Showing posts with label Creative Cloud. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Creative Cloud. Show all posts
New Adobe Coupon Code: Save 40% on Creative Cloud, NAB Special
New Adobe Coupon Code: Save 40% on Creative Cloud, NAB Special
Looking at Creative Cloud, with its 5-star customer reviews? Adobe has announced new and unprecedented special offer that we have to share with you…
Using a limited-time promotion code, you can now join the Creative Cloud for $29.99 a month for the first year, which is 40% off the regular $49.99 price of an annual membership.
No previous ownership of any Adobe product is necessary, but the price reduction is only available during this very brief window.
This deal comes via the big annual NAB show and is aimed at video professionals — though it’s apparent that anyone interested can use it… It’s valid through April 19, 2013 in North America, and available one-to-a-customer direct from the Adobe Store only:
With a new version of Creative Suite expected soon, one of the key benefits of Creative Cloud is that all members automatically get access to the latest upgrades and new CS features as soon as they are released for no additional cost.
In fact, after revealing a series of sneak peek videos and first looks at some upcoming new features in major CS(7?) applications, Adobe says:
The new version‘s release date has not been announced, but there is a great way to get yourself to the front of the line. If you join Creative Cloud now, you will immediately receive the entire stable of currently shipping CS6 applications AND you will automatically receive the new versions of all your favorite Adobe applications as soon as they are available. Until April 19th, we’re offering a NAB Show Special giving you 40% off Creative Cloud for your first year – that’s only $29.99/month It’s an amazing way to keep your costs really low and your tools up-to-date all the time.”
This discount code won’t last, but if you don’t feel you’re ready for the Creative Cloud at $29/month or would just need/use a single Adobe tool instead at this time, then there’s also the option of individual product subscriptions such as Photoshop CS6 (including the latest updates) for $19 a month.
For students and teachers the deal is similar – Adobe is also offering 40% (or $20) off Cloud memberships to education customers worldwide. Likewise it’s 40% off for owners of any previous CS product going back to Creative Suite 3.
Existing volume licensing customers also get a first-year discount of $20 per month with the new Creative Cloud for Teams.
Why Creative Cloud Gets Exclusive Features that Adobe CS6 Doesn’t
Why Creative Cloud Gets Exclusive Features that Adobe CS6 Doesn’t
Ever since it was announced seventeen months ago, Adobe made it clear that Creative Cloud was going to be a new way of purchasing their software, an avenue for anyone to use a complete collection of the most recent versions of all of their industry-leading creative tools with a set membership plan.
Last May the company rolled out the offering, and we’ve seen the Creative Cloud continuing to gain momentum – in fact, recently passing the one-million member milestone and signing up 10,000 more every week… Meanwhile, the traditional option of buying a one-time Creative Suite license has remained for those customers who prefer that path.
Since the launch, Adobe has issued numerous free updates to Creative Suite programs (as is customary), as well as several rounds of entirely new CS product features that are only available to Creative Cloud members:
These additions have had the dual effect of making many Creative Cloud subscribers happy – while making some traditional CS6 license holders feel as if they’re missing out. On pages announcing new exclusive Cloud features, you might see comments such as:
“I am a longtime Adobe customer and have faithfully upgraded every suite since CS2. I love the tools and would like to have these newly available features – so why are they exclusive only to Creative Cloud subscribers? It seems like a disappointing way to reward loyal customers like me.”
And the response typically goes along these lines:
“Adobe said when they announced Creative Suite 6 and Creative Cloud that they were offering two models: the previous licensing model and a new monthly membership model. Each option has its advantages, pros and cons. If you go with the standard licensing, you get a static version with a high upfront cost and a license to use it indefinitely. If you go with the Creative Cloud instead, then for an affordable monthly price you get complete use of a comprehensive and ever-evolving package – and get new features as soon as they are ready at no additional charge, instead of having to wait until the next official release.”
That makes sense in some ways, but in our opinion here is a case where the company hasn’t been as clear as possible in explaining what’s behind that – in other words, why Cloud customers can receive continual feature upgrades where fixed CS licensees can’t. And it actually has to do with the U.S. accounting rules (GAAP) for revenue recognition in the software industry.
Why Accounting?
Adobe has a 30-year history of releasing discrete software products, where each version is completely delivered to the customer and recognized on their books at the time of purchase. Any future free updates to existing programs are limited to maintenance: bug fixes, compatibility changes, support of new hardware, and security patches. Future upgrades are separate and optional. That’s the precedent, and it’s always been done this way so that the accounting is clean and customer transactions are complete in and of themselves.
Per AICPA SOP 97-2, if the company were to try adding major features with additional value to a formal release after the fact, then they would not be able to recognize the purchase when it was made, and it would be unworkable from an accounting perspective with multiple simultaneous versions going on and trying to proportionally recognize revenue over a variable period based on undetermined future functionality for each separate deliverable.
It was not widely disseminated, but Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen stated as much in a 2011 conference call with financial analysts:
“In terms of moving forward and in future releases of CS, and with everything that’s changing in the Creative environment, we believe that [offering subscriptions] really allows us to have more innovation. Take a product like Edge. If you have a product like Edge that’s on subscription, that’s offered to all of the subscription customers, that provides the ability for people to stay current. And today, with the 18-month cycles, you aren’t allowed to do that, as you know, given financial accounting. So that’s the strategic rationale for continuing to drive towards subscriptions and attracting new customers to the platform.”
Other Adobe voices have confirmed this, although again it has not been widely publicized. The Sarbanes-Oxley regulations enacted a decade ago have also been cited: “It has to do with accounting practices and isn’t unique to Adobe,” and “It is US legislation which prohibits adding features for free on perpetual licenses,” and “Having worked at Adobe, I can confirm this.”
Bryan Lamkin, Adobe Senior Vice President, writes in a new blog post:
“As a former product manager, I remember the team’s frustration when they were forced to hold back features to fit our 18-month Creative Suite product cycle. It was very difficult to deliver new innovations “off-cycle” due to our delivery and accounting model. (Every desktop software company struggles with this same challenge.) Nothing is more satisfying to one of our talented engineers than getting a new product feature into the hands of customers quickly, and now we can. But Creative Cloud is so much more than a mechanism for getting new product features in the hands of customers faster…”
The Release Schedule Quickens
In the spring of 2011, in an effort to address the explosion of mobile devices and accelerating pace of technological changes and platforms, Adobe resolved to make more frequent upgrades to the Creative Suite software. They issued a mid-cycle version – Creative Suite 5.5 – and changed their official release cycle to once per year, so that customers would have the opportunity to use newer versions on a more frequent basis to catch up with technology.
And now fast forward to the current day, Creative Cloud takes it a step further. As Adobe’s growing large-scale membership-based software offering, the deal is a comparatively low price per month for the ability to use the latest-and-greatest versions of almost everything. No matter which plan is chosen, billing is steady and recognized on a monthly basis so there is no issue with the accounting – the customer simply receives complete access so long as payments are current. This means Adobe can make and deliver upgrades to what’s available in the Cloud on a frequent (even monthly) basis, and they have already done this – adding Lightroom, Acrobat XI, Behance ProSite, Digital Publishing Suite, Muse and Edge to the mix while issuing Cloud-only upgrades to Illustrator, Dreamweaver, and Photoshop.
Still, a fuller explanation might have been helpful in understanding where Adobe was coming with this new delivery model. But whatever came across, the bottom line is there became two ways to purchase the best software – the traditional perpetual route which remains, and now the new more dynamic Cloud approach which opens access to a greater variety of more up-to-date tools (ongoing innovation) at a fixed monthly rate. Which you choose is up to you, but at least now you know a bit more on the background on how it happened this way.
CS7? Create Grace Period for Free Upgrade to Next Adobe Release
CS7? Create Grace Period for Free Upgrade to Next Adobe Release
Based on recent indications from Adobe, we expect a new release of Creative Suite and/or Creative Cloud to be unveiled at their big annual MAX Conference on May 6th, just a few weeks away…
Historically during times like these, the company has set a “grace period” or grandfather offer to provide free upgrades to the next versions for customers buying the older software around the time of new releases – and in fact, such an “Upgrade Assurance promotion” deal was announced for CS6 in March of last year.
However, no such announcement has been forthcoming this year, perhaps due to the advent of Creative Cloud – where all paid members already receive all product updates and upgrades at no additional charge as soon as they are available.
But no matter – you can actually create your own grace period now, whether one officially exists or not.
The key is in awareness of Adobe’s longstanding Software Return/Exchange Policy – whereby you can return your purchase to them within 30 days and they will grant you a full refund, no questions asked. This is possible even if you’ve already opened, installed, activated, and started using your product – and can be done quickly over live online chat with their customer service team.
(The best part is nothing ever has to be returned physically, because the product returns all happen electronically through deactivation of software license keys.)
So, if you buy something today (either CS6 or Creative Cloud, full or upgrade) – but new information or a newer version comes out within 30 days from now to change your decision – then you can easily return whatever you bought and get something else instead, no problem.
In a nutshell, this automatic protection means you can move forward with confidence and get started with your software today and not have to worry about what happens on May 6th, because you now have an “insurance policy” if you should change your mind or see something better then.
Naturally, the other options are to use the 30-day free trial downloads – or a go with month-to-month Cloud subscription to retain flexibility and see what happens, rather than make a fixed full purchase now that may soon become obsolete.
If you’ve been thinking about going with the Cloud, Adobe says:
The new version‘s release date has not been announced, but there is a great way to get yourself to the front of the line. If you join Creative Cloud now, you will immediately receive the entire stable of currently shipping CS6 applications AND you will automatically receive the new versions of all your favorite Adobe applications as soon as they are available.”
Either way you decide, you can read more on the details of Adobe’s Return Policy to assure yourself, then go for it!
Give your input before it ships – what would you like to see in CS7? Share your thoughts below or on Adobe’s official feature request “wishlist”…
Compare Versions: The Differences Between Adobe CS6 and CS5.5
Compare Versions: The Differences Between Adobe CS6 and CS5.5
Adobe has just unveiled Creative Suite 6 – and one of the upgrade questions people are asking is what’s new, what’s different, what’s changed in CS6 as compared to previous version(s)? Adobe calls it, “a killer release with hundreds of new capabilities rolling up four focus areas: application performance, enhanced user interface, efficient development for multiple devices, and making previously impossible things possible.” So our job here is to give you a quick “cheat sheet” on top new features, to help you decide about upgrading…
CS6 updates almost all of the individual products from CS5, including Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash Pro, InDesign/InCopy, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, and Encore. Learn more about all the new features added to each of these applications in detail, with our special coverage.
The CS5 tools not revisioned to CS6 are Flash Catalyst, Contribute (upgraded to new version 6.5 but sold standalone), OnLocation, and Device Central. Acrobat and Flash Builder are included in the suites but remain the same versions as before.
In addition there are two new applications introduced: Prelude CS6, a video ingest and logging tool to help tag and transcode footage rapidly, and SpeedGrade CS6, a professional color grading system that brings state-of-the-art color science to your video productions. These new tools are included in both the Production Premium and Master Collection suites.
With the spread of online content, Adobe found there was growing overlap in the customer base for the Design Premium and Web Premium suites, so they combined them both into one now called CS6 Design & Web Premium – which draws upon the tools of both editions. Design Standard’s collection remains “as is,” and rounds out the line-up.
As was disclosed previously, Adobe’s new design tools Edge and Muse will not be included within the Creative Suite, but sold separately.
You can download the free trials for all of these applications today… All of them are available for standalone purchase, or as part of larger integrated CS6 suite editions. And new this year Adobe is also offering a mega-collection of all their best creative tools (including everything described here) in the Creative Cloud option.
[ Wondering which you should get? Compare Adobe CS6 vs. the Creative Cloud ]
For more information and details on Creative Suite 6 worldwide pricing, upgrade changes, availability, and system requirements, see our companion CS6 Launch Guide.
What’s New in CS6 vs. CS5? A New Feature Version Comparison
Here’s a quick run-through of some of the top new features in CS6 for major applications…
— Photoshop CS6: New modern user interface, Content-Aware move/patch/extend tools, new Camera Raw 7, background save and auto-recovery, Blur Gallery, redesigned vector and 3D engines, intuitive video editing, and many more. [SEE COMPARISON]
— Illustrator CS6: Reengineered and streamlined user interface, fast Mercury Performance System for native 64-bit support on both Windows and Mac, new creative tools for pattern creation, image tracing, and gradients on strokes. [SEE COMPARISON]
— InDesign CS6: Content Collector tools, hot-linked content across pages, integration with Digital Publishing Suite, Alternate Layout, Liquid Layout, other new tools efficiently adapt layouts to a myriad of page sizes, devices, and orientations. [SEE COMPARISON]
— Dreamweaver CS6: Fluid grid layout for cross-platform design, CSS3 transitions, HTML5 code rendering with Live View and Multiscreen Preview, enhanced jQuery Mobile and PhoneGap Build framework support, optimized FTP performance. [SEE COMPARISON]
— Fireworks CS6: New screen layout tools, jQuery Mobile theme skinning, CSS sprites from comps, CSS3 code extraction, improved color swatches, better redraw performance for Mac, improved memory management for Windows 64-bit systems. [SEE COMPARISON]
— Flash Professional CS6: Sprite sheet generation, CreateJS toolkit to output HTML5, access to platform- and device-specific capabilities, prepackaged Adobe AIR captive runtimes, mobile application interaction simulation, support for the latest runtimes. [SEE COMPARISON]
— Premiere Pro CS6: Sleek and professional user interface, uninterrupted playback, Warp Stabilizer effect, dynamic timeline trimming, expanded multicam editing, rolling shutter artifacts correction, adjustment layers, and many more. [SEE COMPARISON]
— After Effects CS6: Global Performance Cache, 3D camera tracker, ray-traced text and shape extrusion, new variable mask feathering, rolling shutter repair, enhanced integration with Illustrator, new and updated effects, and many more. [SEE COMPARISON]
— Audition CS6: Real-time clip stretching, pitch and speed control, CD burning, parameter automation, control surface support, automatic speech alignment, clip grouping with group suspend, tone generation, and many more. [SEE COMPARISON]
— Encore CS6: 64-bit support for rock-solid performance, faster MPEG import with asynchronous processing.
— Prelude CS6: Full or partial ingest, tag footage with searchable temporal metadata, transcode to many formats, heads-up logging, rough cut creation, thumbnail scrubbing, speech transcription notes, success write confirmation, fully customizable.
— SpeedGrade CS6: Powerful layer-based color grading, GPU-accelerated performance, Lumetri Deep Color Engine, primary and secondary color correction, automatic scene detection, camera and color space matching, Adobe tool and workflow integration.
These are just a few highlights of what’s new in the toolset and there are many, many more.
If you want to know what’s different from CS6 going back to releases prior to last, check out comparisons of earlier versions of the Creative Suite, for example CS4 vs. CS5.5, or CS3 vs. CS5.5.
Are Adobe CS6 Files Compatible with CS5, CS4 and CS3 – and Back?
Are Adobe CS6 Files Compatible with CS5, CS4 and CS3 – and Back?
This is one of the top questions we get. Especially now that Adobe is releasing a new version of Creative Suite once per year – with each edition potentially bringing a different or expanded file format – customers want to know if their existing projects will easily carry forward with them when they upgrade, or if they will be able to save back to older formats for clients or colleagues who are still running an earlier version of the tools…
OK then, here’s how it works. Generally, your new CS6 tools (including those in the Creative Cloud) will be able to open and use any and all earlier project and data files no problem (including CS3, CS4, CS5 and CS5.5 files), without any loss of information. In other words, all Adobe software is able to read or import file formats from previous versions of the same program – and it should happen automatically.
Going the other way, when wanting to use CS5 or older tools to open a file saved from a CS6 product, the answer is it depends… Let’s take a look at the interoperability for each application within the Creative Suite, then at the bottom we’ll talk about some additional tips and best practices no matter what your situation.
[ Wondering which you should get? Compare Adobe CS6 vs. the Creative Cloud ]
Photoshop
Historically in Photoshop, it has rarely been an issue as the .PSD format is pretty backwards compatible. To help ensure this, make sure that “Maximize PSD File Compatibility” option is set when you save your file. Now with all the new features in Photoshop CS6 which prior releases don’t have, there will be some functions whose use will make your file less backwards-compatible. If you run into any difficulties, you can always save your image as a .tif file – TIFF is a standard format that all versions of Photoshop can import, and its biggest advantage is that it will preserve layers, just as the native .PSD file can.
New in Photoshop CS6 now, there’s one feature that makes your life particularly easy when upgrading or changing releases – it’s the ability to migrate and share presets from Photoshop versions going as far back as CS3.
Illustrator
In Illustrator, when you save a file it asks you which version you want to save it as. Instead of CS6, you can choose a “Legacy Format” like Illustrator CS5, CS4, CS3, etc. – but be aware that you may lose some newer features and attributes when the document is read back in to the prior release. Illustrator actually has the best backwards compatibility of all programs as it can save down up to ten previous formats!
InDesign
With InDesign, there is no automatic way to “downsave” a project like in Illustrator. However you can Export your document as IDML (InDesign Markup Language). IDML files can be read into earlier versions like InDesign CS5.5, CS5, or CS4 – but again there is the potential to lose newer features that aren’t supported in older releases. To go back to InDesign CS3 you would need to Export to INX (InDesign Interchange format) from CS4 instead.
Alternatively, you can use external file downsaving services which will do this for you for a nominal fee – going from InDesign CS6 to CS5.5, CS5, CS4, CS3, CS2, or even CS[1].
Dreamweaver
In Dreamweaver, file compatibility with older versions is not really a problem… HTML is HTML, CSS is CSS – the output is standards-based and similar across product releases. The one part that you need to migrate forward or back to a different version is your Dreamweaver site settings or definitions.
Flash Professional
In Flash Pro, you can save in XFL or FLA format for CS5.5 or CS5, although you may lose some newer features which would not be understood by prior versions. Creative Suite 5 versions of Flash Professional can save back to CS4 formats.
Premiere Pro
In Premiere Pro there is not an official save-back-to-old-version option (and it’s technically not supported) but some customers report fairly good success doing so anyway… Just keep these tips in mind to help it succeed.
Premiere Pro also works like InDesign – you can export to an AAF (Advanced Authoring Format) file which is sort of a “universal” project format that can be read by CS5, CS4, etc.
After Effects
With After Effects you can save your project in a text-based XML format or Save a Copy As CS5.5, again with the caveat that new functionality in CS6 won’t transfer down. Going the other way, there are some tricks to follow to help your older project import and work in the newer release.
If you want a more automated way to export for older AE releases going back to CS3, the third-party Open Sesame plug-in may be another option.
Audition
For Audition, it’s a similar story – standard audio file formats like WAV, MP3, AIFF, etc. are fully compatible across applications, and it’s possible to import sessions from older versions particularly as XML files, but saving your multitrack session file in an older format would lose some of your mix. For migrating and bringing up files from Audition 3, there’s a very helpful conversion utility.
Best Practices
Once you open your older document in the newer product version, or vice versa, the program will want to change and convert your data to its native format. So the best thing to do after importing your project is to immediately “Save As…” and rename it to a new file. This way, in case anything goes wrong or if you ever want to import it again, you will still have your original document authored in the other version, as well as your new document that you can continue to develop and make changes to.
The same would apply for when you go the other way and save back a copy to a legacy file format from a newer release – use “Save As…” to make sure you preserve your original.
If you’ve been thinking of upgrading your software to make life easier, keep in mind that Adobe is still offering a worldwide discount of 40% off upgrades to the Creative Cloud to existing owners of any Creative Suite product from CS3, CS4, CS5, CS5.5, or CS6.
Having Multiple Versions on the Same Computer
When installing any new Adobe release including Creative Suite 6, the older version(s) on your computer will not ever be uninstalled, removed, or written over. That is because people often find it helpful to continue to have access to the previous release while getting up to speed with the new one, plus as mentioned above, having those prior versions can sometimes be useful in managing older files.
So in a nutshell, this means you could install and run as many versions as you want alongside one another, and they will coexist side-by-side without interference – and many users do this. But if you decide instead that you only want the latest version on your system, then the best way to proceed is to uninstall your older releases first – before installing the later one, otherwise it’s possible that your file associations could get lost or crossed up (though this is fairly easily fixable).
Moving or Sharing Project Files Between Windows and Mac OS
Finally, customers frequently ask if they can move or share data or project files between the Windows and Mac platforms – this is increasingly common in heterogeneous environments where people have Creative Suite applications running on both operating systems. The answer is, this is usually possible no problem – generally with most Adobe software you can transfer and use files freely between PC and Mac, and they will work and open okay on the other platform…
See here for example, the cross-platform workflow with Premiere Pro CS6, similar capability for After Effects CS6 project files, and so on.
Was this article helpful? What CS6 or “version conversion” questions can we answer for you? Just use the comments below and we’ll get back to you quickly…
How to Install or Run Adobe CS6 on Both Windows PC and Mac OS
How to Install or Run Adobe CS6 on Both Windows PC and Mac OS
With Adobe Creative Suite, if you’re just looking to set up and run CS6 on either a Windows PC or a Mac OS system, the instructions for that are easy. And in fact, as we discussed earlier, it’s relatively straightforward to install and activate the software on up to two machines of the same operating system type – in other words, either two Mac computers, or two Windows PC’s.
But in most cases, with the platform selection for Creative Suite and Acrobat products, it’s “either-or.” Either Apple or Microsoft. Either Mac or Windows. That’s the story for the retail and education versions of the software. And, if you want to change or swap platforms entirely, and move your tools from one o/s to the other, you can do that with an Adobe CS “crossgrade.”
However, there is another possibility if you want or need to have the applications available on both operating systems (Windows plus Mac OS) at the same time – and that is to get an Adobe volume license. Despite the name, anybody can buy them (not just businesses and even for just one copy), though they do offer discounts for larger purchases… and there are some additional advantages too (including the ability to order CS5 or CS5.5 instead of CS6, if that’s what you happen to need). They’re easy to get – no signature contracts are necessary and you can pay online with a credit card, and download right away.
[UPDATE (February 2013) – Please see this comment below for an important change on how to buy multi-platform Adobe software.]
These volume products are offered “multiplatform” and are supplied with two license keys – one for each operating system – allowing you to install the software on both platforms… Just select “Multiple Platforms” on the simple online order page, it’s right there. You can even upgrade to these licenses from most older versions, including standard retail and education editions – with the same discounted upgrade pricing for all. Here is the relevant section from Adobe’s volume licensing policies page:
Cross-platform licensing
Adobe Volume Licensing (AVL) customers receive product serial numbers for both Windows and Mac OS, as long as the product is available for both and the two platforms are the same version.
Program members can choose to use either platform, as long as the total number of licenses being used does not exceed the number purchased.
As we’ve covered previously, each license purchased from Adobe allows the user to install and activate the product on up to two computer systems, so long as they are not both used or run at the same time. These are the same terms as for all customers written in the Creative Suite licensing agreement.
As more Macs make their way into the world, and as more folks acquire and own or use both types of computers on their networks, the need for multi-platform usage will grow. Recently, Adobe has begun to offer some shrinkwrap retail software for universal use – most notably Photoshop Elements and Lightroom in their latest releases. Subscribers to the Creative Cloud can also install the tools on both a Mac and a PC. But, if this is what you need to do now with your permanent software licenses, then you may want to check this out…
If you happened to make a purchase recently and didn’t get what you needed, you may also know about Adobe’s 30-day Return & Exchange Policy.
[UPDATE (September 2012) – Good news: there is now also the availability of the same volume licensing solution for education purchases on both Windows and Mac, with up to 80% off the regular prices for students, teachers, and schools.]
Adobe CS7? Next Release of Creative Suite to Be Revealed May 6th
Adobe CS7? Next Release of Creative Suite to Be Revealed May 6th
Recent indications from Adobe hint that they will announce a new version of Creative Suite on the morning of Monday, May 6th.
May 6th is the first day – and main keynote address – of the big annual MAX conference in Los Angeles, California.
Sign Up for the Free Live Webcast on May 6th
These release tipoffs have come in the form of new sneak peek videos of what’s going to be in the next generation of CS tools – see the sneak for After Effects, as well as for Dreamweaver & Flash Pro.
Adobe is ending all these “first look” videos with a teaser page: “Learn what’s coming next from Adobe to help you create your greatest work. May 6th at MAX.”
And in one of the official blog posts accompanying these videos, the product manager says, “Over the past 12 months we have been hard at work on the next version of Dreamweaver and today we’re excited to give you a first look… Make sure you check out Adobe MAX, where you can learn more about what’s coming next for Dreamweaver and for the rest of Adobe’s creative tools.”
What’s more, the MAX conference has many sessions with titles like, “What’s New in Adobe Photoshop / Illustrator / InDesign / …” – and tellingly, the lists of features to be covered are definitely not present in CS6…
Which means there should be news of a new release of these applications by that time.
Typically, the springtime is when we’ve been seeing new versions of Creative Suite anyway – so this jibes with historical patterns.
If you want to see what’s going to be available soon (and there is some chatter on the Adobe Forums saying it would be CS7), then just tune in yourself on Monday, May 6th for the free live webcast of the keynote address.
We also have an early read on what’s going to be in it – check out the list of expected new features.
If you’ve been thinking about going with the Cloud, Adobe says:
The new version‘s release date has not been announced, but there is a great way to get yourself to the front of the line. If you join Creative Cloud now, you will immediately receive the entire stable of currently shipping CS6 applications AND you will automatically receive the new versions of all your favorite Adobe applications as soon as they are available.”
Why Creative Cloud Is Your Only CS Purchase Option Now
Finally, our best advice to our readers. We’ve been covering Adobe software for over six years, and invariably there are customers who wind up upset when purchasing Creative Suite tools right before a new release…
Nobody wants to buy a major product and then have it already be displaced by a newer version within a short time.
In the past, Adobe has offered “grace periods” for free upgrades to recent purchasers, but there is definitely no guarantee that would continue with the advent of the Creative Cloud, which is growing very popular…
The reason is because all full Creative Cloud members automatically receive all upgrades for free anyway, they are included with membership… So presently, there is no risk to signing up for the Cloud now because CS7 would become available immediately and at no additional cost in the Creative Cloud.
So bottom line, if you can’t wait until May and need or want to use CS tools now, then you might want to consider signing up for a month-to-month Cloud membership or individual product subscription – and those could get you to the big news and coming announcements, and then you can see and be more informed with the latest software out (or available soon thereafter).
Just our sense for what could help out in navigating with this “upcoming version” on the way…
Give your input before it ships – what would you like to see in the next release? Share your thoughts in the comments below or at Adobe’s official feature request “wishlist”…
How to Move CS6 or Creative Cloud from One Computer to Another
How to Move CS6 or Creative Cloud from One Computer to Another
OK, so your old computer is running out of gas, you’re upgrading or changing systems, adding a new machine, or switching from a PC to a Mac, or vice versa — and you want to move over your purchased CS6 (or CS5 or CS4 or CS3 or Creative Cloud or any other) Adobe software — what do you do, and how do you do it?
As we’ve covered previously here, you are generally allowed to install and activate most Adobe software on up to two computers, with the restriction that the software can not used on both systems at the same time. So right off the bat, you might be good to go with installing the software on a second computer, although you may wish to double-check the licensing agreement for your product to be sure.
Deactivating Your Old System
Adobe uses software activation to control how many of your computers are able to run CS6. So if you’re already at your limit of two computers and want to transfer your license over to a new or different system, then you first need to deactivate the software from the old computer. In the program, click Help > Deactivate, and then follow the instructions in the wizard to deactivate the software. If you have a suite edition or the Creative Cloud, then deactivating any single application on your machine will deactivate them all.
Note: You may see two choices on the Deactivation screen – if so, then what’s the difference between Suspend Activation vs. Deactivate Permanently? The answer is that both will properly deactivate your product on that computer. But the first (“suspend”) will keep your serial number stored in the Windows registry just in case you ever want to quickly reactivate the same software on the same computer later, without having to reenter it. However there is no harm in choosing the second (“permanently”) option, because you can always later reactivate the same product on the same machine by just retyping the license key. In other words, it’s basically a convenience factor to store your SN.
Deactivation is different from uninstallation. If you’re permanently uninstalling Adobe software from a computer, then deactivate it first to ensure its license is freed up. If you deactivate but don’t uninstall, the next time you run Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, InDesign, Acrobat, or any of the other CS6 applications on that computer, you’ll be asked for a serial number or to start a 30-day free tryout period.
If you can’t deactivate the software because your disk drive crashed or you otherwise can’t access your program, then you may need to contact Adobe Customer Service to deactivate it for you on their end using your serial number.
After uninstalling any version of CS, you can run the Creative Suite Cleaner Tool if you like to make sure it’s completely removed from your old system.
Setting Up Your New System
Now you’ll need two things: the software installation files or discs, and the product’s serial number itself. Note for the Creative Cloud, this doesn’t apply – see the next section instead.
[ Trying to decide which is right for you? See: Creative Cloud vs. CS6 Comparison ]
If you purchased the software but lost the serial number or no longer have it readily available, the first place to check is your online Adobe account. You will have one if you ever registered the software, or if you purchased it directly from Adobe… Just log in with your Adobe ID and all your serial numbers will be listed there. If you don’t see it, then try registering your product now and see if it appears there. As a last resort, you may be able to retrieve it from the computer itself using a free utility like Belarc Advisor (Windows) or Product Key Finder (Mac) – which will recover and tell you the activation keys for the programs on your system.
And if you’ve lost or can’t find your original installation file or CD/DVD, or if your machine doesn’t have a disc drive, then you can download and install a free trial of your application from Adobe servers onto your new computer, and that will convert to a full and permanent version when you enter your valid SN.
OK, once deactivation is complete, you are free to go ahead and enter your serial number key to activate a copy of the software installed elsewhere, or use it to reactivate the same application on that PC after reinstalling (for example, if you are changing disk drives, or upgrading operating systems from XP or Vista to Windows 7, etc.). And you should be all set.
Note: When [re]installing an upgrade version of Adobe software, if you don’t have your prior release already installed on that same computer, then you’ll have to manually enter that older license key when prompted by the setup process. If you are continuing to use your prior release, then per Adobe licensing requirements it must be on the same computer(s) as the upgrade version.
If you run into any problems with the deactivation/reactivation process, you’ll have a 30-day window during which the software will work in trial mode to give you enough time to contact Adobe Support and get things resolved.
Putting the Creative Cloud on More than One Computer
All of this becomes much easier with the new Creative Cloud as well as with single-app subscriptions, because these are not activated using serial numbers but rather with your free Adobe ID login. So moving the products to a new machine is really just a matter of visiting the Creative Cloud apps page and then downloading whatever you want… When the tools finish installing, just log in and the software will automatically be (re)activated on the new hardware for you… See this video for how it works:
Creative Cloud and single-app members can also skip the next two sections, as your products are already capable of running on both operating system platforms as well as freely switching between languages as desired.
How to Switch Platforms from PC to Mac
Now how about if you’re also changing platforms, like from Windows to Mac, or vice versa – and want to take your Creative Suite 6 license with you, and/or upgrade from CS3, CS4, CS5 or CS5.5 to CS6 while making the switch? After completing the deactivation process above it gets a little more complicated, because most Adobe software is licensed for a single platform only. But you can do what’s called a “crossgrade” from one to the other natively, which is no charge to you (except nominal shipping costs) and can be submitted online directly through Adobe Customer Service.
All product configurations (including Student and Teacher Editions) are eligible for exchange.
There are a few provisos. One is you need to have a registered serial number to qualify (but that just takes a few minutes if you haven’t already). You must also be prepared to delete the existing software from your computer and destroy any existing copies, as they will no longer be valid. But perhaps the most important is you can’t cross-grade from an older version to the same prior version — you can only move to the current version (now CS6), paying any applicable upgrade costs… If you’re already running the latest release, then there should be no additional cost.
So if you need to do both an upgrade and a platform swap, the fastest and easiest way is to first buy the upgrade online and then submit the crossgrade online. Good news! It’s simpler now with CS6, you can easily change platforms when upgrading as normal – just select the correct operating system when purchasing the upgrade. Then when you install that upgrade software on your new platform, it will ask for the serial number of your previous version from the other platform. For example, if you currently own Photoshop CS5 on Windows and want to get Photoshop CS6 on Mac, then just buy the CS6 upgrade for Mac OS, and manually enter the serial number for your older Windows version when installing it.
To get started right away, you can simply download and run the 30-day free trial while you’re waiting for the new box and serial number to arrive – and then later just convert the trial into a permanent full version with the license key for your new platform.
Of course, if you purchased CS6 within the past 30 days and got the incorrect platform or language version of your product, then it’s even simpler – just return the software and get the right one instead.
How to Change from One Language or Country to Another
Note that this same procedure will also work for requesting a change from one language set to another for a given Adobe/CS6 application… Just follow the crossgrade process described above – but choose a new and different language on the form, instead of a different platform.
And the same goes if you want to move your residence to a different country or region, because the product language will usually be different in your new geography (even for English). For example, in the U.S. the language edition is “Universal English,” whereas overseas it’s “International English,” or another language.
After swapping platforms or languages, you cannot cross back to your original platform or language version. No more than five total (lifetime) cross-platform or cross-language upgrades or swaps are allowed per customer, regardless of the product. Software purchased second-hand or from an auction site such as eBay is not eligible for swaps.
Two notable exceptions are Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop & Premiere Elements, which are now sold as multiplatform and multilanguage software so would not require a crossgrade.
Hopefully that should do it! Please let us know if this article helped you out, or any questions you may have in the comments below.
If you’d like to move away from shuffling serial numbers altogether, check out the new Creative Cloud for Teams to simplify management instead of single-user copies… With straightforward per-seat pricing, you get a flexible license that includes powerful workgroup collaboration capabilities plus expert support for your entire team.
When Will Adobe CS7 – or CS6.5 – Be Released?
When Will Adobe CS7 – or CS6.5 – Be Released?
Normally in the weeks before a new version of Creative Suite comes out, we don’t have a very concrete idea of what will be in it…
However this year – thanks to the early upgrades already out for Creative Cloud members, some telling blog posts, several “first look” videos, and a “major reveal” at the recent NAB show – we have already a pretty good picture of some of the major new features that CS7 (let’s call it) will include. Adobe says all of the new products will be included in the Creative Cloud as soon as they’re out.
Here below we’ve compiled some of the key information on what’s new and expected in the upcoming release, and will keep this list up-to-date as we move forward…
Adobe promises much more will be revealed on May 6th – so stay tuned!
What’s New in CS7 vs. CS6?
So here’s a quick run-through of some of the top new features we expect for the top applications (click the product names for more details):
— Photoshop: Copy CSS support, Image Deblurring, Conditional Actions, plus lots more.
— Illustrator: Package Files and “Unembed” Images functions, Links Panel enhancements.
— InDesign: Retina Display and native 64-bit support plus dark interface (customizable).
— Dreamweaver: Improved HTML5 support, new CSS Designer tools, better FTP transfers.
— Flash Professional: 64-bit architecture, native cocoa, faster, more reliable, + new UI.
— Premiere Pro: Too many to list – see the “NAB Reveal” sneak peek videos.
— After Effects: Impressive new “Refine Edge” Rotoscoping and much, much more.
— Audition: Sound Remover, Preview Editor, Native 64-Bit Performance, Favorites Panel.
— Prelude, SpeedGrade, Media Encoder: See the first looks.
— Inclusion into suite editions of new Acrobat XI Pro, which is already in the Cloud.
— More to come – we will keep this list updated going forward…
If you’ve been thinking about going with the Cloud, Adobe says:
The new version’s release date has not been announced, but there is a great way to get yourself to the front of the line. If you join Creative Cloud now, you will immediately receive the entire stable of currently shipping CS6 applications AND you will automatically receive the new versions of all your favorite Adobe applications as soon as they are available.”
If you want to know what’s different in CS6 going back to prior releases, check out the comparisons of earlier versions of the Creative Suite, for example CS6 vs. CS5 or CS4.
Adobe CS7 Release Date & Rumors
Adobe CS7 Release Date & Rumors
Adobe Systems has just changed their announce policy on product releases – We now have word that the Creative Suite release date cycle will follow a 24 month cycle, with possible dot-releases at every 12 months or depending on the products and available updates. So when will Adobe CS6 will be released? See our prediction below.
CS7 – Expected to be released in May 2014.
CS7 Beta – See the Photoshop beta posted on Adobe Labs around February 2014.
CS6 – This is the current version. It become available in May 2012.
CS6 Beta – The Photoshop CS6 beta was posted in March 2012.
CS5.5 – The current version, released in April 2011.
CS5 – Released in April 2010 (18 months after CS4).
CS4 - Released in October 2008 (18 months after CS3).
CS3 – Released April 2007 (24 months after CS2).
CS1 - Released in October 2003.
CS2 – Released in April 2005 (18 months after CS).
CS1 - Released in October 2003.
With Adobe’s new release date cycle announced, it’s now easy to guess when the next release of Creative Suite will be coming out. We are pretty sure CS7 will be out in April 2014. As soon as the rumors begin to appear on the latest new features, we will post them here on uCouponCode.com.
As the Adobe release schedule approaches, it’s good to keep in mind that you can only upgrade to the latest version if your current copy in no more than two versions back (upgrades save up to 60% off the retail price!). If you don’t have a qualifying upgradable version of Adobe Creative Suite CS7 software, then you should try to take advantage of Adobe’s discounted student pricing (tip: If you are not a student, signup for gym access or for a tennis class at your local community college and in most cases this should be enough). The Adobe student versions are the same exact versions as regular editions but discounted from 60% to 80% off the retail price. So for example, Photoshop CS6 Extended is $199 for the student price vs. $999 for the full retail price. Not a bad deal!
As soon as Adobe CS7 is released, we’ll be sure to post all CS7 coupon codes on our Adobe coupons and promotional codes page.
Introducing Adobe Creative Suite 7
Introducing Adobe Creative Suite 7
Over the next two months, Adobe plans a number of additional relases and updates for CreativeCloud apps and the debut of CS7 features for Creative Suite 6 cloud subscribers. Last week, an Adobe blog referred to the new Illustrator CS6 file packager. That is an early example of the planned integration of CS7 features, offered in advance exclusively to Creative Cloud subscribers. There's more where that came from, for Illustrator and other apps, Adobe says. New CS7 features that will be incorporated into Dreamweaver Creative Cloud subscriptions are also planned for release soon, and others are on the horizon.
While Creative Cloud subscribers will get early access to some new features planned for CS7, they will not get the entire slate of new CS7 features before CS7's release. In light of Adobe's new yearly upgrade cycle for all Creative Suite apps, CS7 is expected to be released sometime during the first half of 2013. At that time all users, whether they are subscribers to Creative Cloud or holders of traditional perpetual licenses, will get the same upgrade. "Subscribers will get a piece of CS7 beforehand, but they won't get the whole of CS7 until CS7 is released," Morris said.
So here our expected release dates and past launch information:
CS7.5 Rumored Release- Expected to come in Mid 2015
CS7 Rumored Release – Expected to come in April 2014
CS7 Beta – Look out for CS7 public betas available between February and March 2014.
CS6.5 – We will see select versions updated in April 2013 (Photoshop is usually excluded).
CS6 – The current version. Announced on April, 2012 and began shipping on May 7, 2012.
CS6 beta – Was released in March 2012 on Adobe Labs.
CS5.5 – Released back in April 2011 (12 months after CS5).
CS5 – Released in April 2010 (about 18 months after the release of CS4).
CS4 – Released in October 2008 (about 18 months after CS3).
CS3 – Released in April 2007 (approximately 24 months after CS2).
CS2 – Released in April 2005 (18 months after CS).
CS1 – Introduced in October 2003.
Some important changes aae coming to the upgrade policy that you should be aware of. Starting January 1, 2013, Adobe will only be offering upgrades on versions that are no older than one version back, no longer letting you save money by skipping one or two versions between upgrades. Learn more about the changes.
As soon as Adobe CS7 is released and shipping, we plan on updating all of our adobe coupon codes and promotions so be sure to come back for the hottest deals on your Adobe software!
A new version of CS7
A new version of CS7
Version of CS usually comes out every 1-2 years. The new version should be released in around April 2014. This is very long since the release of CS6. There are a few reasons for this, one of the reasons is that Adobe will bring out a 6.5 version and with the release of Creative Cloud, some of the CS7 features have been put forward to those who subscribe with it.
CS7 Rumored Release – Expected to come in April 2014 (Creative Cloud members get the free upgrade).
CS7 Beta – Look out for CS7 public betas available between February and March 2014.
CS6.5 – We will see select versions updated in April 2013.
CS6 – The current version. Announced on April 23, 2012 and began shipping on May 7, 2012.
CS6 beta – Was released in March 2012 on Adobe Labs.
CS5.5 – Released back in April 2011 (12 months after CS5).
CS5 – Released in April 2010 (about 18 months after the release of CS4).
CS4 – Released in October 2008 (about 18 months after CS3).
CS3 – Released in April 2007 (approximately 24 months after CS2).
CS2 – Released in April 2005 (18 months after CS).
CS1 – Introduced in October 2003.
As with any major new release of the CS Suite there will be new features. For CS5-6 it was mainly focused around content aware, for CS6 there was an interface change. I don’t think that there will be much in terms of the interface or even new tools but I think the main focus will be ease of use, cloud storage and sharing capabilities. The reason why I predict this is because Adobe have recently brought out a program called Muse which creates websites without the user putting in any code. It also covers mobile websites and looks to be a great tool to use, you can get hold of this by signing up to the creative cloud.
The Creative Cloud is the next step for Adobe, it is a positive step for publishing, ease of use and storage. It does come at a cost of around £30 p/m but you will have some benefits of using this. One of the benefits of subscribing to this is the free updates for all already purchased programs with Adobe. This will save you money in the long run instead of buying an upgrade for a couple of hundred pounds.
One of the biggest complaints is paying for software as it does not come cheap, this could be a way of budgeting your money whilst getting more features such as the cloud. The cloud system is multi-operational and gives you 20gb of space, this will especially be handy if you mix between computers and portable devices.
Adobe are working on portable programs, a version of Photoshop has been released on iOS (but to be honest its quite disappointing). With the Creative Cloud you will get the digital publishing suite which has some benefits such as; ease of use, no code writing and unlimited uploads to the apple store!
More portable software and functions.
Ease of use/shortcuts.
Less piracy.
Upcoming technology such as Cloud Storage.
1 or 2 new main functions in PS.
Easier payment schemes (eg: monthly)
More functionality between Adobe programs.
Yes! Some important changes are coming to the upgrade policy that you should be aware of. Starting February 28, 2013, Adobe will only be offering upgrades on versions that are no older than one version back, no longer letting you save money by skipping one or two versions between upgrades. So get updated quickly!
Also with all these new updates, it is the start of Adobe’s war against piracy. So do not be surprised if you start seeing more of these schemes in the future!
Adobe Confirms Release Cycle for Creative Suite; CS6 Out Mid-2012
Adobe has publicly confirmed what they’ve been hinting for a while now: a new annual release schedule for the Creative Suite – with milestone releases in even years, and mid-cycle releases in odd years. The shift comes as the technology world turns faster from the previous cycles of 18-24 months historically.
Adobe didn’t actually say what future CS versions would be named or called – but for the sake of simplicity, let’s presume they continue with the established trend…
This means after CS5 in 2010, and CS5.5 in 2011, we could reasonably expect CS6 to be coming out in 2012, CS6.5 in 2013, CS7 in 2014, and so on.
They also gave guidance on “when” during each year, the expected timing for the launches… What’s more (and importantly), Adobe Photoshop will be getting a significant upgrade in CS6, after relatively minor updates for CS5.5.
Read on below for the specific details from the recent conference call and subsequent question and answer session… Or just read the full transcript.
Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen
… We successfully launched Creative Suite 5.5, an update to the CS5 product family. The release features enhancements for mobile content and application creation, new innovations for HTML5 and Flash authoring, and amazing new features and productivity improvements in our video authoring solutions.
CS5.5 is the first release in our transition to an annual release cycle, enabling us to deliver content creation innovations to our customers more frequently in response to the rapidly evolving marketplace.
Looking forward, expect this type of innovation to continue. We intend to ship the next milestone release of Creative Suite in 2012, and it will include an updated version of Photoshop.
Okay – that’s very good to know, helps reduce on the guessing – but when exactly next year will CS6 (or whatever the next major version of Creative Suite is called) be planned?
Question
As far as the annual release cycles for CS, should we expect that the timing is going to be kind of consistent during one time of the year – like we’ll see CS every year in the April-May timeframe, or will it be kind of variable each year?
Adobe CEO
With annual releases, we’re still very focused right now on 5.5 and … continuing to drive through that cycle until we release the next version. But I think it is fair to say that when we go to an annual release, the cadence will be about the same quarter because that’s what really enables us even with enterprises to get to be far more of an annual release cycle and have maintenance be a more meaningful part of the business.
Question
As you move to more of an annual cycle, will we see a condensation of when the languages roll out?
Adobe CEO
Yes, so as we did with CS5 itself, we are moving to a more consistent release schedule where all major languages are released at the same time. The reality is, we’re in a global world and so the day we announced the product, the interest – whether it’s in North America, whether it’s in another part of the world – is consistent. So yes, expect to see us do simultaneous releases of all major languages moving forward.
So, since CS5 came out in spring 2010, and CS5.5 in spring 2011 – basically this signals we’re looking at CS6 being launched in the spring of 2012, in English and other major languages at once. Here’s how the big picture looks:
| CS Release | Date |
|---|---|
| Creative Suite 3 | Spring 2007 |
| Creative Suite 4 | Fall 2008 |
| Creative Suite 5 | Spring 2010 |
| Creative Suite 5.5 | May 2011 |
| Creative Suite 6 | Mid-2012 (est.) |
| Creative Suite 6.5 | Mid-2013 (est.) |
| Creative Suite 7 | Mid-2014 (est.) |
| Creative Suite 7.5 | Mid-2015 (est.) |
But what’s this about a new release of Photoshop, features for the next version – what’s going to be in Photoshop CS6?
Adobe CEO
And I think people are looking forward … to the next release as well, because there’s a significant anticipation that’s being built up for all the cool things that we can do in imaging with Photoshop – and there’s a lot of exciting stuff underway.
[UPDATE (October 12th) – See the new "sneak peek" videos of Photoshop Image Deblurring and InDesign Liquid Layout from Adobe MAX 2011, plus many more for other products...]
Bottom line, knowing the future release schedule takes a lot of uncertainty out of the process… There’s always another release coming at some point, but now we know when. Historically, there have been folks who have held off buying Adobe software because they weren’t sure if that next version was “right around the corner” – where they would feel sheepish if they purchased just before that event. But now, knowing the release windows, you know what to expect – and can make an educated and informed purchase. We commend Adobe for changing their policy and making this information more public.
Listen to the entire conference call here, or read the transcript for more details.
See also:
— CS6 Grace Period! Buy CS5.5 Now + Get Free Upgrade to CS6 When It Ships
— Adobe: CS6 on Track for “Late in Q2″ with Very Compelling New Features
— Sneak Previews of CS6: Dreamweaver, InDesign, Flash Pro, Illustrator & Premiere
— Win New Photoshop CS6 + Lightroom 4 FREE! ($1000 Giveaway)
— What’s the Difference Between Photoshop CS6 vs. CS5 – What’s New in Features?
Give your input before it ships – what would you like to see in CS6? Please share your thoughts below or at Adobe’s official feature request “wishlist” or on Adobe Ideas…
To follow this story going forward, subscribe to our RSS feed or like us on Facebook or Twitter… You can also just enter your email and have new articles sent directly to your inbox.
When Will Adobe CS7 – or CS6.5 – Be Released?
When Will Adobe CS7 – or CS6.5 – Be Released?
Six months ago today, Adobe released Creative Suite 6… While that wasn’t long ago, this is usually around the time customers start asking when the next release might be coming out, and what new features and improvements will be included in it. We’ve covered this topic before for CS6, ahead of its original launch date, so let’s take a look at the future…
What should we expect going forward? Will the next version out be CS7, and when will that be? Or will we instead see a mid-cycle release like CS6.5 available first? Fortunately Adobe has already answered all these questions, and in fact they answered them last year.
Back when CS5.5 began shipping in May 2011, the company for the very first time shared a great deal of information about their future Creative Suite product release schedule. Previously the cycle had been for a new version of the CS software coming every 18 months or so. But beginning with CS5.5, Adobe rolled out a new plan in response to accelerating creative needs:
This launch marks a major change to Adobe’s product release strategy for Creative Suite, the industry-leading design and development software for virtually every creative workflow across print, video, mobile and online media. Adobe now plans to have milestone Creative Suite product introductions at 24-month intervals and – starting with Creative Suite 5.5 – significant mid-cycle releases designed to keep the worldwide creative community ahead of the latest advances in content authoring.
And further to that:
Adobe plays an important role here, and we have realized that our historical 18-month release cycles are not going to be sufficient to address these rapidly-evolving trends. So Adobe decided to ship major milestone releases of Adobe Creative Suite software approximately every two years, with mid-cycle releases that incorporate the most critical features customers need in the interim years. The first mid-cycle release is Creative Suite 5.5, and it addresses these challenges.
So add it up and what does it mean, how does the future look? It means we might expect Adobe CS7 to be released in the spring of 2014, with an interim CS6.5 release coming out in between, probably in May of 2013… As with CS5.5, we may not see all Creative Suite applications upgraded for CS6.5 – for example, there wasn’t a CS5.5 version for Photoshop or Illustrator.
[UPDATE (Spring 2013) – Now confirmed: Next Release of Creative Suite to Launch May 6th.]
Here is what the big picture looks like – and see further below for new product features that are expected:
CS Release Date
Creative Suite 3 Spring 2007
Creative Suite 4 Fall 2008
Creative Suite 5 Spring 2010
Creative Suite 5.5 May 2011
Creative Suite 6 May 2012
Creative Suite 6.5 Mid-2013 (est.)
Creative Suite 7 Mid-2014 (est.)
Creative Suite 7.5 Mid-2015 (est.)
Any beta versions of CS6.5 or CS7 applications should be anticipated 1-2 months ahead of their final releases.
[UPDATE – Wondering about LR5? See: When Is Adobe Lightroom 5 Coming Out?]
What New Features Will Be In Adobe CS6.5 – or CS7?
We actually know some of the new product features that will be in the next formal release of Creative Suite… We know this because of the Creative Cloud, where some of these additions since CS6 have already been released early to Cloud members.
Here are some we expect would be included in the next version (click each for more details):
Photoshop: Copy CSS support, Image Deblurring, Conditional Actions, plus lots more.
Illustrator: Package Files and “Unembed” Images functions, Links Panel enhancements.
Dreamweaver: Improved HTML5 support, new CSS Designer tools, better FTP transfers.
InDesign: Retina Display and native 64-bit support plus dark interface (customizable).
Flash Professional: 64-bit architecture, native cocoa, faster, more reliable, + new UI.
Premiere Pro: Too many to list – see the “NAB Reveal” sneak peek videos!
After Effects: Incredible new “Refine Edge” Rotoscoping and much, much more.
Audition: Sound Remover, Preview Editor, Native 64-Bit Performance, Favorites Panel.
Prelude, SpeedGrade, Media Encoder: See the first looks.
Inclusion into the suite editions of new Acrobat XI Pro, which is already in the Cloud.
Stay tuned as we will keep this list updated going forward…
In addition, by 2013 all major Adobe tools should natively support the new MacBook Retina and HiDPI displays, for which Adobe says free updates will be coming for all current users before the next release. The list includes Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro and Lightroom. InDesign is more uncertain… Adobe says it’s its most complex software product, so InDesign support for Mac Retina may not be available until the next major release is shipping. The same goes for Flash Pro. Meanwhile, other applications like After Effects are said to be already compatible with Retina displays.
If you would like early access (now) to some of the new features listed above, consider checking out the Creative Cloud via either a free membership or paid subscription… Adobe says Cloud members will always have the latest versions available to use, which in a nutshell means that all product upgrades are included in the program.
[UPDATE (Spring 2013) – Now confirmed: Next Version of Creative Suite Comes on May 6th.]
Wondering which path is best for you? Don’t miss:
Creative Suite vs. Creative Cloud – Which Should You Choose?
Wondering why Cloud subscribers get exclusive updates that CS6 doesn’t? See:
Why Creative Cloud Gets Free Upgrades but Adobe CS6 Doesn’t
Give your input before it ships – what would you like to see in CS6.5 or CS7? Share your thoughts in the comments below or at Adobe’s official feature request “wishlist”…
See also:
Download free CS6 e-books (over 1,000 pages)
What are the differences between CS6 vs. CS5, 4, 3?
The 10 most common myths about Creative Cloud
How to save 75% with the CS6 education editions
Free Adobe CS6 Tutorials – 30 hours of video training
Creative Cloud team and group licensing now available
Adobe Confirms Release Cycle for Creative Suite; CS6 Out Mid-2012
Adobe has publicly confirmed what they’ve been hinting for a while now: a new annual release schedule for the Creative Suite – with milestone releases in even years, and mid-cycle releases in odd years. The shift comes as the technology world turns faster from the previous cycles of 18-24 months historically.
Adobe didn’t actually say what future CS versions would be named or called – but for the sake of simplicity, let’s presume they continue with the established trend…
This means after CS5 in 2010, and CS5.5 in 2011, we could reasonably expect CS6 to be coming out in 2012, CS6.5 in 2013, CS7 in 2014, and so on.
They also gave guidance on “when” during each year, the expected timing for the launches… What’s more (and importantly), Adobe Photoshop will be getting a significant upgrade in CS6, after relatively minor updates for CS5.5.
Read on below for the specific details from the recent conference call and subsequent question and answer session… Or just read the full transcript.
Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen
… We successfully launched Creative Suite 5.5, an update to the CS5 product family. The release features enhancements for mobile content and application creation, new innovations for HTML5 and Flash authoring, and amazing new features and productivity improvements in our video authoring solutions.
CS5.5 is the first release in our transition to an annual release cycle, enabling us to deliver content creation innovations to our customers more frequently in response to the rapidly evolving marketplace.
Looking forward, expect this type of innovation to continue. We intend to ship the next milestone release of Creative Suite in 2012, and it will include an updated version of Photoshop.
Okay – that’s very good to know, helps reduce on the guessing – but when exactly next year will CS6 (or whatever the next major version of Creative Suite is called) be planned?
Question
As far as the annual release cycles for CS, should we expect that the timing is going to be kind of consistent during one time of the year – like we’ll see CS every year in the April-May timeframe, or will it be kind of variable each year?
Adobe CEO
With annual releases, we’re still very focused right now on 5.5 and … continuing to drive through that cycle until we release the next version. But I think it is fair to say that when we go to an annual release, the cadence will be about the same quarter because that’s what really enables us even with enterprises to get to be far more of an annual release cycle and have maintenance be a more meaningful part of the business.
Question
As you move to more of an annual cycle, will we see a condensation of when the languages roll out?
Adobe CEO
Yes, so as we did with CS5 itself, we are moving to a more consistent release schedule where all major languages are released at the same time. The reality is, we’re in a global world and so the day we announced the product, the interest – whether it’s in North America, whether it’s in another part of the world – is consistent. So yes, expect to see us do simultaneous releases of all major languages moving forward.
So, since CS5 came out in spring 2010, and CS5.5 in spring 2011 – basically this signals we’re looking at CS6 being launched in the spring of 2012, in English and other major languages at once. Here’s how the big picture looks:
Adobe Set to Release CS7; CEO Says, “Don’t Even Try”
Adobe Set to Release CS7; CEO Says, “Don’t Even Try”
With Photoshop CS6 quickly approaching its first birthday, Adobe decided to ramp up efforts to release the next generation of its Creative Suite software.
CS6 brought a wealth of new features to the table that, more often than not, took the editing out of editing. Among them was the Content Aware Patch that could fill in a portion of the photo that wasn’t there originally. Say your landscape is marred by an unsavory boulder, you can send it back to the depths from whence it came with the Content Aware Patch which could replace it with the rest of the grassy knoll, if you like.
Rumors have abounded about what Adobe would work into CS7. There have been wish lists and hit lists for features that many wanted added and killed in the next iteration. Internal memos leaked to us have shed an interesting light on what Adobe’s engineers have been creating.
According to one document, CEO Nila Kanjalali was referring to “self-proclaimed iPhone self-portraitists” when she said “Don’t even try.” That is to say that CS7 will do all the work they wouldn’t know how to do in the first place. According to another document, CS7 will feature the word “EDIT” in large, friendly letters next to the photo imported to the library. Ms. Kanjalali said that what happens next would be considered “magic by their standards”.
Users have the option to disable this simplified feature, but will then be faced by something akin to the cockpit on the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Ms. Kanjalali could not be reached for comment, but a senior executive did disclose that Adobe is seeking to “maximize the editing experience by providing users with every editing option possible”.
The EDIT button, it seems, is a ruse to keep would-be Instagram photogs at bay. Actual photographers will rejoice in what is known as the “flight deck”, the full set of editing options. Rife with sliders, buttons, brushes, and filters, the “flight deck” is an editor’s paradise.
I was granted early access to a beta version of CS7, and I speak for some when I say, “I have no idea what’s going on.” I have been a photographer for roughly five years now, and I haven’t seen something this complicated since AP Calculus in high school. After several failed attempts at navigating the flight deck, I found myself backtracking to the nifty EDIT button that made otherwise garbage photos rather pretty to behold.
The unfortunate result of using the nifty “EDIT” button is that each image is watermarked with a small, yet clear “edited” at the bottom right of the image. It’s unclear exactly which audience CS7 is geared for as it seems only Adobe engineers can navigate the program.
Although, according to one document, the lead engineer said, “We’ve made a huge mistake.”
With Photoshop CS6 quickly approaching its first birthday, Adobe decided to ramp up efforts to release the next generation of its Creative Suite software.
CS6 brought a wealth of new features to the table that, more often than not, took the editing out of editing. Among them was the Content Aware Patch that could fill in a portion of the photo that wasn’t there originally. Say your landscape is marred by an unsavory boulder, you can send it back to the depths from whence it came with the Content Aware Patch which could replace it with the rest of the grassy knoll, if you like.
Rumors have abounded about what Adobe would work into CS7. There have been wish lists and hit lists for features that many wanted added and killed in the next iteration. Internal memos leaked to us have shed an interesting light on what Adobe’s engineers have been creating.
According to one document, CEO Nila Kanjalali was referring to “self-proclaimed iPhone self-portraitists” when she said “Don’t even try.” That is to say that CS7 will do all the work they wouldn’t know how to do in the first place. According to another document, CS7 will feature the word “EDIT” in large, friendly letters next to the photo imported to the library. Ms. Kanjalali said that what happens next would be considered “magic by their standards”.
Users have the option to disable this simplified feature, but will then be faced by something akin to the cockpit on the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Ms. Kanjalali could not be reached for comment, but a senior executive did disclose that Adobe is seeking to “maximize the editing experience by providing users with every editing option possible”.
The EDIT button, it seems, is a ruse to keep would-be Instagram photogs at bay. Actual photographers will rejoice in what is known as the “flight deck”, the full set of editing options. Rife with sliders, buttons, brushes, and filters, the “flight deck” is an editor’s paradise.
I was granted early access to a beta version of CS7, and I speak for some when I say, “I have no idea what’s going on.” I have been a photographer for roughly five years now, and I haven’t seen something this complicated since AP Calculus in high school. After several failed attempts at navigating the flight deck, I found myself backtracking to the nifty EDIT button that made otherwise garbage photos rather pretty to behold.
The unfortunate result of using the nifty “EDIT” button is that each image is watermarked with a small, yet clear “edited” at the bottom right of the image. It’s unclear exactly which audience CS7 is geared for as it seems only Adobe engineers can navigate the program.
Although, according to one document, the lead engineer said, “We’ve made a huge mistake.”
Weekend Humor: Adobe Set to Release CS7; CEO Says, “Don’t Even Try”
I would love to give it a try. If its anything compared to calculus then I'm going to pass. Lol, j/k I cant wait to give it a whirl.
With Photoshop CS6 quickly approaching its first birthday, Adobe decided to ramp up efforts to release the next generation of its Creative Suite software.
CS6 brought a wealth of new features to the table that, more often than not, took the editing out of editing. Among them was the Content Aware Patch that could fill in a portion of the photo that wasn’t there originally. Say your landscape is marred by an unsavory boulder, you can send it back to the depths from whence it came with the Content Aware Patch which could replace it with the rest of the grassy knoll, if you like.
Rumors have abounded about what Adobe would work into CS7. There have been wish lists and hit lists for features that many wanted added and killed in the next iteration. Internal memos leaked to us have shed an interesting light on what Adobe’s engineers have been creating.
According to one document, CEO Nila Kanjalali was referring to “self-proclaimed iPhone self-portraitists” when she said “Don’t even try.” That is to say that CS7 will do all the work they wouldn’t know how to do in the first place. According to another document, CS7 will feature the word “EDIT” in large, friendly letters next to the photo imported to the library. Ms. Kanjalali said that what happens next would be considered “magic by their standards”.
Users have the option to disable this simplified feature, but will then be faced by something akin to the cockpit on the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Ms. Kanjalali could not be reached for comment, but a senior executive did disclose that Adobe is seeking to “maximize the editing experience by providing users with every editing option possible”.
The EDIT button, it seems, is a ruse to keep would-be Instagram photogs at bay. Actual photographers will rejoice in what is known as the “flight deck”, the full set of editing options. Rife with sliders, buttons, brushes, and filters, the “flight deck” is an editor’s paradise.
I was granted early access to a beta version of CS7, and I speak for some when I say, “I have no idea what’s going on.” I have been a photographer for roughly five years now, and I haven’t seen something this complicated since AP Calculus in high school. After several failed attempts at navigating the flight deck, I found myself backtracking to the nifty EDIT button that made otherwise garbage photos rather pretty to behold.
The unfortunate result of using the nifty “EDIT” button is that each image is watermarked with a small, yet clear “edited” at the bottom right of the image. It’s unclear exactly which audience CS7 is geared for as it seems only Adobe engineers can navigate the program.
Although, according to one document, the lead engineer said, “We’ve made a huge mistake.”
Please Support The Phoblographer
We love to bring you guys the latest and greatest news and gear related stuff. However, we can’t keep doing that unless we have your continued support. If you would like to purchase any of the items mentioned, please do so by clicking our links first and then purchasing the items as we then get a small portion of the sale to help run the website.
With Photoshop CS6 quickly approaching its first birthday, Adobe decided to ramp up efforts to release the next generation of its Creative Suite software.
CS6 brought a wealth of new features to the table that, more often than not, took the editing out of editing. Among them was the Content Aware Patch that could fill in a portion of the photo that wasn’t there originally. Say your landscape is marred by an unsavory boulder, you can send it back to the depths from whence it came with the Content Aware Patch which could replace it with the rest of the grassy knoll, if you like.
Rumors have abounded about what Adobe would work into CS7. There have been wish lists and hit lists for features that many wanted added and killed in the next iteration. Internal memos leaked to us have shed an interesting light on what Adobe’s engineers have been creating.
According to one document, CEO Nila Kanjalali was referring to “self-proclaimed iPhone self-portraitists” when she said “Don’t even try.” That is to say that CS7 will do all the work they wouldn’t know how to do in the first place. According to another document, CS7 will feature the word “EDIT” in large, friendly letters next to the photo imported to the library. Ms. Kanjalali said that what happens next would be considered “magic by their standards”.
Users have the option to disable this simplified feature, but will then be faced by something akin to the cockpit on the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Ms. Kanjalali could not be reached for comment, but a senior executive did disclose that Adobe is seeking to “maximize the editing experience by providing users with every editing option possible”.
I was granted early access to a beta version of CS7, and I speak for some when I say, “I have no idea what’s going on.” I have been a photographer for roughly five years now, and I haven’t seen something this complicated since AP Calculus in high school. After several failed attempts at navigating the flight deck, I found myself backtracking to the nifty EDIT button that made otherwise garbage photos rather pretty to behold.
The unfortunate result of using the nifty “EDIT” button is that each image is watermarked with a small, yet clear “edited” at the bottom right of the image. It’s unclear exactly which audience CS7 is geared for as it seems only Adobe engineers can navigate the program.
Although, according to one document, the lead engineer said, “We’ve made a huge mistake.”
Please Support The Phoblographer
We love to bring you guys the latest and greatest news and gear related stuff. However, we can’t keep doing that unless we have your continued support. If you would like to purchase any of the items mentioned, please do so by clicking our links first and then purchasing the items as we then get a small portion of the sale to help run the website.
Adobe Photoshop Touch released for iPhone and Android Smartphones
Adobe Photoshop Touch released for iPhone and Android Smartphones
Adobe released the Photoshop Touch for Android Tablets back in November 2011 along range of Tablet apps, and the Photoshop Touch for iPad was released last February. Now the Adobe has released Photoshop Touch for iPhone and Android smartphones. The Photoshop Touch lets you transform images with core Photoshop features. You can combine images, apply professional effects and share them easily.
Features of Adobe Photoshop Touch for phone
- Use popular Photoshop features, such as layers, selection tools, adjustments, and filters, to create mind-blowing images.
- Apply precise tone and color adjustments to your entire composition, a particular layer, or a select area.
- Create something other-worldly using painting effects, filter brushes, and so much more.
- Make your images pop with graphical text. Apply strokes, add drop shadows and fades, and more.
- Fill an area on a layer with the unique Camera Fill feature.
- Quickly combine images together
- Start a project on your phone and finish it on your tablet (Using Photoshop Touch for Tablets) or back in Photoshop (CS 5.1 or above) with Adobe Creative Cloud. Projects are synced between your devices.
- Free membership to Creative Cloud provides 2GB of cloud storage.
- Work on high-resolution images while maintaining the highest image quality. Images up to 12 megapixels are supported.
Download Photoshop Touch for phone for Android from the Google Play Store and for iPhone from the Apple iTunes Store for $4.99 (Rs. 270).
Photography Prodigy Blurs Reality and Imagination: A Conversation with Taylor McCormick
Photography Prodigy Blurs Reality and Imagination: A Conversation with Taylor McCormick
In only two years, Taylor McCormick has transformed herself from a budding photographer into a one-of-a-kind artist. Through an involved and self-driven process McCormick matured from a high-school student with a camera and an imagination into a gallery-sponsored artist, traveling to Atlanta, Washington D.C., New York and Los Angeles for her work. Her journey can be described by the same word used to describe most of her published images: dreamlike.
In only two years, Taylor McCormick has transformed herself from a budding photographer into a one-of-a-kind artist. Through an involved and self-driven process McCormick matured from a high-school student with a camera and an imagination into a gallery-sponsored artist, traveling to Atlanta, Washington D.C., New York and Los Angeles for her work. Her journey can be described by the same word used to describe most of her published images: dreamlike.
Taylor’s breakout photography caught my attention with its originality and cultivated process. McCormick is a young woman talented beyond her years, whose portfolio illustrates a combination of both tenacity and creativity.
I recently had the chance to talk to Taylor about her breakout photography career and found her story to be an example of what young photographers can achieve with the right tools and vision.
At age 17, after a few years of shooting photos, McCormick began using Photoshop CS5 to create artwork out of the images she shot on her camera. She had no formal training in Photoshop, and learned the software through YouTube training videos and relentless trial and error. Her goal was to work on an image for a week, creating and learning as she made each photo increasingly more detailed and complex.
“By forcing myself to create one elaborate image each week; I give myself a week to work on it,” says McCormick. “I sleep on it and then I go back to it after sleeping.”
To pursue her passion, McCormick began attending Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where she is currently a freshman. As part of her education, she attended a demonstration of Photoshop CS6 and upgraded her personal workflow to include the new program.
In her personal time, McCormick studies the work of photographers she admires, and integrates their methods into her own. For example, Brooke Shaden inspired her to shoot photos with a Nikon D80 and later a D800.
In her personal time, McCormick studies the work of photographers she admires, and integrates their methods into her own. For example, Brooke Shaden inspired her to shoot photos with a Nikon D80 and later a D800.
Inspired by the Brenizer method, McCormick often uses three to nine original photos for each image she creates. She often shoots several versions of a scene to combine shots into a base, and then adds individual malleable elements as layers on top.
During shoots, McCormick often takes photos of everyday objects like clouds or skies to build her own personal stock image library for later projects. Once the images are uploaded, she completes her post-processing in Photoshop, using features like layer masks, selective color, puppet warp, layer warp, content-aware fill and adjustment layers to fine-tune her creations.
Two years of intense work hasn’t slowed down McCormick. In fact, her ability and ambition continue to grow faster than her process can accommodate. She currently has work backed up so much that a photo shot today wouldn’t enter processing for several months.
Even after all that work, some projects are learning experiences and nothing else. “For every image that’s uploaded, 20 never make it,” McCormick says.
While she’s unsure of what the future will hold for her photography, Taylor loves the creative challenge and plans to keep pushing her limits to make new art. “I can’t really see myself doing anything else,” she says.
To see more of Taylor’s photography, visit her Flickr page and follow her on Instagram.
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