Photoshop® CS4 For Dummies®

Chapter 17. Introducing Photoshop CS4 Extended

In This Chapter

• Exploring Photoshop CS4 Extended

• Working in 32-bit color

• Stacking modes for Smart Objects

• Getting an overview of 3D, video, and analytical features

• Spelling out some new capabilities

You might have purchased Photoshop CS4 and are wondering about the features of Photoshop CS4 Extended. You might have received Photoshop CS4 Extended as part of a bundle or the Adobe Creative Suite and aren't sure whether you need these features. You might be browsing in the bookstore, trying to determine whether to purchase Photoshop CS4 or Photoshop CS4 Extended. (If this last scenario is the case, my advice to you is this: Purchase this book first and then, with any money you have left over, buy the version of Photoshop that best fits your needs. Read about the Extended features, and if you don't need them, save some money and buy Photoshop CS4. And then buy lots more copies of this book to give to friends, family, and co-workers.)

In this chapter, I introduce you to the various special features of Photoshop CS4 Extended. This chapter won't get you fully up-to-speed on how to work with the features; instead, it's meant to quench your curiosity about the difference between Photoshop CS4 and Photoshop CS4 Extended. (For an in-depth look at working with the special features of Photoshop CS4 Extended, see Photoshop CS4 Bible, Professional Edition from Wiley.)

Understanding Photoshop CS4 Extended

For years, Adobe has heard the pleas of researchers, ...