Adobe's Creative Suite 2 Premium Reviewed [Archive]

Tim Adams

10-31-2005, 05:00 PM

<img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_top.jpg" /> Product Category: Design Software Manufacturer: <a href="http://www.adobe.com">Adobe</a> Where to Buy: <a href="http://thoughtsmedia.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=8428423/search=Adobe%2527s+Creative+Suite+2+Premium">Pricegrabber Low Price Search</a> Price: $1,052.90 to $1,225.32 USD System Requirements: Intel® Pentium® III or 4 processor; Microsoft® Windows® 2000 with Service Pack 4, or Windows XP with Service Pack 1 or 2; 384MB of RAM to run any one creative application with Adobe® Bridge and Version Cue® Workspace; Additional RAM required to run multiple applications simultaneously (512MB to 1GB recommended); 3GB of available hard-disk space to install all applications (installation of common files requires at least 1GB on primary hard disk); 1,024x768 monitor resolution with 16-bit video card (24-bit screen display recommended); CD-ROM drive; For Adobe PostScript® printers: PostScript Level 2 or PostScript 3™; Internet or phone connection required for product activation; QuickTime 6.5 required for multimedia features; Broadband Internet connection required for Adobe Stock Photos and additional services. Pros:<li>All the tools you need in one package; <li>Interconnected via Bridge; <li>Provides great tutorials (and additional third party help is available).Cons:<li>Price; <li>Heavy system requirements; <li>Steep learning curve.Summary: As an artistic geek, I've always been interested in design - especially via electronic devices. The Adobe product line has always been just slightly out of my monetary reach, always tempting but never acquired. Because of this, I would hobble together several types of tools to accomplish the same tasks (and with great results). Well, the opportunity to use this great tool finally came to pass, but I still had some reservations. I know how to use the tools I have, but how long would it take to adapt to this all-encompassing package of design nirvana? Would it really be worth the hefty price tag to have a single solution available at my fingertips? Is the Adobe product line really all it is made out to be? Read on for the full review!<!> <PAGEBREAK> Bridging The Great Divide Adobe Bridge (Figure 1) is really what pulls this whole suite together. With the ability to not only keep your data managed, but also configure separate workspace layouts (for example lightbox or metadata focus). It also gives one the ability to rate their content and customize his or her own keywords, giving the feel of your own self-managed stock system. Combine this with Adobe's Version Cue, and now you can share your workspace and files with other users (with even check-in / check-out capabilities). <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_c2_bridge_title.jpg" /> Figure 1: Adobe Bridge acts as the central hub for all your projects, pictures, and files. Looking at the default interface, you have a Favorites/Folders window to the left, along with a Preview and Metadata/Keyword boxes. Most importantly, in the largest portion of the app (Figure 2) are several options such as Saved File Groups (for easily managing projects), Recent Files, and Recent Folders. Just below these boxes (Figure 3) is another set of tools such as the RSS Reader, Tips and Tricks, synchronized Color Management, and Help. The RSS Reader/Tips and Tricks areas can even be collapsed to allow for more workspace. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_c2_bridge_options.jpg" /> Figure 2: Some of the Adobe Bridge options include Saved File Groups, and Recent Files/Folders. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_c2_bridge_options2.jpg" /> Figure 3: Additional Bridge options such as the RSS Reader and Tips and Tricks. The Color Management button (Figure 4) is quite useful for those producing print content as it allows you to synchronize the color settings, such as Monitor Color or Prepress, to all of your Adobe programs and content. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_c2_bridge_colors.jpg" /> Figure 4: Using the synchronizable Color Management, you can insure that your projects are using the same color format no matter what application you use. Another useful feature of Adobe Bridge is the Stock Photos button (Figure 5). From here you can easily search, download, and purchase stock content from a variety of sources. Or even find a photographer to create your own branded materials. And, since the content is already in Bridge, it takes nothing at all to drag the image directly into the project you are working on (assuming that a comp is available). <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_c2_bridge_stockphotos.jpg" /> Figure 5: Stock photos from a variety of sources are available for purchase and view directly inside of Bridge. Before Adobe Bridge, I used a conglomeration of the Windows Explorer, Picasa, Paint Shop Pro, and various web browsers to accomplish somewhat the same tasks. And although Bridge does take a bit to get running, it certainly helps in the overall content management area. <PAGEBREAK> Illustrate My World According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Illustrator">Wikipedia</a>, "Adobe Illustrator was first developed for the Apple Macintosh in 1985 as a logical commercialization of Adobe's in-house font development software and PostScript file format...Illustrator was a reliable, capable product, however, and its relatively low learning curve let users quickly appreciate that the new paradigm was not only better, but finally solved the problem of imprecision from existing programs like MacDraw. It also provided a tool for people who could neither afford nor learn high-end (and perhaps overkill) software such as AutoCAD. Illustrator successfully filled a niche between painting and CAD programs." And several revisions later (this is considered version 12), we find ourselves here (Figure 6. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_illustrator_title.jpg" /> Figure 6: As it name would suggest, Illustrator allows you to take your illustrations to the next level. One of the most useful new features I found in this version of Illustrator is the context-sensitive Control Palette (Figure 7). By reducing the number of tools that are spread across the screen, life becomes much more manageable and therefore, the software doesn't seem nearly as daunting to learn. I do understand if some of you existing power users may not care for this change, but thankfully, if you don't like it, you don't have to use it - all the toolbars you are used to are still available (smart thinking Adobe). <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_illustrator_control.jpg" /> Figure 7: To reduce clutter and improve the overall workspace, Adobe has introduced the context-sensitive Control Palette. Another new feature (Figure 8) can be found within this new Control Palette, that of the ability to change the stroke location (internal, external, or centered). Missing from the Control Palette, however, is the ability to preview fonts. You can preview from the Type menu, but one would think that with the importance being placed on the Control Palette, this sort of functionality would be present. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_illustrator_stroke.jpg" /> Figure 8: New stroke options are also available in this newest version of Illustrator. Live Trace (Figure 9) and Live Paint (Figure 10) have also found a home in this version of Adobe Illustrator. What are these new 'Live' tools? Well, let's look at the figures below. In Figure 9, we see on the left my original bitmap image (copied from an older software application, cropped, and then resized to pixelate). On the right is the same bitmap, but one that has been processed through Live Trace, converting it into a much more usable vector image. Then, in Figure 10, we take the same converted image (on the left) and we can start painting the parts as we desire (on the right, for example), thus eliminating the need to paint by hand each individual pixel. This may not seem like much at first, but I've had to do a lot of pixel-level editing, and these features are a real treat, considering how much time will be saved. Now, I did try to convert some scanned hand-drawn art without much luck. But the results I was able to produce made me feel like I needed to just try some different options, and I would probably see a significant gain in the future. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_illustrator_livetrace.jpg" /> Figure 9: With Live Trace, I was able to convert the bitmap image on the left and turn it into scalable vector art. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_illustrator_livepaint.jpg" /> Figure 10: Using Live Paint, I can take the now Live Traced image and color the bits as desired. As with any new application, the help and tutorial sections are very important. And since I was completely new to Illustrator, there was an even greater need. I am happy to report that the help and tutorials filled the gap nicely, and I quickly found myself using the tools trained on with some proficiency (Figure 11). Of course, there is a lot to be found in CS2, so I am in no way an expert at this point, but it is nice to see such a good help base. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_illustrator_tutorials.jpg" /> Figure 11: After a quick look at one of the Illustrator tutorials, I was able to quickly start using new (to me) tools, such as the Pathfinder. So far, two for two in Adobe's favor. Before Illustrator (which has a lot of tools that I normally wouldn't have access to), I would have been using a combination of Paint Shop Pro and PhotoDraw. Workable, but much simpler within Illustrator in a lot of respects. <PAGEBREAK> The Infamous (and Famous) Photoshop If you've spent any amount of time on the Internet, you've probably stumbled across a 'photoshopped' image (you can find some interesting examples <a href="http://www.worth1000.com/default.asp">here</a>. Hardly a day goes by, in the technological rumor world, without some user accusing another poster that the image they have provided was faked. Not to say that the term photoshopping is all bad. And while Adobe doesn't care for the term (as it could potentially limit the trademark); it is because of Adobe that the term exists. Photoshop (Figure 12) is, however, more than just a photo editing application. It has a variety of tools (Figure 13) that work well with any sort of graphical project. And with its inclusion in CS2 (and the interoperability between), the value increases exponentially. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_photoshop_title.jpg" /> Figure 12: The famous Photoshop is more that just a photo editing application. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_photoshop_tools.jpg" /> Figure 13: The default toolset for Adobe Photoshop. Some things in this version Photoshop have changed, such as the new single-click redeye removal tool (Figure 14), which does a remarkably good job, even on animal shots. Other updates include advanced noise reduction (which makes life a lot simpler and does a pretty decent job), an improved font menu (with samples), customizable workspaces, 32-bit High Dynamic Range support, and even high-capacity RAM support (the full list can be found <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/newfeatures2.html">here</a>). <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_photoshop_redeye.jpg" /> Figure 14: A side by side example of the new single-click redeye tool. One particularly useful tool (for small edits) that is new to this version is the Spot Healing Brush. In the following example (Figure 15), I've used the Spot Healing Brush to hide a mole on the boy's face. For larger areas, the Spot Healing Brush doesn't do quite as well, but you still have the Healing and Patch tools available for that. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_photoshop_spotheal.jpg" /> Figure 15: An example of the Spot Healing Brush, used to remove a mole. Ever pasted a vector image into Photoshop? Once you've placed the graphic, if you resize it later, you begin to lose image quality. With the addition of Smart Objects (Figure 16), Adobe has given the users the ability to dynamically place, then resize, place again, etc., without losing the scalability of the vector art. Combine this with the Warp tools, and you've got a yet another way to expand your capabilities. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_photoshop_smartobject.jpg" /> Figure 16: Smart Objects maintain their scalability. Personally, I got a kick out of the new Vanishing Point tool (Figure 17). Think of it as a cloning tool combined with a perspective vortex. Once you've got the hang of it, you can easily expand, extend, or even overlay art while maintaining the proper perspective. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_photoshop_vanishing.jpg" /> Figure 17: Using the Vanishing Point tool, I was able to expand the artwork to better fit the project. Want to put your images on a website? Simply transfer them over to ImageReady (Figure 18) and make slices, image maps, and optimize to your heart's content. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_photoshop_imageready.jpg" /> Figure 18: Using ImageReady, you can quickly add image maps. Of course, what I've covered is a mere sampling of what you are capable of accomplishing inside of Photoshop. But here is where things get sticky. I like a lot of what Photoshop has to offer, but the toolset is most closely related to Paint Shop Pro, which I'm used to working with. Add in the fact that a lot of the keyboard shortcuts that I've learned don't match up and you might begin to understand why even for this review, I was using Paint Shop Pro to capture and crop the example images used. Perhaps with some training I'll find it easier to manage, but at this point, I'll have to stick with the dual-mode. <PAGEBREAK> Design It InDesign (Figure 19) is Adobe's answer for an integrated (somewhat) page-layout application. I say somewhat because the application doesn't seem quite on par with the rest of the CS2 suite in the respect that it doesn't support Smart Objects at all (which surprises me considering the value of such a tool in page design). Its tools are plentiful (Figure 20) and customizable, but it has some shortcomings. That is not to say that InDesign doesn't have some strengths. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_indesign_title.jpg" /> Figure 19: InDesign is Adobe's answer for an integrated page-layout application. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_indesign_tools.jpg" /> Figure 20: The default InDesign toolset. For example, because of the advanced integration with Adobe Bridge, we are able to take and swap images to customize the built-in templates with little effort at all (Figure 21). This also means that you can quickly build layouts with comps and quickly replace the images with your finished art. You can also set Alternate images (say if you decided not to use a comp, or to give the client options). When in your preflight process, Adobe will even notify you of things such as unpurchased comp images and color spots (both of which can be fixed with a few mouse clicks). <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_indesign_template.jpg" /> Figure 21: Taking a newsletter template, we are able to easily customize the images by simply dragging in replacements from Adobe Bridge. Decided to change the color scheme or font for the layout? Rather than having to tediously replace each element, you can quickly modify just about any format for anything in the design using Object styles (Figure 22). Or save your styles for future layouts. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_indesign_styles.jpg" /> Figure 22: Easily change styles and colors throughout your layout. New Anchored Objects take in-line graphics to the next level (Figure 23). Even if you move your text to the opposite page, with the proper anchor settings, the graphics will follow and format themselves accordingly. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_indesign_anchor.jpg" /> Figure 23: By using object anchors, even if your layout changes, the object will still connect to the proper spot. As mentioned before, while the toolset is expansive, Adobe just didn't seem to give as much detail to matching what is available in other applications within CS2. Perhaps this is to allow for sales of the individual apps, but personally, since this is all one package, if I want to make a vertical text path (such as those in Illustrator), it should be available. But only standard text paths are available within InDesign (Figure 24). Same with Smart Objects - why leave this feature out of an application that could use it the most? <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_indesign_textpath.jpg" /> Figure 24: Text paths are available within InDesign, but not to the extent they are in Illustrator. Prior to InDesign, I was generally using either Publisher or Word. Both of which have an even more limited toolset, and don't have nearly the functionality. But I am disappointed with the lack of Smart Object capabilities. Yes you can still link the art to the base file, and even take advantage of Photoshop layers within those files, but it still feels like things are missing. <PAGEBREAK> GoLive Outside The Box If you are going to produce print media, then you should be using the same branding on your website (or vice versa). And with Adobe GoLive (Figure 25), you can do this and more. With the included toolset (Figure 26), you can not only create, but also manage your site. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_golive_title.jpg" /> Figure 25: GoLive gives you the capabilities to take your Adobe projects to the web. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_golive_links.jpg" /> Figure 26: The tools you need to manage a site (such as layout, site mapping, ftp, etc.) are included within GoLive. As with InDesign, the close integration with Adobe Bridge allows one to quickly replace graphics in templates, or even drop in your InDesign elements (Figure 27). Double-clicking these elements allows you to open them in their originating application (and have them update the site in return). <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_golive_template.jpg" /> Figure 27: As with InDesign, the integration with Adobe Bridge allows for quick and easy element replacement. If you decide to change the font, and you are creating (or editing) a CSS-based site, just make your change inside the CSS editor (Figure 28), and the results are propagated throughout the rest of the project. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_golive_cssedit.jpg" /> Figure 28: Using the CSS editing capabilities, you can modify the entire site or just specific sections. Then, using Live Render, you can test your content for various web browsers, operating systems, and even small format screens (such as cellphones). <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_golive_smallrender.jpg" /> Figure 29: You can even test your content for the very small screen (such as a cellphone). GoLive certainly has a lot of potential. But at this point, I still prefer my prior application, Dreamweaver. Although, as with Photoshop, I think that as I became more familiar with the layout and tools of GoLive, I might be more apt to keep using it, if for nothing else but the great integration. I did crash GoLive a few times, and without it giving me any sort of error beforehand. When I returned to the project I was working on - guess what, the changes were lost. <PAGEBREAK> Acrobatic Events You probably use or see .pdf files every day. Adobe has done quite well in marketing this as the new industry standard to essentially replace postscript. From <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_Document_Format">Wikipedia</a>: When PDF first came out in the early 1990s, it was slow to catch on. At the time, not only did the only PDF creation tools of the time (Acrobat) cost money, but so did the software to view and print PDF files. Early versions of the PDF format had no support for external hyperlinks, reducing its usefulness on the web. Additionally, there were competing formats such as Envoy, Common Ground Digital Paper, DjVu and even Adobe's own PostScript file format (.ps). Adobe started distributing the Acrobat Reader program at no cost, and continued to support PDF through its slow multi-year ramp-up. Competing formats eventually died out, and PDF became a well-accepted standard. Adobe Acrobat Professional (with Adobe Designer) (Figure 30), is the newest version this well-used .pdf creation software. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_acrobat_title.jpg" /> Figure 30: You can even test your content for the very small screen (such as a cellphone). While you can just as easily send your content directly from any of the Adobe applications into a .pdf file, you can also create (Figure 31) the portable document from file (or multiple files), scanned pages (even multiple sides on a flatbed scanner), clipboard images, or web pages. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_acrobat_pdf.jpg" /> Figure 31: Content can be created inside Acrobat from file(s), scanned pages, clipboard images, or even web pages. Prior to CS2, if you wanted someone to be able to review, comment, and markup your file (Figure 32), that user needed Acrobat Professional. Now, users with Acrobat Reader 7 or above can participate in this same process without having to pay for the full blown version. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_acrobat_markup.jpg" /> Figure 32: In this version of Acrobat, even users of Acrobat Reader 7 or above can add markup (such I've done in Acrobat Professional). Also new in this version of Acrobat is the Organizer (Figure 33), which can help you manage, find, and organize your .pdf content. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_acrobat_organizer.jpg" /> Figure 33: Adobe Acrobat's new Organizer helps you find and manage .pdf content. Want to make a fill-in .pdf form? Now Adobe Designer is included with Adobe Acrobat Professional (sorry Mac folks, Windows only as of this review). You can create from scratch, use a template, or even import existing .pdf files (Figure 34). A handy feature to say the least. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/ta_cs2_acrobat_designer.jpg" /> Figure 34: Designer can even import existing .pdf content and convert it to a fill-in form. I recall when Adobe introduced the .pdf format. I also recall the cost was quite extraordinary. Once Adobe Acrobat Reader became free, more and more companies expected this as the delivery format. We worked out a few ways to produce the .pdf files without using Acrobat, and there are open source projects that still exist today (and which I've used quite heavily in the past), that allow for quick .pdf creation. But once again, Adobe, with its focus on integration, has made this a very useful and simple tool to produce content that can be read and even commented upon by those who have the newest Reader versions. A strong application we should see more of in the future. Conclusions Phew! What a lot of content. And we've barely scratched the surface of this suite. In all Adobe Creative Suite 2 Premium presents a plethora of tools, options, and the integration has yet to be matched by any other graphic design company to date. After almost six months of pounding through this software, I'm still using the apps I used before, but with less and less frequency. Slowly but surely, Adobe is taking over my design world and perhaps yours too. Tim Adams currently hails from the Pacific Northwest (specifically Oregon), and is the I.S. Director for a group of MRI facilities. Tim also is an avid musician (samples can be listened/downloaded <a href="http://www.acidplanet.com/dickie">from Acidplanet</a>).