By Richard Harrington, April 4, 2007
It was an exciting afternoon on March 27 when Adobe announced updates to virtually its entire product line-tying together seven applications into a new version of its Creative Suite software for streamlined, video-intensive workflow.
Adobe's Creative Suite 3 Production Premium bundle will be cross-platform when it debuts in the third quarter of 2007 (that is, between July 1 and Sept. 30). Targeting both postproduction and rich media (aka multimedia) professionals, the bundle includes After Effects CS3 Professional, Premiere Pro CS3, Encore CS3, Photoshop CS3 Extended, Illustrator CS3, Flash CS3 Professional, and Soundbooth CS3. For Windows users, the bundle also includes OnLocation CS3, formerly Serious Magic DV Rack, and Ultra CS3 software for chroma keying, also a former Serious Magic app. (Mac users can run these two apps under Boot Camp.)
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Adobe's Bob Donlon demos After Effects CS3 Professional at the software suite's March 27 debut.
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After Effects' Brainstorm tool helps to randomize variables and experiment--a nice option when you need variety.
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After Effects CS3 Professional
After Effects awed everybody at Adobe's March press demonstration. The new version will support both Power PC and Intel Macs.
Features include:
- Shape Layers-New vector-based shapes for motion graphics design.
- Puppet tool-Allowing for bending and animation via anchor points. Go watch the demo, it's interesting.
- Photoshop CS3 Extended-Significant improvements to Layer Styles as well as better import abilities and integration with Photoshop Extended Video Layer and paint features.
- Flash CS3 Professional integration-This extensive and impressive overhaul includes transparency support.
- Per-character 3D text animation-With many new presets and the ability to use 3D space.
- Brainstorm-Helping to randomize variables and experiment-a nice option when you need variety.
- Video for mobile-By tying into the new Device Central, it's easy to create video for iPods, PSPs, and cellular phones.
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Adobe's forthcoming Creative Suite 3 Production Premium bundle includes new versions of After Effects Professional, Premiere Pro, Encore, Photoshop Extended, Illustrator, Flash Professional, and Soundbooth--all integrated with one another.
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Premiere Pro CS3
Premiere Pro adds a larger emphasis on format support and improved integration. The improvements are nice, but the development team definitely spent their time making the application cross-platform. Still, even long-time users will like the few changes. Adobe added a useful Time Remapping tool for changing speed (including variable). Additionally, integration with all the video applications is easier via the improved Dynamic Link function, which lets you easily move media between applications. Adobe Clip Notes is now standard, making it easier to streamline the client review process. Premiere Pro will run only on Intel-based Macs and Windows machines.
Encore CS3
The Encore Demo added one killer new feature that may cause a lot of Mac users to switch from DVD Studio Pro. Encore can now convert your DVD project into an interactive Flash project (with menus) for the web-with no extra work. Adobe's demonstration of this feature drew rounds of applause from the press conference crowd.
Encore now offers support for Blu-ray Disc, but not HD DVD. Running only on Intel-based Macs and Windows machines, Encore is not sold separately, but is included in the bundle or with the purchase of Premiere Pro.
Photoshop CS3 Extended
If you've wanted an improved Photoshop, you've got it. For a detailed overview, see my first look at the Public beta in the April '07 DV. Adobe's Photoshop CS3 Extended brings additional features that video pros will want:
- Smart Filters-Nondestructive editing.
- 3D compositing and texture editing-You can now bring 3D models into Photoshop to use as a design element (if only this made it into After Effects).
- Movie Paint-You now can rotoscope video for effects or harness the powerful cloning and healing tools in Photoshop. These also import into After Effects and remain editable. In addition, you can export video back out to disk.
- Enhanced Vanishing Point with 3D support-You can take an image with clean planes (flat surfaces). In Vanishing Point, you can define the planes and then export a model that can be animated to After Effects or a variety of 3D apps.
- Enhanced 32-bit HDR support-Including layers. If you work with film or high-end 3D, HDR is the way things are moving.
Illustrator CS3
I know, Illustrator for video? Well, it is useful for creating vector graphics for use in After Effects. Adobe added document presets that support nonsquare pixels and video formats. It also has a great color tool for picking color combinations for use in your projects. Illustrator was included to appease the hardcore Flash and AE folk.
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File layers and features now move easily from Illustrator to Flash.
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Flash CS3 Professional
- The big change to past Creative Suite collections is the inclusion of Flash in the bundle. Adobe didn't just do a buy and sell when the company acquired Macromedia. Adobe has made Flash integration a high priority. Premiere Pro can export Flash video easily; After Effects can both create and use SWF files. Other cool new features include:
- Import Photoshop Illustrator files-Layers and features move across easily.
- Adobe interface-Love it or hate it, Flash now looks like an Adobe application.
- Advanced QuickTime export-Easily convert SWF files to QuickTime-which is great for bringing flash into Premiere or any other NLE.
- Sophisticated video tools-A standalone video encoder, alpha channel support, a high-quality video codec, QuickTime import, and closed captioning.
Soundbooth CS3
For better or worse, Adobe Audition is no longer part of the suite. Instead, some of Audition's (better?) parts have been grafted into a new application. Don't worry-Audition still exists, but Adobe decided it is better suited for audio pros (i.e. radio folks and sound engineers). Soundbooth, meanwhile, is targeted for task-based applications and is meant for video editors and motion graphics folks.
Soundbooth can be used to create music and clean up audio. It shares a lot with Apple's Soundtrack Pro; however it does have some unique cleanup tools and great integration with other Adobe applications to ease the music scoring process. There is a heavy emphasis on integrating Soundbooth with the other apps in the suite. Soundbooth will only run on Intel-based Macs and Windows machines.
Are we impressed?
Yep! Adobe has outdone itself with an unparalleled push for a consistent user experience across the entire product line. From increased integration to a consistent interface, the look and feel of all these applications is simply better. Add dramatic speed increases, fair upgrade pricing, and a ton of new features and the Creative Suite 3 Production Premium bundle is well worth looking at.
Mac users, take note: Adobe and Apple seem to have made nice. There was no shortage of Macs at the launch event. Adobe had two Macs on stage and even used Apple's Keynote software (part of iWork) to run the slides. While Premiere Pro competes with Final Cut Pro, FCP users may want to dabble in Premiere for its Advanced Media Encoder (which offers Flash video and a few Windows options that Compressor does not). The ability to use Encore for Flash authoring will also be a huge benefit. I suspect Premiere Pro's marriage to Encore will lead to more Premiere Pro installs on the Mac. Of course, Final Cut Studio users have frequently turned to Photoshop and After Effects in the past, and the new features will continue to please. Even if you only use three applications in the box, it's cheaper to upgrade to the entire suite.
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