Adobe's Creative Suite 3 Line

Adobe Systems has announced the Adobe Creative Suite 3 product line, an integrated set of design and development tools for creative workflow. Six all-new configurations of Adobe Creative Suite 3 are available, including: Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium and Design Standard editions; Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Premium and Web Standard editions; Adobe Creative Suite 3 Production Premium; and Adobe Creative Suite Master Collection.

Each Adobe Creative Suite 3 edition integrates different product configurations:

* Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium delivers a toolkit for print, Web, interactive and mobile design, while Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Standard focuses on professional print design and production;

* Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Premium combines Web design and development tools, while Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Standard serves the professional Web developer;

* Adobe Creative Suite 3 Production Premium is a post-production solution for video professionals; and

* Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection comprises 12 creative applications, enabling users to design across all media, including print, Web, interactive, mobile, video, and film.

The majority of the Creative Suite 3 editions will be available as universal applications for PowerPC and Intel-based Macs and support Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista. Creative Suite 3 Design Premium and Standard and Creative Suite 3 Web Premium and Standard will ship in April; Creative Suite 3 Production Premium and Creative Suite 3 Master Collection will ship in the third quarter of 2007. Prices (estimated street): Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium, $1799; Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Premium, $1599; Adobe Creative Suite 3 Production Premium, $1699; Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection, $2499.

Users also can opt for full versions of the 13 new Adobe stand-alone applications, including Photoshop CS3, Photoshop CS3 Extended, InDesign CS3, Illustrator CS3, Flash CS3 Professional, Dreamweaver CS3, Adobe Premiere Pro CS3, and After Effects CS3. Specifics on the new Photoshop and InDesign offerings include:

Photoshop CS3 and Photoshop CS3 Extended-Photoshop CS3 adds new features for advanced compositing, allowing designers to automatically align multiple Photoshop layers or images based on similar content. It also adds the latest version of Camera Raw, support for more than 150 raw formats, and new tools such as Fill Light and Dust Busting. Photoshop CS3 Extended includes everything in Photoshop CS3 plus additional specialized features such as support for 3-D and video workflows, animation, and in-depth image analysis. Estimated street price: $649, Photoshop CS3; $999, Photoshop CS3 Extended.

InDesign CS3-New productivity features include: Multi-file Place, expanded Quick Apply, Advanced Find/Change, fast frame fitting, and table and cell styles (allows users to quickly format an entire table or apply design to a regional area); automated bullets and numbering and text variables; dynamic generation of page layouts with formatted text and graphics; fine transparency controls; and more. Estimated street price: $699.

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