It may not seem relevant to some to read a review of Adobe CS3 Design Premium after the recent release of CS4. But as a working Graphic Design Professional, I’ve worked intimately with Adobe’s products since 2003 when they first bundled them as a “Creative Suite.” Here’s why I still work with CS3:
When it was released in early 2007, CS3 was billed as the biggest release in Adobe’s history for several reasons. First, Adobe had acquired Macromedia Software, the leading maker of web design and development products like Flash and Dreamweaver. CS3 benefited from this acquisition as it provided designers with Adobe’s products and Macromedia’s products from one source and one price point.
Secondly, CS3 introduced an impressive amount of upgraded features to each of their products. Universally, they all share a streamlined workspace, with dockable windows and pallets, which allow the user to tidy up the workspace. Photoshop and Illustrator shared greater integration with the advancement of vector smart objects. Photoshop alone saw massive improvements like non-destructive filters, a clone source palette, and improvements in the 3D vanishing point tool. Improved features included better automated image stitching. And in Photoshop CS3 Extended there were introduced tools for importing and editing some 3D graphics, and video file support.
CS3 dramatically cut the startup time of all of their programs, making it much quicker to get to work on a project. CS3 was also the first time different “Editions” were available. These editions included Design Standard, Design Premium, Web Standard, Web Premium, Production Premium, and the Master Collection, and essentially allowed the consumer to purchase a package with only the software applications needed for their specific creative field.
CS4 has since improved the workflow and workspace of Adobe Programs by allowing the user to totally customize their pallets. Photoshop has a new Smart Scaling feature which works on an awareness to the content of your image. Photoshop also has new tools for editing 3D objects. Illustrator now allows multiple art boards in a single document, which comes in handy when you want to consolidate all of the different versions and revisions of a project in one place.
It should be noted that neither of these lists are comprehensive to the features of the versions discussed. But, in the opinion of one designer, CS3’s release was revolutionary. And CS4’s is retooling. Impressive, yes, but is it as expansive is CS3? Why don’t you be the judge: If you’re running CS3 why not download and test-drive Adobe’s new features and tell us in the comments if it’s worth the upgrade or not.
Download a trial version here: http://www.adobe.com/downloads/ and let us know what you think.
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