Adobe recently released details about Creative Suite 4, its first update to more than a dozen design and editing tools since Adobe CS3 some 17 months ago.
Creative Suite 4 focuses on workflow and Flash integration capabilities for both designers and developers. In total there will be 6 editions available covering all angles for the creative types out there be in print, web, video or mobile.
Using Live View, designers still have access to the code while using WebKit to render CSS navigation, JavaScript, Flash and other technologies typically not available when previewing a Web site. Live View may seem like a duplicate of the Preview in Browser feature, but that’s not how Adobe sees it.
“It’s not so much of a replacement for Preview in Browser, it’s more of a workflow gain because you don’t have to leave Dreamweaver,” said Dreamweaver product manager Devin Fernandez.
In keeping with its theme of making designers more efficient Adobe introduced Code Navigator in Dreamweaver. The Code Navigator is a smart pop-up window that shows you links to all the CSS code sources that affect your current selection.
Focusing on simplifying workflows, there will be a strong online pro service offering and a greater focus on offering online content on the fly. Flash panels will now sit inside all the applications so if you are connected to the Internet you get the latest information in real time.
Furthermore a new interface with contextualizing panels based on what you are doing will promise greater efficiency. Offering the same interface across all apps every application has been updated.
Photoshop sees a greater emphasis on getting the computer's processor to help it work with large pictures as well as the ability to preview brushes directly on the canvas. Users will also be able to wrap 2D images to 3D images and using Photoshop Extended, the more advanced version of the photo editing software, now export 3D images to 3D file formats.
The various Adobe CS4 collections are scheduled to ship in October, with estimated prices starting at USD 1,699 for full versions. Upgrades will also be available. Individual tools will also be sold separately; these include Acrobat Professional, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash Professional, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Photoshop Extended, and Premiere. The Version Cue project management tool and the Device Central tool are available only as part of CS4 collections. |
