Perhaps you remember watching your first Formula 1 race after thinking a Soapbox Derby was pretty fast. Maybe your favorite Japanese restaurant was great until you had dinner at Morimoto’s restaurant. For some things, the term “raising the bar” does not do justice to the fact when you are not just taking it up a notch, but climbing an entirely new ladder.

As a long-time Adobe devotee, I was excited to hear about what was in store for their latest versions of the acclaimed Creative Suite packages, but I had no idea that they would leave anyone who dared to think of themselves as “the competition” as just a memory. A distant, nearly forgotten (and now un-installed) memory. The Master Collection of the Adobe Creative Suite CS4 (US$2,499; upgrades from CS3: $899) is not just your Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign bundle, mind you. This collection has it all for the creative professional and for a huge variety of mediums and formats. With that said, the price is steep, but you won’t look back if you are a serious professional working in print, video, online, digital photography or other media types.

What’s in the box?

I’m so glad you asked. The simple answer is “everything.” New and improved versions Adobe’s mainstay applications and more. Adobe has updated the interfaces so that more features are within easier “reach,” and you will not struggle to find much if you are used to the previous versions. The changes are intuitive and just make sense once you begin to actually use them. Since there is so much to cover, here are the applications and the focus here will be on their new features for CS4.

Photoshop CS4 Extended Edition
Flash CS4 Professional
InDesign CS4
Illustrator CS4
Dreamweaver CS4
Fireworks CS4
Contribute CS4
After Effects CS4
Adobe Premier Pro CS4
Soundbooth CS4
Adobe OnLocation CS4
Encore CS4
Acrobat 9 Professional
Adobe Bridge CS4
Adobe Device Central CS4
Version Cue CS4
Dynamic Link

Two significant improvements worth mentioning are the 3D tools and collaborative workflows now incorporated into CS4 across the board. There is so much more within your reach and each application features improved navigation from updates in the interface of each title. Things are where you would go for them first since Adobe has responded so well to their customer feedback based on previous versions and “wish lists.” Performance has improved as well, but, given the very thirsty system requirements, you may want to be certain that your gear has beyond the minimum requirements in order to achieve the best results. This is nothing new for “power-users” of Adobe products and, as always, Photoshop continues to be a performance benchmark in computing. Again, let us focus on the new features that really elevate CS4 to new heights … and dimensions.

First, Soundbooth. This is not just some lightweight sound editor tacked on, but a full-featured multitrack application. Adobe has added a new file format of .asnd for tighter non-destructive integration with its other applications. The new Speech Search function allows you to do just what it implies so that you can find the sections of dialog you are looking for within a file. With Adobe Dynamic Link incorporated into SoundBooth, there is no real rendering time for your soundtrack and changes are realized throughout the CS4 applications in real-time. The media encoder will export to all popular file types including MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, .WMV, .FLV, and all of the tools are there to improve, enhance, and clean up your audio as well. The Radius engine (iZotope) did a surprisingly clean job of pitch and speed correction when I tested it with an old audiocassette that was tracked too slowly. The support for Core Audio and simple things like Volume Correction make this a powerful tool for everything from soundtracks to web-based video content.

Of course, Adobe Photoshop is the application-turned-verb that continues to be my most frequently used title in the collection and I am always looking to be impressed. Going back to the earliest version as an end-user, my first reaction was “they’ve done it again!” It is faster, easier to navigate, and actually more fun to use in CS4. The canvas rotation tool is a completely new perspective – literally. Shy of the fact that I end up accidentally triggering it with Apple “gestures” on my track pad when working on my MacBook Pro, this is a great feature to improve the way you look at, edit, and present your images. The new adjustments panel gives quick access to correction and enhancement tools and, in this case, does a superior job compared to some of my tried-and-true third-party plug-ins used for some of these tasks. The new scaling tool is excellent and, for things like event photography or web design, allows the clear resizing of an image while changing the aspect ratio. No more squeezing/cropping for your limited output area in your projects. The new masking tool is much better than previous versions as it is now its own adjustment panel. Selecting your targeted subject matter is much faster and more accurate. Again, something that was always better in third-party plug-ins is now onboard. The 3D tools are now greatly improved as well with truly dynamic looking output and depth. All of the 3D editing, including animation tools, seem to bring the images to life. 2D to 3D conversion is fast and is limited only by the amount of time you have.

Adobe Illustrator goes well beyond its description having also come a very long way from its earliest carnations. One of my favorite improvements has to be how easily it is to work with gradients in CS4’s version of AI. Real manipulation and control of what may seem to be a very simple part of a design or layout is now easier and requires fewer step (or “tricks,” if you will) to get the output to match the screen. The ability to control the transparency of a gradient in a 2D or 3D environment allows for both subtle and dramatic effects that save time and energy. Another great time-saver is the addition of multiple artboards allowing your layout to take on many shapes, sizes, and resolutions for more cohesiveness throughout a project. This is great for things like corporate identity whereby a theme, campaign, or just a single project are able to maintain the core design for a huge variety of output formats.

have to admit that Adobe InDesign was always a love/hate item for me early on, but the addition of new “pre-flight” features that give you information in real-time made me a believer. No more “wait-and-see” or third-party tools, yet again, and the output tells the tale. Faster, more intuitive and superior integration bring all of the other CS4 applications to life. The new Smart Guides align all of the elements properly without the ol’ “eyeballin’ it” tricks. In this case, the perceived output is still spot-on visually because…well…it is. Like Illustrator, your output easily translates to many sizes and formats, but InDesign now adds Conditional Text to take it a step further and allow for different languages, localizations or other elements of your text that may change based on who will see it. A huge time-saver over the old ways of file version after file version creation. Clearly, Adobe has again responded to its customers by adding the much sought-after ability to export to Flash and Shockwave. Animations and effects come alive in whatever output you choose. There are so many excellent workflow improvements that I do recommend the tutorial videos from Adobe and other training resources to truly realize the full scope of the power of InDesign.

As a longtime GoLive devotee, the world of Dreamweaver always seemed like a distant cousin-by-marriage that would show up at the door asking you to come to the family reunion, but it turns out that it is more like the next generation of the CS family that has matured nicely, but slowly. The biggest addition in the CS4 version of DW seems to be the addition of Live View rendering, an ongoing theme in CS4 products, giving the user access to both the code and the content during previews. Although still relatively new to the Adobe lineup, you can create Adobe Air-based applications from within Dreamweaver as well, but there is a learning curve here. Once again, videos and seminars will help you master the newer app type that is still in its infancy. My favorite new feature is in how well DW handles Photoshop .PSD files and creates Smart Objects that you can edit and update from within the application. This big timesaver saves a lot of steps.

Again, going back to version 1.0, Fireworks has grown better with age (one would hope), and adds a big speed boost under CS4. Like its other CS4 brethren, FW is now much better suited for collaboration and can employ Adobe’s ConnectNow online meeting services. The updated interface includes improved Styles control and Live Styles for faster access to your libraries. Adobe touts PDF exporting as a new feature, but the real benefit is in the relative security that this provides when you only want specific people to have access to specific output options from your file. FW allows separate passwords to be created for specific tasks – again, more of a time saver than anything, to save steps.

As someone still learning pro-level video after working in analog for so long, this is a natural progression with AfterEffects CS4 as it continues to be a powerful animated graphics tool that creates 2D and 3D output for just about any need. What comes to AE follows the same crossover workflow and collaborative enhancements that make all of the CS4 applications so valuable. Employ new effects and styles even faster that now include the addition of Imagineer Systems’ Mocha so that your own elements can follow the movement(s) of your subject matter. In addition, like the other CS4 applications, there is more 3D support with the tools found more often in a stand-alone application. New nested comp navigation makes it easy to search for and employ the effects you want in your project.

Premier Pro CS4 is the real standard for video editing and it works even more seamlessly with the rest of the Creative Suite than ever. While it requires a lot of power to perform at its best, it is the best in its class and now offers support for the latest technologies in video, including Blu-Ray, tapeless formats (AVCHD, XDCAM HD and others), and the long sought after ability to transfer projects from Final Cut Pro. Like Soundbooth, Premier Pro CS4 has Speech Search that can find the dialog you need and even translate it into text, or find a passage you need in the project. All of those assets, and your metadata, are now incorporated into your projects’ output making content searchable and trackable online or off. I did find a few of the features that are in both AE and Premier Pro were a bit redundant, but, again, saving time between switching between applications is improved this way.

Acrobat 9 Professional is included in the Master Collection, but its abilities are almost a part of each of the applications all as well. With PDF’s more standardized than ever and showing up for everything ranging from pre-press to web-based content, having the original title does have some advantages of its own. For example, its PDF optimizer and “reduce file size” functions do an excellent job of taking a huge PDF a size that might work as an email attachment or fit on a flash key drive. One great new feature here is the ability to combine various files and documents into one PDF “Portfolio.” Adobe PDF’s now support 256-bit encryption passwords to help secure your file further than ever.

Finally coming into its own in CS4, Adobe’s latest version of Flash is the polish for your animation that takes it all to your desired audience. Also sporting big improvements to its 3D capabilities and collaborative workflows, FL adds object-based animation control for nearly drag ‘n drop simplicity. Smoother, more natural looking 3D animations and transformations now get improved effects and a new motion editor for even the most precise fine-tuning. Flash is the standard for screen-based animation, and in my opinion, still slightly disjointed from the other CS4 titles as it was in previous versions; however, and with even more collaborative tools, it presents a major leap forward in both quality and usability.

Clearly, there is more in the box that I did not get to, but sufficed to say, the value there for creative professionals who work cross-platform and in multiple types of media. If I had to find a gripe in all of this, the only stumbling blocks (shy of my new thirst for Scott Kelby books and videos to learn even more) for me were the few things that have always perplexed me in Adobe CS packages. These are my obstacles, but, if you have read my previous reviews of Adobe’s products, you know that I love the fact that they work on many levels. There is so much more to learn from master users and, as I understand it, they still pick up new tricks from each other all the time. For example, I’m told that I should make better use of the Adobe Bridge, but I just cannot seem to get the hang of using it. I know that I could use more of the shortcuts if I could only remember them all. There simply are not enough hours in the day, but you may just find yourself wanting to spend more time playing with the applications in The CS4 Master Collection – just to see what it can do – and go beyond your work.

I know that I did not cover each and every title in this suite, but there is just that much and more. This is not just another version of Adobe’s Creative Suite, this is the Master Collection for dedicated graphics professionals that not only provides all the tools you need out of the box, but the compatibility with the third-party plug-ins and tools you love. You are only limited by your available time as I would highly recommend some freeform, old fashioned, “winging it” to see what you can do with CS4. This is the standard as it can be used, in some form, by just about any level of user and Adobe makes you want to learn more. Your ideas have fewer limits, your output looks better, and you may even find yourself being more creative. As Adobe slowly continues to push its Air format, these tools will also mature. At any level and at every level, Adobe’s flagship collection is worth every penny. Call the concierge, make your reservations, grab a paddock pass, or sing for your supper. If you are ready, have the means, and have the need – CS4 is the ultimate design collection.

Minimum system requirements:

Multicore Intel-based Mac
Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later
Java Runtime Environment 1.5
Minimum 2 GB RAM
Minimum 26.3 GB available disk space
1280 X 900 display with OpenGL 2.0-compatible card
Shader Model 3.0 graphics support
Dedicated 7200RPM or better hard drive for DV and HDV editing
DVD-ROM drive
Blu-Ray burner (for appropriate output as needed)
Core Audio-compatible sound card
QuickTime 7.4.5 or later
Broadband Internet connection for online-based services

Source

Buy this software here:

http://www.softster.net/P2823/Development_Software/CS4_Master_Collection_Final_Mac_OsX.html

http://www.softster.net/P2822/Development_Software/CS4_Master_Collection.html