Adobe CS3

[popejoydesign]

Well it's finally announced. CS3 has been announced!

Some very cool new things are going to be available for all the different programs and several different bundles to choose from. I am waiting to see how much the upgrade for the student version is going to be but the full version price is only $399 for students. I am still getting used to CS2 but now I will have to learn CS3.

The new PANELS are going to be very nice to have, different but we'll all get used to it! I use InDesign, PS and Illy mostly so I don't think I will be purchasing the Premium package, the standard will be fine for me, but still I am excited to see how it's going to run on my Intel based Macbook Pro, they are pushing the speed of CS3 as a big upgrade...we'll see.

[wienerdog]

The live webcast had technical difficulties, and that was kinda funny. Looking forward to a more streamlined interface throughout the Adobe and former Macromedia products.

[Patrick Shannon]

What I found funny on the webcast is when they decided on a little Q&A during technical difficulties, Chizen couldn't even remember what all came in the hundred different combinations of the suite.

I caught something *real* interesting though, they said that their software runs great on the "new" Mac Pros. Now seeing as the August 06 machines are hardly new anymore, I wonder if they got a hold of the second gen Pro machines?

[popejoydesign]

Good point..I have one of the 1st gen MacBook Pro's (at least I am pretty sure it is) and am wondering if it will work just as fast as they are saying.

[Sketcher]

Fireworks doesn't come in CS3 Premium but Dreamweaver and Flash do?

[Rocketpig]

I really hate their bundles. Not a single one includes a program that I DO NOT use.

Meh, looks like it will be piecemeal for me... Again.

[PrintDriver]

I'm sure a lot of marketing research went into finding the perfect assortment of bundles to inconveniance the most people. Did anyone try buying TurboTax this year? Adobe is taking lessons from all the wrong people.

[Riya]

Not a single one includes a program that I DO NOT use.

Isn't that a good thing? Or did you mean something else?

And isn't it cheaper to buy the package deals and have something that you don't use/install than to buy pieces?

[Patrick Shannon]

Probably meant every single suite has a program that won't be used.

That's kind of my case...I'm going with CS3 Design Premium only because it has Flash, and Dreamweaver isn't important to me. But the Standard suite and Flash upgrade costs identical to the premium upgrade so might as well get more for the same price. I may start using Dreamweaver in place of BBEdit, I always did like the interface a little better (hate the unattached, multiple windows in BBEdit when working with web) and DW is a great code editor when used that way.

Yeah, I'm surprised Fireworks isn't included in the design premium (since DW and Flash is there already). But I guess having Photoshop makes it kind of unnecessary. Although I thought that Fireworks would replace Imageready for sure.

[Sketcher]

Yeah, I'm surprised Fireworks isn't included in the design premium (since DW and Flash is there already). But I guess having Photoshop makes it kind of unnecessary. Although I thought that Fireworks would replace Imageready for sure.

Is Photoshop a good alternative to Fireworks? I've never actually used it that way before.

[Rocketpig]

Isn't that a good thing? Or did you mean something else?

And isn't it cheaper to buy the package deals and have something that you don't use/install than to buy pieces?

Like Patrick said, I meant to say "every one includes a program I do not use".

[Patrick Shannon]

Is Photoshop a good alternative to Fireworks? I've never actually used it that way before.

Well, for my uses, Photoshop does the whole slicing thing just fine. I haven't played with Fireworks in years but heard it was vastly superior to Imageready. An article I was reading said that Imageready wasn't in CS3 and was replaced with Fireworks, yet Fireworks isn't in some of the suites. So wouldn't Imageready still have to be around? I are confused.

[Sketcher]

I are confused.

Haha, so am I. I have no idea which version of CS3 to get. Each version is missing at least one program that I need, except the master version, but that also has several programs that I DON'T need and is way over my budget.

[urstwile]

What if you bought the package that has all but one program, and then get that one separately, or does that end up being just as expensive?

It is a weird notion, however. They should just let you customize your package and do something like pricing it on a minimum number of programs or something.

[frankster]

wouldn't it be lovely if you could just pic the ones you were going to use and based on how many you bought you got an increasing percentage off the total price. Never going to happen though. Booo.

[urstwile]

Yeah, I was thinking something along those lines, Frankster.

[Rocketpig]

That's a great idea but since Adobe was somehow allowed to purchase Macromedia, becoming a virtual monopoly in the process, that's never going to happen.

[Patrick Shannon]

What I think stinks is that there isn't much of a discount for people owning apps from BOTH suites. I own the Adobe Creative Suite and Flash, there should be a little more discount for that.

[Patrick Shannon]

Heh. http://www.joyoftech.com/joyoftech/joyimages/942.gif

[MD]

I really hate their bundles. Not a single one includes a program that I DO NOT use.

Meh, looks like it will be piecemeal for me... Again.

Did you notice that they raised the prices of the individual upgrades again this year? Upgrades used to be $120 - Then with CS the bumped them to $165 - with CS3 they bumped it up again to $200. It looks like they are attempting to force an upgrade to the suite.

[Rocketpig]

Did you notice that they raised the prices of the individual upgrades again this year? Upgrades used to be $120 - Then with CS the bumped them to $165 - with CS3 they bumped it up again to $200. It looks like they are attempting to force an upgrade to the suite.

Yeah, I noticed that.

I heart Adobe.

[SurfPark]

ImageReady got the boot, and they included many of its features into Photoshop CS3 Extended.

[reuber1]

ImageReady got the boot, and they included many of its features into Photoshop CS3 Extended.
Finally. Back in school, I never understood that separation. Maybe Imageready had that much more than I realized though.

[SurfPark]

I think ImageReady was created for web outputs. Keep in mind that Photoshop wasn't very web-friendly until version 4. Instead of a adding all of these additional features they made it a separate program. The web wasn't as big of a presence as it was back then. It was awlays easier to offer Photoshop as a printer's tool with optional web outputs via ImageReady. Now that the whole world is starting to use the web, I think they realized it should all be put together.

I think its a bad move to put it only in the Extended though. How many designers do web and print? A lot!

[reuber1]

I think ImageReady was created for web outputs. Keep in mind that Photoshop wasn't very web-friendly until version 4. Instead of a adding all of these additional features they made it a separate program. The web wasn't as big of a presence as it was back then. It was awlays easier to offer Photoshop as a printer's tool with optional web outputs via ImageReady. Now that the whole world is starting to use the web, I think they realized it should all be put together.

I think its a bad move to put it only in the Extended though. How many designers do web and print? A lot!
Surf, you have like the most convenient and awesome sig ever.

[urstwile]

I think its a bad move to put it only in the Extended though. How many designers do web and print? A lot!

Either a bad move or a way to make some more simoleons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simoleon). Just goes to show the trend Adobe has predictably taken as the new Microsoft of graphics software.

[Piscosour]

SurfPark That PrimoPDf is very cool.

[smashmiester]

Anyone know how to delete the CS3 Beta version. I can't find it anywhere. I had it on my Mac but the trial has expired and I want it to go away.

[Virgo Nightingale]

Does anyone here know whether InDesign CS3 will have the option to save down to CS? I know CS2 doesn't, you have to save as an InDesign Exchange file and hope the person you're sending the file to has the proper plugin to open the file. This is kinda a pain in the butt and I'm hoping CS3 will fix this. I did some searching, but couldn't find any info on that.

[Patrick Shannon]

Anyone know how to delete the CS3 Beta version. I can't find it anywhere. I had it on my Mac but the trial has expired and I want it to go away.

I just dragged the application to the trash can and away it went. All my Photoshop files even defaulted back to the regular CS1 installation I had on there.

[Patrick Shannon]

No no! Don't listen to me, especially if you're planning on installing the full version of CS3! (I just ran into problems due to this, thanks Adobe) Go here to uninstall: http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?id=kb401502

[carter the artist]

YEY!!! I cannot wait till the boss springs for the upgrade, I was checking out some of the tutorial features. They have really put some great features in this.

http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/video_workshop/

[SurfPark]

Awesome tutorials! They made Dreamweaver make sense!

[reuber1]

Will be watching those tonight. I didn't even know that existed.

[Patrick Shannon]

Another good video on all of the suite's new features is Terry White's Creative Suite podcast, they did over an hourlong video podcast recently on it: http://creativesuitepodcast.com/

CS3 is really all that and a bag of chips, I'm very pleased with it so far. Only real oddity is that Dreamweaver lacks the interface upgrade that all the other apps have...unless there's a setting or something that I'm not seeing.

[wienerdog]

Man, I have had the WORST time trying to install this CS3 upgrade on my WinXP PC.

I had NO problem installing on my WinXP system at home which had:
PS7
Ill CS2
InD 2.0
Studio 8

My work system has:
PS CS
Ill CS2
Studio 8
Acrobat 6

Every time I try to install at work, the only thing that actually installs are some "Shared Components" (although that's ALSO listed as having failed) and Acrobat 8, but that can't even be used until another program has been opened to get the thing registered. I've called tech support and uninstalled, used the CS3Clean Script (http://www.adobe.com/support/contact/cs3clean.html), reinstalled, and it STILL won't install.

I pushed for this upgrade to SAVE me time and move away from Quark. Now I'm wasting work time and killing my productivity.

[Patrick Shannon]

Another designer who I talked to last night said something to the effect that if you buy and download the windows version, you can only install it on that machine. I didn't run into that on the Mac version, but what a clusterf**k if that's true of that version.

[fredrich]

Another designer who I talked to last night said something to the effect that if you buy and download the windows version, you can only install it on that machine. I didn't run into that on the Mac version, but what a clusterf**k if that's true of that version.

What about getting the CDs instead of downloading?

[wienerdog]

Wow, this upgrade has been an absolute nightmare for me at work, and I'm just going to vent. Most of the major components fail to install every time I try an install.

I've wasted so many hours uninstalling, reinstalling, running the CS3Clean Script on several levels (which was intended for PS CS3 Beta users, of which I'm not), and I've had to call tech support 3 times to get nowhere and it's clear they can't figure out how to help me, but won't put me through to an advanced technician.

They've put me through such a run-around, and I've lost all patience with this, as any time-savings I'd gain from the new software features aren't much compared to the time it's taking just to get it INSTALLED. I will NEVER EVER buy any upgrade again until it's been at least several months from launch date.

I'm surprised their technicians can't remote into my computer and take control to see what's happening, or at least READ THE NOTES ON THE CASE NUMBER and realize I should be put through to a higher technician due to the amount of time I've wasted already. I brought in my IT people at my company and I called tech support this morning and asked to be given to a higher-level technician, but the tech didn't seem to want to do that. It was clear to me and my IT guy that this installer is a real mess. I knew things were bad when I was even given conflicting info about whether I should have even been told to run the Clean Script! He made some general suggestions on just removing Adobe programs one at a time and seeing if that'll work. The amount of time it's going to take to do this is really absurd, so I may give them another call and insist on being put through to an advanced technician or I'll never buy another of their products again. I'm afraid Adobe has become Microsoft.

[wienerdog]

I'm running on WinXP Professional here at work. That is a major difference from WinXP at home.

So my IT guy just checked out the Event Log by going to:
Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Event Viewer > Application

It shows the errors from the MsiInstaller with:

Event ID: 11303

Description: Product: Adobe Setup -- Error 1303. The installer has insurfficient privileges to accesss this directory: C:\Config.Msi. The installation cannot continue. Log on as an administrator or contact your system administrator.

0000: 4539307b 31313132 36312d43 342d3142
0010: 2d464444 44304642 3939462d 41394334
0020: 35333231 7d30

However, the group for my WinXP user account is listed as: Administrators

So I guess I have more detailed info for my next call with Adobe Tech Support. Maybe with this advanced info, I can get an advanced Tech.

So I SHOULD have the rights to install.

[jessicam]

I just installed CS3 a little bit ago and so far I am getting weird errors with Bridge and Adobe Stock Photos, but everything else seems to be fine. Except I can't figure out how to get my windows and pallettes to dock the way I want yet.

[Gromit801]

I am so ANGRY with what they've done to InDesign! IDIOTS!

I often have INDD documents that will contain 10 or 20 graphics. Photos, eps, etc. I will have to do some size tweaking to get things to work. Previously, I just had to click on the desired image, select an anchor point in the upper left, and work the height and width buttons. Everything stayed in proportion with the constrain proportions button clicked on.

NOW... You have to select the graphic with the direct selection tool, get it to your size, but the bounding frame DOESN'T change with it! You have to go back up, grab the selection tool, and resize the bounding frame. Who's absolutely lame idea was this? It slows me to a crawl, and I am seriously thinking about trashing CS3 and reloading CS2. Don't get me started on the INDD changes in the tool bar and pallets either. AAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGG!

CS3 sucks like a tornado.

[PrintDriver]

They both don't resize if holding commandoptionshift and dragging a corner handle?
Haven't loaded it yet. Waiting for the weekend.

[Alan G]

Been working with CS3 for a week or so and I am definitely a fan. There were a few installation gotchas, and I really wish they'd put the "Uninstall PS CS3 beta before you install CS3" info big and up front, but it all got there finally without too much pain.

Integration is way better than CS2. The new panels take only a short time to get used to, and then you realize they're a huge improvement. I've already saved hours of production time compared with the same tasks in a CS2 workflow.

Multiple place in INDD, with thumbnails of the images/documents at the cursor, makes for a way faster workflow placing lots of stuff in a layout. As with any major new release, there are some changes to the workflow to make the most gain from the new features, but the gains are definitely there to be had. There are little things, too, like you can align objects to the page or to the margins, or text wrap now works from master pages, that just make life easier. (I'm not sure what you ran into, Gromit. I've found image scaling generally easier and faster than in CS2. You can now toggle back and forth between the selection and direct selection tools just by double-clicking on the object, so you never have to touch the dimension boxes.) You can now place a .ai file and turn the layers on and off, just like a .psd or a pdf. See Michael Murphy's review on creativepro.com for a very good analysis of Indy CS3.

The quick selection in Photoshop has already cut at least 3 or 4 hours out of my workload in the last few days. Watching it pick out an accurate edge on a low-contrast image is almost eerie. I had one image that would have taken at least 30 minutes of painstaking detail work with the pen tool and alpha channels, but between quick select and the "refine edges" button I was done in under five minutes. It almost felt like cheating... Non-destructive filters and the upgrades to Vanishing Point work beautifully, and fast. (The program also loads a heckuva lot faster. Gotta love that.)

Illy has some really good "small" improvements. No more zooming way in to select an anchor point -- my eyes give thanks -- and you can now use the align tools for anchor points, not just objects. The splashy stuff like live color looks cool, but I've not had occasion to use it yet.

Dreamweaver and Flash are the icing on the cake. The UIs are consistent, and the integration with PS, Illy and Indy is phenomenal.

The DVDs come with a slew of video tutorials (which are also online at the Adobe website). They are a huge improvement over the fairly minimal set that came with CS2. They're individually quite short, and they are neatly categorized so you can zero in on what you need to know about.

As for pricing, I'm on the suite route already, and I'm freelance so I count pennies. I thought $440 for the upgrade from CS 2.3 to CS3 Design Premium was cheap. In the last two upgrades I got Dreamweaver free, then Flash Professional free. That's awfully hard to complain about. I would have had to spring for Flash anyway, so I held off until the new release.

Note to Gromit: Unless you specifically uninstalled it, you still have CS2. The two versions run side by side just fine. The CS3 upgrade doesn't remove CS2 or cancel your CS2 license.

[Alan G]

NOW... You have to select the graphic with the direct selection tool, get it to your size, but the bounding frame DOESN'T change with it! You have to go back up, grab the selection tool, and resize the bounding frame.

In CS3 you can now double click to toggle between the selection and direct selection tools. Once you have the object sized, Control-Alt-C (Cmd-Option-C) is still the "fit frame to content" shortcut, or you can click the icon in the control panel, same as in CS2.

But as PD points out, you can still use the Ctrl-Alt-Shift drag to resize both in one shot.

[carter the artist]

I am so ANGRY with what they've done to InDesign! IDIOTS!

I often have INDD documents that will contain 10 or 20 graphics. Photos, eps, etc. I will have to do some size tweaking to get things to work. Previously, I just had to click on the desired image, select an anchor point in the upper left, and work the height and width buttons. Everything stayed in proportion with the constrain proportions button clicked on.

NOW... You have to select the graphic with the direct selection tool, get it to your size, but the bounding frame DOESN'T change with it! You have to go back up, grab the selection tool, and resize the bounding frame. Who's absolutely lame idea was this? It slows me to a crawl, and I am seriously thinking about trashing CS3 and reloading CS2. Don't get me started on the INDD changes in the tool bar and pallets either. AAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGG!

CS3 sucks like a tornado.

I like how you can "Transform" and preview the transform the scale, before you apply. That's how i've been dealing with it.

[Alan G]

I just installed CS3 a little bit ago and so far I am getting weird errors with Bridge and Adobe Stock Photos, but everything else seems to be fine. Except I can't figure out how to get my windows and pallettes to dock the way I want yet.

Try resetting the Bridge prefs (hold down ctrl/command, alt/option and shift all together as soon as you start the program). Odd things can happen, even at install time.

See the videos for a good intro to the new interface.

[Gromit801]

All nice suggestions, but each one actually slows me down, compared to how simple it was in CS2.

I called Adobe, and they guy on the phone said mine was probably the most common complaint he's been receiving about CS3.

[kfh_king]

i personaly love the additions to cs3 it was worth the time and the money to get it, i hav been useing it for about a week now and i think i am in love. the interface is smooth and easyer to use and those other addtions that i used are great to but i did not use the big one that they got off of image ready

[PrintDriver]

All nice suggestions, but each one actually slows me down, compared to how simple it was in CS2.

I called Adobe, and they guy on the phone said mine was probably the most common complaint he's been receiving about CS3.

Well, I'm sure they'll fix it when you buy CS4. Heaven forbid they actually issue a patch. Which is all these upgrades really are. The way these programs appear to be built, it wouldn't take much to just sell the new modules instead of making you buy all the old ones over again. <sigh>

[PrintDriver]

Weinerdog, did you try these two fixes?
http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx/.3bc3b213
or this:
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?id=326539

Install stall is right at the top of the Windows list on the Adobe forums... And you mention you had directories pointed all over your network in your own post (there is just something grating to me about using your full name on a knowledge base forum that is kind of as insane as posting a blog about your boss...)

Sounds like your system is a mess.

And now children, this is the reason I wait at least a week, sometimes until the first upgrade, to buy new software. Let the dust settle on the guinea pigs who stood in line.

[Virgo Nightingale]

Our entire office just upgraded. Not a single hitch. At least not yet. *knocking on wood and crossing fingers*

[fredrich]

I've ordered the Master Collection, shipping late July.

[imann08]

I installed mine at the beginning of the weekend and had no problems whatsoever. I think this is probably the biggest step up from one version to the next ever. Photoshop has made leaps and bounds compared just to CS2. I haven't checked out INDD or AI yet but I'm sure I'll like. I just needed the standard version since I don't mess with the web. I'm very pleased with the UI and the way that they dock palettes and you can close them down and open them as you need them. I think Bridge has improved nicely as well. As time goes on I may find something to complain about but so far I have nothing.

[Caddyman]

I have been using cs3 beta for a while, lemme ask to those who have the full version. Can you open a animated .gif with it?

In the beta you can't opena animated .gif into frames like you could with IR CS2.

maybe a newbie question, im not a pro, just like to fiddle with the proggies :)

[designerstacie]

I was just getting ready to upgrade to CS3 and get a new Macbook Pro.... I met with a new client today and they are using Quark 6.0. I haven't used Quark in 3 years, ugh. Their designer and editiors all work with the native Quark files, and they don't use PDF's like the rest of the world for proofing! How can I get these people to get updated on software and a new way of proofing? I really don't want to work in their office, it is a good 45 minute drive. I have been spoiled with working out of my home and have been quite successful in my Graphic Design business. Any suggestions?

[PrintDriver]

Don't take them on as a client, maybe?

If a business has a lot of backlog invested in a Quark workflow, you are not going to get them to change. Buy the software or give up the client. Freelancers have to be versatile. If I was to outsource work in Quark, I'd expect a designer to step up to do the work in Quark, not argue with me to change over to CS3 as an 'update'.

[designerstacie]

Does anybody know if I can save down from Quark 7 to Quark 6? In the past, I know Quark did not allow versions saved lower.

[PrintDriver]

I'm not sure about 7. We don't use it...yet.
All other versions of Quark backsave at least one rev.

[Tikamars]

I have been using CS# for about 3 weeks now and....well, some things just 'bug' me. The key commands for the step and repeat have changed, and the way the step and repeat works is just 'different'.

To answer a question posted earlier, I don't see where you can save down to CS2. I do see where you can export to interchange document.

I guess all in all I like the new CS3....excuse me, but anything is better than QXD!

[elle7]

Hi,

This is in response to the post asking about downsaving in Quark 7.

Just go to File > Export > Layouts as Project >
choose location, file name, etc., but in the Version pulldown menu, choose
Version 6.0.

I'm pretty sure that in each version of Quark, you can only save down one version. So like, Quark 7 saves down to 6. Quark 6 saves to 5.

[PrintDriver]

yeah, that was to prevent you from saving down to 4 and importing directly into InDesign. LOL. <Now there is a plugin.>

Careful on the downsave. Transparency and the other new features are not supported in 6. No telling what will happen.

[SurfPark]

Oh that Quark with their silliness...

[PrintDriver]

So, back on topic...what's up with save down in Illustrator CS3? Now granted I've only had the program a week so something may not be apparent here but why when I save down to CS2 am I getting all boxes with transparency coming into CS2 as embedded images. THAT is not helpful. Some raster effect checkbox I'm missing please?