It’s here! Adobe is rolling out a pretty big update to Photoshop CC, with some seriously cool new features; lots of little tweaks, enhancements and improvements throughout, and I’m here to give you a peek at some of my favorite parts of Photoshop CC 2015.5 (we’re going to do our best to overlook the fact that this 2016 release is actually named 2015.5. I would love to hear the reasoning behind that one…but I digress).
Anyway, don’t spend too much time on that one (it will make your head hurt), and instead, let’s look at what’s new in this full release, which is technically Photoshop version 17. :-)
Better Masking Is Here!
Adobe has been making big strides in making tricky selections easier (like windblown hair), and the new “Select & Mask” Task Space environment is better, faster, and more powerful (yes, it replaces the much-loved Refine Edge, but don’t worry — it does everything Refine Edge did and more). Check out the video below.
Facial Aware Liquify
This is that next level of Liquify for retouching portraits, because it automatically detects facial features, and lets you adjust them quite simply by just using sliders. No complicated masking or brushing — just drag a slider (if you’ve seen the retouching miracle that is the “Adobe Fix,” app, you’ve seen this technology before, and I’m thrilled it made its way over to Photoshop. Here’s a quick video:
Content Aware Cropping
This one will save you time, but not only does it save time — it does a better, faster job of it.
Match Font
This is some serious font recognition magic — you open an image with a font visible in the image (a flattened image is fine), and it recognizes the font; tells you which one it is (if you have that font installed), or it will suggest similar fonts if you don’t, and then you can download it directly from the Adobe TypeKit library so you can start using it. Pretty darn slick!
Faster Speed Is Here, Too!
Lots of important speed enhancements, including stuff like Content Aware that’s 3x faster (and that was about the slowest thing in Photoshop, but I guess not anymore, eh?). Plus, 4x faster loading of the your fonts in the font menu, and even documents open faster in CC 2015.5 (stop giggling about the 2015.5 thing). Because of stuff like this, the whole application feels snappier and more responsive.
Lots of Tweaks, and enhancements, too
Stuff like better results from Content Aware Fill (according to Adobe, these include: “…improvement in details, reduction in blur/smudge, and improved color adaptation”). Plus, you’ve got Photoshop libraries that you can make “read only” so you can share it with other people without them messing up the assets, or a new preference setting that lets you use the old legacy Healing Brush algorithm. How about stuff like bringing back the small color swatch size in the Swatches palette, or the ability to add a keyboard shortcut to toggle on/off the Airbrush mode. Plus, they’ve really stepped up on the Adobe Stock integration (I’ve been using the heck out of Adobe Stock by the way, and I’m loving it, but I’ll probably love it more now that I can license images from right within Photoshop). Anyway, there’s a whole bunch more stuff like that. Oh yeah, and a bunch of bug fixes. It’s all good.
As I mentioned earlier, this is Photoshop 17 — a full release, which means you’ll need to reinstall all your 3rd party plug-ins (I know, I know); however, they are implementing a new plug-in location going forward that will keep us all from having to do this in the future, but for now…ya know…we still have to do it this one last time.
Also, if you want to wait and move your plug-ins later, and not overwrite your current copy of CC (with all your plug-ins), then when you go to install, click the Advanced Options button at the bottom of the installer and uncheck “Remove Old Version.” That way, you can move your plug-ins over at your leisure, then uninstall the old version later.
When is it available?
It will be rolling out today (I already got my update) but depending on where you are in the country and in the world, will ultimately depend on when it’s actually available for download, so I’ll just say, “very, very soon” ;-)
Get More Videos Straight From Adobe!
Go check out Julieanne Kost’s blog — she’s got some great videos there on the new most-important features (here’s the link) and since she’s one of Adobe’s Photoshop evangelists, she’s always got great insights, and really helpful tips.
Don’t forget about tomorrow’s Lightroom Mobile Lovefest!
Adobe’s own Lightroom Mobile Product Manager Josh Haftel is here in our studios, and tomorrow we’re doing a special KelbyOne members-only Webcast with Josh, and then later in the day (at 4pm), Josh will be my guest on The Grid. Hope to see you at one of those tomorrow.
Best,
-Scott
A very happy guy on upgrade day!
P.S. I don’t know if you can tell (wink), but I am freakin’ lovin’ this update. Thank you to the Adobe engineers for continuing to literally create “magic” and for giving us such amazing tools to create with. What an awesome time to be a Photoshop user!
WayCoolGroovy regarding the updated masking. Gonna have to try that out on a couple of my tougher images during lunch. Looks like it addresses the problems I’ve been having masking.
Exciting.
Pfff, this update is so 2015……. oh wait… ;)
Has Adobe actually resolved the font-scaling for high-DPI monitors problem yet?
There’s 200% scaling option. Full, variable scaling is still being worked on. (It’s a big job for Photoshop which has a lot of UI elements to consider/scale)
Thanks for the info, Jeffrey. So, in short, the answer is “No.” I’ve tried the 200% scaling and unfortunately it’s rather ugly and inconsistent. Photoshop is all but unusable on small high-DPI monitors like Surface Pro. I accept that Adobe is working on the problem, but they are apparently not making it a priority. It does seem odd that PS is the only software in my set of tools for which this is a problem.
It’s definitely a priority – It’s just a more complicated problem than people realize.
what’s in a name… version numbers and mixing dates etc… always an adventure in product development, marketing and customer recognition…
The masking thing looks really nicely integrated – I’ve used refine edge before a couple of times and this looks nicely integrated.
Wow…love the upgrade on the masking! Thanks for the heads up Scott!
Wow ! these upgrades look amazing! downloading the new version as we speak !
Thanks for the videos Mate :)
Scott,
Is there an easy way to transfer my plug-in’s to the new version?
I went on the “chat” helpline on the adobe website and they accessed my computer remotely and did it for me! easy peasy!
Best way is to install with updated versions using the new central location: http://blogs.adobe.com/crawlspace/2016/06/faq-photoshop-cc-2015-5-now-available.html#plugins
I would have wanted to be in the meeting where some bloke had to tell the gang it wasn’t going to be a 2016 — but the name stayed the same. This is the THIRD release since CS6 and they told us they would just be rolling out “updates” as they came along. Now we have entire new installs — just like before.
This is a very confusing bunch of people to be renting from.
I’m curious how well the masking tool works then there is a busier background. Has anyone tested anything different like this? Overall, the enhancements look good.
Hey Scott. Wondering if you have statistics on what percent of KelbyOne membership is on one of the CC plans vs. one of the traditional CS releases? And if you could share that? I’m one of the CS6 luddites who’s wondering how far out of touch I am getting. I still hate the idea of “renting” software, but I may have to bite the bullet at some point. Thx.
Hi Bill, you know that you’ve always been “renting” software. When you purchase the stand alone version, you don’t own the software, you’re paying for a licence to use it. The CC plan is no different, you’re still paying for a licence to use the software. The biggest thing though, is that with the subscription you get all of these new features included without having to wait for, and then pay again with an upgrade fee. Do the math from what you paid for the stand alone version, plus the upgrade fees and compare that to the suscription bundle ($9.99 US per month for LR and PS).
I noticed after update to latest PS CC that “Automate” to other programs like Nik, On1, etc. vanished. Any suggestions?
You probably have to reinstall them. This link will help you: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/plugins.html :-)
Yep, that is what had to be done….thanks.
Hey Scott!
As always, thanks for the videos, info and insight! Downloading the apps now and really excited to tinker!
Unrelated note; Lightroom to Instagram? What are your thoughts here? Big news or will Instagram ban your account?
https://fstoppers.com/apps/how-upload-directly-instagram-lightroom-few-clicks-using-free-plugin-135694
I have found that most plugins can be copied from their previous plugin folders and then pasted into the new location, C:Program FilesCommon FilesAdobePlug-InsCC
On1 photo and alien skin blowup were my only plugins that this didn’t work for me.
Scott – thanks for these wonderful short videos – I would be oblivious to the changes if not for you. Thanks
Hi Scott:
Can I change just one eye in the new Liquify? Thanks
If it isn’t a feature, you could do both and then just use a layer mask to get rid of the change you did not need.
I really like the new liquify options. I hope Adobe adds some support for automatic fact sculpting in a future update, similar to Portrait Professional.
Hey Scott,
Excellent videos and very helpful! One thing on Plug-ins. When PS-2015.5 installed it removed the old PS-2015, but it left the Plug-in folder. If you copy all the the folders and files in that directory and past them in the new Plug-in folder everything will be installed and working. That’s what I did and very thing checks out just fine. You DON”T have reinstall your plug-ins.
Dennis
Thanks! For something like Nik, do you loose your custom recipes?
Hi Brian
No it keeps all the recipes ! (Thank goodness!)
Maggi
Awesome features!
Please, Adobe, make some improvements to Actions. In particular around directory selection, file naming and conditional statements.
I mostly think you were payed to say that stuff… It is not a awesome time to be a photoshop user. It is a normal… There were any really big improvement. Just the same stuff as always
Scott, your Bickham Script Pro Regular font seems to be a combination of things. The D in Days appears to be Bickham Script Three and the C in Christmas appears to be Bickham Script Two. But what is weird is the f in of doesn’t seem to be any of the three. Is that a combination of different Bickham Scripts? Just curious. Also, I tried out the match font and it does a great job. But how do you know the difference between what it IS and what is CLOSE? Other than the first one, but if you don’t have that font installed, won’t it just list a close one at the top? So you never REALLY know what it is unless it is something you did yourself correct?
Facial recognition in liquify does not work on cats :(
Awesome videos, but I’m sort of struggling with the new refine edge tool, as it doesn’t do what it did for you in the video, and I took all the same steps as in video; in my image, it just additionally blurs the edges -_-
You are a blast to listen to! I have new found love for this update due to your enthusiasm, I’ve gotta get more of your tutorials!
Yes there’s some great updates in new Ps, but one of the best tools that just does not work very well is the “Select and Mask” feature. With new Select and Mask…I’m facing some mistakes there to use this tool. That is why, I reinstall the previous version again. When I’m thinking about Edge Recognition with Refine Edge tool, then I had been used well with it.
hello scotts,
Its very excellent video its very helpful for me many thanks for sharing with us.
Hello guy,
This post is very effective and helpful and more important for beginner . I’m also a beginner . So thanks plenty for this post .
I love the videos. It really was easy to understand video for me. Want more video tutorial like this one from you.
Wow !!!Video tutorial is marvelous . Thanks for it.
Personally I know Scott Kelby for his excellent photograph. This is really awesome !!! Thank you so much.
Thank you for sharing the excellent short video. It will be the great video tutorial for me. http://www.adroitclippingpath.com
Thanks you Scoot fot sharing the better masking short videos. It is helpful for Photoshop beginner.
Hello Scott!
I am really happy to visit your post. You shared informative content also your video tips. Thanks for shearing us.
Hi, Wonderful Post.. I really Like your post..This is a awesome photography.. Thanks for sharing the
good information.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Thanks Scott, for sharing a informative post here. I am enjoyed your video tutorial very much.
I like the real time preview function. Can be really handy for drawing or selecting complex shapes, but that simple arch would take me the same time, if not less, with the standard pen tool.