New Elements 3.0 Supports Raw Files

I wouldn't trade my Photoshop CS, but I'm a little envious of the new

$99 Photoshop Elements 3.0 that supports Camera Raw functionality in

16-Bit:

 

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0409/04091505adobe_elements3.asp

Is it going to allow you to save work in 16 bit? It wouldn't make a whole lot of sense if you couldn't save converted 16 bit RAW files in PSD or Tiff at only 8 bit depth. Any one know?

I wonder if they will give a decent rebate to the poor folks like myself that just bought Elements II?

Jeff,

As per the review........

 

"Photoshop Elements 3.0 also supports Camera Raw functionality for the processing of raw data and 16-Bit images for the brightest and most lifelike colour."

From the corresponding Adobe Store web page:

 

Adobe Get high quality with camera raw and 16-bit support

Work with your digital camera raw data files and use 16-bit image support for smoother, more accurate color and overall great results.

 

(http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopelwin/overview.html)

 

The accompanying screen shot shows a multi-color histogram.

 

Full purchase price is $99US, but upgrade price won't be available until next month (product ships in November). This looks like a worthwhile upgrade to me; I'm looking forward to the early reviews. I may finally start shooting in RAW!

Jon,

"This looks like a worthwhile upgrade to me"

 

Yeah, me too. Thanks for the info.

Just four days ago, debating on going up to CS, I ran a search for Elements 3.0, hoping to pick up some rumors on when it might be coming out, but I got nothing but a lame book at Amazon.

 

Now here it is - and it's got the Healing Brush and RAW - just what I wanted. Only now, of course, I've already talked myself into needing Highlight/Shadow and Match Color and so on...

 

Will have to check out all the specs and then compare it to CS when the trial version on the CS DVD arrives in the mail.

On Adobe's site, they list the system requirements as Win XP or Win 2000. Too bad those of us still using Win 98.

Hey - it does have Highlights/Shadows, as well as CS's ability to mix and match effects, colored filters, and a tagging system they must've adopted from Adobe Album.

 

But will it have bicubic smoother/sharpener?

Some time ago I read a thread here regarding memory management problems inherent in CS. As I don't have a digital camera and therefore don't need RAW capability, I decided not to upgrade from PS7 to CS until the memory problem was sorted. Elements 3 may actually now be a better option, but does anyone know if the CS memory problem has been resolved?

My main reasons for upgrading from PS Elements 2.0 to PS CS were 16-bit support, better colour management and RAW support. Nice that PS Elements 3.0 now has 16-bit and RAW support, but how about colour management? Does it have the Convert to Profile / Assign Profile commands that PS CS has (lacking in Elements 2.0)?