There are so many improvements from CS4 to CS5 that I just had to have the latest and greatest. Since I started to do stock photography for iStockPhoto, the greatly improved noise reduction is one of the features I'm most excited about. But... after watching so many videos and podcasts on HDR, I would like to play with that! I view the addition of HDR Pro purely as a toy for myself, but since Photomatix is $99 and my upgrade to CS5 is costing me $159 with my NAPP discount, I can argue that the HDR Pro almost covers most of the cost of the upgrade to CS5. Then there is the Content Aware Fill (SO COOL), and Mini Bridge is CUTE! And the new improved selection tool... well that is sure to come in handy when my daughter and son's hair is sticking up and I'm trying to isolate them on a white background! There are lots of other little improvements to CS5 from Adobe's JDI (Just Do It) initiative too numerous to mention! I've never been so excited about a piece of software... well, at least not since I got my first real Photoshop (not Elements) last November!
If you'd like to know more about the improvements and additions to Photoshop in CS5, I highly recommend http://www.photoshopuser.com/cs5.
If you have CS2 or later you can upgrade to CS5. AND, if you'd like to save 20% on your upgrade cost, just join NAPP before upgrading and then give Adobe a call with your NAPP member number in hand. Join NAPP here! The discount on your upgrade saves you at least $40 - covering nearly half of your NAPP membership fee - and there are so many other discounts and other great benefits to joining NAPP - you won't be sorry you did!
