Adobe CS4 Announced

23 September 2008 5:01 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Adobe has launched a new version of its Creative Suite adding a stack of new features over its 14 applications.

In total there will be 6 editions available covering all angles for the creative types out there be in print, web, video or mobile.

Users will be able to choose from the following packages that differ in the applications they offer depending on your business/creative need.

For the design folk there will be the Design Premium and Design Standard versions. Webmasters will get a Web Premium and Web Standard, while film types will get Production Premium. Those wishing to embrace the Adobe love the whole way will be able to get a Master Collection that features all available applications. While a price has yet to be set for the Master application, version 3 was over £2000.

In a move away from making the video production workers of this world having to wait longer, Adobe has said that they too will get the new products announced today.

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 contextualising 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.

InDesign also gets plenty of new features, the most interesting being the ability to add in-page Flash support for creating interactive magazines on the web.

Adobe Creative Suite 4 will be available in October and come in six different packages.

Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Premium will be £1249, Adobe Creative Suite 4 Web Premium will cost £1195, Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production Premium £1409, and £1969 for Adobe Creative Suite 4 Master Collection.

Adobe plans to offer tiered upgrade pricing from previous versions. For a limited time, valid licensed customers of eligible versions of Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe Production Studio and Macromedia Studio will be able to upgrade to Creative Suite 4 for the CS3 upgrade price.