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Photoshop CS3 gives its users some hugely improved features and tools compared to earlier releases of Photoshop. Once you take the time learn a few of the tricks Photoshop CS3 has in store for you, you’ll find you can edit your images with ease and panache.

Photoshop CS3 is decked out with a new intuitive interface. This may not be a very flashy trick, but it is one that you will appreciate; it makes all of Photoshop easier to use. Most of your screen is taken up by the drawing canvas. You can make your toolbox one or two columns. Your palettes docked or minimized. There are four different options for the full screen mode.

Smart Filters are one of the most long-awaited tricks for CS3. Smart filters are filters that you can apply and then edit or remove without destroying your work. First, make your image a Smart Object using the Layers palette. Then apply and edit your filters. It is possible to toggle your filters on and off. This trick is especially cool when presenting different views of a graphic to a client.

One of the coolest tricks with Photoshop CS3 tools holds is its ability to bend and align multiple photos to create a seamless panoramic image. In the past, even the most carefully shot and stitched photos would still have some discrepancies in the skyline or foliage. Now, simply put two slightly overlapping photos in a single layer, go to Edit, and select Auto-Bend Layers. Photoshop will create a seamless photo for you. If you have three or more pictures, place them all in separate layers, go to Edit and select Auto-Align Layers. Once this is complete, use the Auto-Bend option to create a great panoramic shot.

You no longer need the magnetic lasso tool in Photoshop CS3. Instead click on the Quick Selection tool. It will show you areas of your image that you may want to select, such the people in the foreground. Couple this trick with the new Refine Edge function and you’ll get seamless edits without extra jagged lined or bumps every time.

The black and white adjustment has been beefed up on CS3. Previously, if you wanted to quickly create a grayscale image from a color photo you would lose a lot of depth and shading. Now, Photoshop allows you to click a few buttons and drag a few sliders to create your perfect black and white image. The sliders correspond to the original red, blue, and green shades in your original photo. You can also use the adjustment trick to create a sepia-toned or duo tone image.

Camera Raw also has a few tricks up its sleeve. Most prominently, you can open jpeg and tif files in Camera Raw. Previously only raw files were allowed, discriminating against those of use with less sophisticated digital cameras. While the same corrections and compressions are still in place, you are just able to use Camera Raw controls on jpeg files.

There are still many more tricks available in Photoshop CS3. Take advantage of the huge amount of literature on the web to learn more. I would also suggest you take a look at this FREE video that shows you how to use other Photoshop CS3 tools