Masking and Clipping Layers

1. Erase a Background from Behind Complex Foreground Detail
2. Edit a Selection by Painting a Quick Mask Overlay
3. Save and Edit a Selection in an Alpha Channel
4. Create, View, and Edit a Layer Mask
5. Make Areas Within a Layer Semi-Transparent
6. Clip a Layer to the Shape of Another

Masking with Vector Paths

1. Create Vector Paths
2. Edit Paths
3. Mask an Image with a Path

Filling Image Areas

1. Fill Image Areas with Swatch Colors
2. Create Gradients
3. Create Patterns

Creating Special Effects

1. Distort Editable Type
2. Create Layer Comps
3. Control Cropping Precisely
4. Restore Photographs
5. Simulate Painted Effects

Automating Tasks

1. Create an Action
2. Manage Action

New Features of CS5

Complex selections made easy NEW

Select specific areas within an image in fewer clicks. Easily select intricate image elements, such as hair; eliminate background color around selection edges; and automatically vary selection edges and perfect masks using new refinement tools

Content-Aware Fill NEW

Remove any image detail or object and watch as Content-Aware Fill magically fills in the space left behind. This breakthrough technology matches lighting, tone, and noise so it looks as if the removed content never existed

Superior HDR imagingENHANCED

Create photo-realistic or surreal HDR images with unprecedented speed, control, and accuracy. Get better-than-ever results thanks to automatic ghost removal and greater control with tone mapping and adjustments, and even give single-exposure photos the look of HDR.

Extraordinary painting effects NEW

Easily change a photograph into a painting or create unique artistic effects with the Mixer Brush, which offers on-canvas color blending, and Bristle Tips, which let you create lifelike, textured brush strokes

Automatic lens correctionNEW

Save time with automatic correction of lens distortions, chromatic aberration, and vignetting. Photoshop CS5 uses an image file's EXIF data to make precise adjustments based on the type of camera and lens you used

Better media managementENHANCED

Easily manage media with more flexible batch renaming, and access your assets in the context of what you're working on by using the customizable Adobe Mini Bridge panel in Photoshop

Streamlined creative reviews NEW

Use Adobe CS Review, part of new Adobe CS Live online services,* to initiate a more secure review without leaving Photoshop. Reviewers can add comments to your images from their browsers, and you see the comments appear automatically on your screen. CS Live services are complimentary for a limited time

Easier UI management NEW

Use the collapsible Workspace Switcher to quickly navigate and choose among favorite UI configurations. Live workspaces automatically record your UI changes so panels will remain in place even if you switch away for a while

State-of-the-art raw image processing ENHANCED

Use the Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw 6 plug-in to nondestructively remove image noise while preserving color and detail; add grain to make digital photos look more organic; enjoy more control as you perform post-crop vignetting; and more.

Puppet Warp NEW

Precisely reposition any image element to create a more visually appealing photo. For example, easily straighten an arm that's bent at an awkward angle.

Efficient workflow ENHANCED

Enjoy productivity and creativity boosts thanks to dozens of features and enhancements requested by Photoshop users. Straighten images automatically, pick colors from an onscreen color picker, adjust the opacity of many layers at once, and more.

Faster performance across platforms ENHANCED

Speed up day-to-day imaging tasks and process very large images up to ten times faster by taking advantage of cross-platform 64-bit support. (Requires a 64-bit-capable computer with a 64-bit version of Mac OS, Microsoft® Windows® 7, or Windows Vista®. Actual performance varies depending on amount of RAM, driver types, and other factors.)

New GPU-accelerated features NEW

Take advantage of GPU-enabled enhancements to everyday tools. Crop with the Rule of Thirds grid; zoom with click-and-scrub functionality; and sample colors with better visualization and the onscreen color picker.

Superior black-and-white conversion ENHANCED

Explore an endless variety of black-and-white looks. Use the integrated Lab B&W Action to interactively color images, create gorgeous HDR black-and-whites with greater ease and speed, and experiment with new presets.