best: GeForce GTX 560 Ti or Nvidia Quadro 600?
http://www.geforce.com/Hardware/GPUs/geforce-gtx-560ti/specifications
http://www.nvidia.com/object/product-quadro-600-us.html
Any reason to get a Quadro 2000?
http://www.nvidia.com/object/product-quadro-2000-us.html
Or the graphic card doesn’t matter much and I should take an entry-level GeForce to enjoy the HDMI and the silence? Which one then?
Does the Quadro 600 manages 10bits display 10bits? And the Geforce?
Any change announced with Photoshop CS6 and Ligthroom4?
The only 3D application I use is Google Earth in 3D mode, does it make any difference?
Thank you for your help.

You say "no video editing"... If that's going to be the case, and you won't use the Mercury engine in the Adobe Premiere Pro package, which needs the nVidia Cuda subsystem, then I recommend you consider the ATI brand over nVidia.
Why?
Because while neither brand's developers (ATI or nVidia) always release perfect drivers, I find ATI display drivers to be of consistently higher quality than that of nVidia releases. What this means to you is generally fewer crashes or quirks. ATI has also traditionally supported older cards into the future better than nVidia - this might matter to you in a few years.
People ask me what video card I would recommend, and right now that would be a VisionTek ATI Radeon HD 6670 1 GB GDDR5 card. I like this particular card because:
I've had 100% success with VisionTek cards in a number of different systems, not only initially but they have all run as long as I have used them, without ever breaking down.
The 6670 model uses very little power (under 70 watts) and as such doesn't stress your computer's power supply, need a separate power connection, nor make a lot of fan noise.
It's not the fastest card made for 3D gaming, but it's inexpensive and excellent for Photoshop. No matter what you choose, you should get a card that scores over 500 on the Passmark GPU benchmark, ideally over 1000: http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/
The ATI Catalyst display driver implementations for the 4670/5670/6670 line of cards have been good and solid.
1 GB of on-card memory seems to be a good size, even for editing a lot of images, and GDDR5 memory provides faster access than DDR3.
You should know that besides using Photoshop heavily, I also develop OpenGL-based software as well, so I have some additional insight into driver implementations.
-Noel

I bought the photoshop cs2 cs3 cs5 and lightroom and lightroom 4. i can't install on may new macbookpro 13inch?

i bought the photoshop cs2 cs3 cs5 and lightroom and lightroom 4. i can't install on may new macbookpro 13inch?

On which operating system are you trying to install these Adobe apps?
Please specify the operating system name and version.
If you have purchased new Macbook Pro, then you should have atleast Mac OSX 10.9 or later. However, i doubt you will be able to install most of these apps on it as they are pretty old apps except CS5 & Lr4.
Still you can give it a shot and check.
What happens when you try to install them?
Do you get any error message? An error screenshot or full text of the error, should be helpful.
~ Arpit

I must have my computer reimaged. I have Photoshop CS5 and Lightroom 5.7. How do I inform Adobe that I will be reloading these programs to the same computer?

I must have my computer reimaged. I have Photoshop CS5 and Lightroom 5.7. How do I inform Adobe that I will be reloading these programs to the same computer?

And to directly answer your question, you don’t inform Adobe, you merely deactivate PS, reimage, then reinstall and reactivate PS with the serial number(s), and relicense LR with the serial number(s).
If this computer isn’t yours and you don’t have the serial numbers, yourself, then that could be a problem, although there may be software that can find the serial numbers. On a PC platform, download and run the Belarc Security Advisor and see if it finds the serial numbers you need. It’ll only find the current product serial numbers, not the prior versions that an upgrade might be based on, so then you’ll be stuck.

How do I de register Photoshop from 2 computers that I no longer use? Both computers hard drives have died and I need to use Photoshop CS4 on another machine

How do I de register Photoshop from 2 computers that I no longer use? Both computers hard drives have died and I need to use Photoshop CS4 on another machine

You will need to contact Activation Support:
http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/activation-deactivat ion-products.html
Click the Chat Now button at the end of the page and talk with a live agent who would resolve it ASAP.
Regards,
Ashutosh

I am retired and an amateur Photographer using Photoshop CS4 extended.

I am retired and an amateur Photographer using Photoshop CS4 extended.
If I take up Photoshop CC at £8.57 a month is this price just for a limited period and then it increases to £20 or something like that after a few months.

Hi ,
it is a subscription which you have to pay every month to use the Photoshop cc

Which version of photoshop is compatible with my Mac OS X v.10.6.8? Should I use Photoshop CS4 Extended or CS5 Extended?

Which version of photoshop is compatible with my Mac OS X v.10.6.8? Should I use Photoshop CS4 Extended or CS5 Extended?

CS5 works fully on my Macbook Pro, but it all depends on your specs. If you have a newer MBP on SL, you should be fine. Photoshop isn't terribly demanding on the computer so I wouldn't worry too much about it. Whichever one you can get is fine.

Can I use photoshop text styles and photoshop actions with creative cloud photography?

I'm really confused by this subscription pricing. If I purchase the $9.99/month, do I get the full desktop app of Photoshop and Lightroom? But I see on this page Products they list something called Photoshop CC that costs twice as much. How is that different from the Creative Cloud Photography?
My main question is whether I can use photoshop text styles and photoshop actions with Creative Cloud Photography, since I just purchased a bundle that includes these and I want to be able to use them. But I'd also like to understand what comes with all of the various products and how they are different.
My other question is how is Lightroom different from Photoshop? I have a sense of what you can do in Photoshop but I don't know much about Lightroom at all.
One more question: the free trial -- is it limited in any way besides the time length? If I do that, will I get a clear idea of all that I will be able to do once I subscribe, or are the functions limited in the trial?
I tried to just send an email to Adobe to ask these questions but apparently they are not interested in responding to emails from people who are not yet paying customers, so I was directed here. Thanks very much for your help!

I always like to trot this bit about Bridge once in a while or in the voice of the "Two Bobs" from Office Space,
"Can you tell us exactly what it is you do around here?"
What Adobe Bridge does:
Bridge is the coordinating hub of the Creative Suite. Synchronizing color management settings for all suite programs is done from Bridge, and can only be done from Bridge, to take one important use.
Bridge displays actual thumbnails of many more file types than Finder or Explorer. It also allows instant play of sound or video files more readily than the native OS file managers.
Bridge allows direct access to file metadata, to embed copyright information and keywords where appropriate (e.g., for corporate logo vector and raster files). It also displays the fonts used in an InDesign file, the swatches in an INDD or AI and the output plates (including spot color plates) they use.
When managing the assets for a design project, Bridge allows quick and simple sorting, rating and custom labeling (with color flash indications) of assets. I can rate images according to whether they are rejects, possibles, for review by client, or approved. The filters built into Bridge allow instant isolation of only the approved images or designs in a folder, only the rejects (for deletion) or only files with certain ratings, no matter how many files it contains. It recognizes aspect ratios, so if I only need a landscape or a 16:9 image in a folder of hundreds of images, I turn off the aspect ratios I don't need.
Once filtered, the remaining visible files can be selected and copied, moved, or deleted without affecting the rest of the contents of a folder.
Collections are a massively useful feature. One of my clients is a performing arts center, and in a season we turn out dozens of ads, flyers, brochures, web banners, playbills, billboards and other collateral using the same assets over and over. These assets are organized by artist and/or show on disk, but I set up each season's repeating assets as a Collection in Bridge, so that I just have to open the collection and drag and drop these assets into new INDD, AI, PSD, HTML (in Dreamweaver), FLA or AE projects without having to navigate from folder to folder picking up individual files.
Bridge's Favorites is another place I stack frequently-accessed folders, such as stock photography, backgrounds, and top-level folders for active projects.
Assets can be divided into subfolders, but a quick toggle of "Show items from subfolders" exposes all of the assets in a single view while maintaining their organization. I will typically keep AIs, PSDs, EPSs, stock photography and client images in separate subfolders within a project. When I'm ready to start pulling assets into an InDesign layout, I toggle this on and simply drag what I need into the layout.
Bridge comes with Adobe Camera Raw built in, which is many times faster than using Photoshop to adjust jpegs or tiffs for things like tonal range, white balance, cropping, spotting and sharpening, and is non-destructive.
One tremendously useful Bridge function for InDesign CS5+ users is the "Show linked files" feature, which opens all the linked files in a layout into a single view, regardless of where they are physically located. I often use this when doing alternative layouts from a client-approved mockup for a campaign, to be certain the same assets are used in each piece, or when creating a motion graphic or interactive piece for the campaign in After Effects or Flash.
The batch and image processing scripts built into Bridge automate things like creating web-ready small jpegs from multiple images, renaming large numbers of files in place or by copying to an alternative location, creating sets of PSD, png, jpeg or other file types from an assortment of image files, and so on.
Bridge is so much a part of my daily workflow that on my main workstation I have one monitor dedicated to it almost 100%. Bridge just sits open 24/7, ready for use. I would run at half speed without it, no question.

Photoshop CS4 & CS5: Fullscreen + Taskbar ?

Hi all!
Does anyone find a solution for the bug (for me it is) in Photoshop CS4 & CS5 - in Fullscreen mode the taskbar is no visible (MS Windows)?
In case someone from Adobe read this - COM'ON PEOPLE!!! IS NOT SO HARD TO FIX THIS!!! ADD A SIMPLE CHECK BOX IN OPTIONS, FOR USERS THAT NEEEEEED THEIR TASKBAR IN FULLSCREEN! how many complains do you need to fix this!?? Think again... a lot of people are stuck to CS3 just for this problem!
Best Regards,
Angry CS3 user, dreaming for CS4 & CS5 Photoshop
PS: @ admins -> please, move this to Photoshop -> Windows! It'll be more correct!

Gee, thanks a pantload, Dr Misfit, assuming you're talking about my suggestion to use Photoshop in a Restored window (i.e., in a window not occupying the full screen).
Oh, and you're also welcome for the link I provided to a tool that forces the Windows 7 Taskbar to be on top.
The *only* downside to using Photoshop in Restored view that's been identified, and I agree that it's not pleasant, is that in Restored view and using Tabs you're prevented from panning an image around to where you want it if it fits entirely within the window. So instead of working in the center of your screen you might have to work offset toward the corner. Aw. Now THAT's what I call a Big Deal compared to missing those all important Skype calls from your girlfriend.
I'm not against you working the way you want - it'd be just peachy if it worked just the way you like - but I'm here to tell you it's really, really not going to get changed in the current version just for you and the other three people on the planet who are for some reason jumping up and down about it. Adobe ain't Burger King. But someone who actually DID know something about Adobe and Photoshop would already know that.
You want to see the Taskbar now, work in Restored view. Simple as that. Get over it.
And have a little more respect for the people who try to help you for no reward other than the satisfaction of having helped someone.
-Noel

Imac freeze using photoshop cs4

Hi All,
I'm really hoping someone can point me in the right direction.
When using Photoshop CS4 my imac keeps repeatedly freezing, this seems to happen whilst moving the image around.
I also get some of the same crashes using bridge. I have previously reinstalled all os and programs. I now keep my imac very clean, I only use one program at a time etc. It is driving me crazy!
I have tried CS5 and didn't like it, it also didn't agree with my machine. I have tried updating the firmware for the graphics card and it wont do it saying something is missing, I'm fearful that this could be the problem.
Any help at all would be greatly appreciated!
Kind regards,
SImon
This is a grab of the performance settings Im using in CS4..
I'm using a 2007 20" Imac...

So no ideas then???

Using Photoshop CS4/CS5 and Lightroom 2/3 on Win 7 vs OSX

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