When I wrote the book, Photoshop CS3 for Forensics Professionals, I argued with my editor about the title (I didn’t want to list the version in the title). I included ways to do just about every technique in the book using earlier versions, and it’s so rare that Adobe discards a feature that I was pretty certain that it would be applicable to future versions of Photoshop. In addition, my experience tells me that most law enforcement agencies (the primary audience for the book) don’t upgrade with each version, so most agencies using Photoshop may never see CS3. Well, I lost the argument, and now I frequently get asked about differences in CS4, as well as applicability to earlier versions. Before continuing, let me say that the book is as relevant to CS4 and CS2 and CS as it is to CS3.

Two of the most obvious changes for forensics users are the missing Contact Sheet and the Layer Comps to PDF features. The Contact Sheet feature can be downloaded from Adobe for the Mac or Windows and installed into CS4, so there’s no need to panic. You can also create contact sheets with some greater capabilities using the Output workspace in Bridge. And, the Contact Sheet X script written by X Bytor works in CS4. Regarding Layer Comps to PDF – well, that will just take two steps now – first, use Layer Comps to Files, then create a one image per page contact sheet with the results.

Another obvious change is in the interface – Photoshop will now open images as tabs, similar to web browsers. Some users seem to love this, and it drives others crazy. I’m one of the ones who prefers the old method. To get rid of the tabs view, choose the Interface Preference and uncheck the “Open Documents as Tabs” and the “Enable Floating Document…” check boxes. You’ll be back to the way things were.

How about that Adjustments panel? This is new, as is the Masks panel. These make it easier to create adjustment layers and to modify masks. There is no need to go to the Layers panel, click on the Adjustment Layers icon, choose the type of adjustment layer you want, make your settings, then click an OK button. Now you can just select the type of adjustment in the Adjustment panel, make your settings, and you’re done. Note that it’s best to keep the Adjustment Panel and the Layers panel staggered on two different columns and at different heights so that they don’t cover each other when bouncing back and forth between them.

CS4 also added Smart Filters. This provides similar capabilities of Adjustment Layers to Filters. If you first convert your image to a Smart Object, you can apply filters and re-edit them, just as you can an Adjustment Layer.

There are a handful of other differences between CS3 and CS4 – but these are the significant ones for forensics users. That said, one of the best places to learn about many things Photoshop is from John Nack’s excellent blog. John is senior product manager for Photoshop and he frequently posts great information about changes to Photoshop, and he asks users for feedback. John even takes criticism of Photoshop well – as shown in his post to my comparing Photoshop to the Johnny Cash song, “One Piece at a Time.” I read John’s blog every morning when starting my day.

I’ll post a Photoshop tip now and then here. If anyone has any questions about a feature or method, post a comment and I’ll try to address it.

G