Compare software from Adobe

Acrobat 9 takes the PDF document into the 21st Century with some ground breaking features, whilst introducing some simple and practical ones too.

The software comes in Standard, Pro or Pro Extended formats.

Standard lets you combine different files into a single PDF document, or form, and distribute it easily with 256-bit encryption security features. That’s as secure as an online bank.

With Pro and Pro Extended you can collaborate with others online, letting multiple users work on a document simultaneously in real Web 2.0 style.

Acrobat Pro Extended allows you to convert video into PDF embeddable Flash format and display interactive multimedia including 3D models which the user can navigate up, down and around. This promises to change the face of the PDF file forever.

With the redaction tool (pro-editions) – a company can find every accidental mention of name or subject and black out the potential leaks from a PDF with one blow. Whilst the document comparison feature lets you see all the editing changes made between two versions of the same PDF.

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Adobe Illustrator CS5 is the latest version of the world’s number one vector artwork software.

You can use it to create sophisticated designs for any project be-it a graphic for a banner or a logo for a new product; you’ll find the capacity to express yourself in an unlimited number of different ways.

Adobe has made some important additions to Illustrator CS5, such as the new perspective drawing tool, which lets you design scenes or shapes in 1-, 2- and 3-point linear perspective. Another tool lets you create fabulously rich and indulgent brush strokes, giving you total control over your art brush scaling.

Other additions include a new and improved shape builder tool, a bristle brush tool that lets you paint vectors with a completely natural brush stroke look, and a graphics tool for web and mobile devices, allowing you to optimise your designs for the latest media.

In summary this latest version, while not stacked with as many new features as previous releases, offers designers some truly excellent new tools that should really be invaluable to professional graphic designers. We believe this to be a very important upgrade and one which you should seriously consider making if you wish to stay ahead of the game.

Price:
New purchase: £606.30
Upgrade from: £186.82

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Unbeknownst to many but highly valued by those of us who do, is Adobe Fireworks CS5, a fantastic software that lets you create visually stunning graphics and export them fully optimised for the Internet.

Less complex than Photoshop, this is a graphics software package that has been specifically designed for people looking to work with images and graphics on the web. You can create both vector and bitmap modes and they will be optimised specifically for your choice of platform – be it smartphone, PC or kiosks.

Adobe Fireworks CS5 is ideal for those of you intending to do a lot of online work. It is less expensive than Photoshop and has a much lower learning curve. Once you get used to it you’ll be creating web-page layouts and banner graphics in no time.

You can quickly and easily make a wireframe from a template and add text, imagery, symbols – all using the excellent vector and bitmap toolsets available on the easy-to-use User Interface.

Video enthusiasts will love the ease with which you can create graphics on transparent backgrounds and export them inot your video editing software to create professional titles and callouts.

All in all this is great software and a perfect low-cost alternative to Photoshop.

Photoshop is shrugging its way out of those tumultuous teenage years by turning 20 this year. And what a birthday it will be.

Adobe Photoshop CS5 will be released on 12 April and (for me especially) the new features are by far the most exciting.

Top of the pile is Content Aware Fill. This will allow you to selectively edit areas of an image, and then delete and cover it seamlessly with the image around it. This was previously possible, but it took a great deal of both skill and time. Content Aware Fill appears to make it almost effortless, check out the official Adobe video on YouTube, it’s racked up well over 2 million hits.

There’s an updated paintkit with a larger selection of brushes and improved edge detection to make it easier to mask areas.

PatchMatch is a sampling tool, similar to content aware fill, allowing you to patch an image based on the surrounding content.

Price:

Photoshop CS5

New purchase: £548
Upgrade (from 3 versions back): £159

Photoshop CS5 Extended

New Purchase: £794
Upgrade (from 3 versions back): £278

You can find out more here

Adobe CS5 Production Premium Suite is the best suite, and industry standard, for video and audio editing. Here’s a brief overview of its main features.

Premiere Pro CS5 is easy to use yet powerful timeline based video editing software. The latest version promises better file support and even smoother real time editing.

After Effects CS5 is Adobe’s motion graphics and compositing software, allowing you to add sophisticated animations.

Soundbooth CS5 is Adobe’s digital audio editor. It’s not as powerful as Adobe Audition, which is specifically for audio professionals, but does allow for simpler audio editing.

You can find out more here

OnLocation CS5 allows you to record and monitor while out and about, and Encore CS5 allows you to professionally author DVDs, with menus, subtitles etc.

Production Premium also comes with Photoshop CS5 extended version. In the realm of movie editing it gives your creativity complete freedom when editing stills or title cards.

Also included are Flash Catalyst and Flash Professional, giving you endless scope for Flash based animations.

Price:

New purchase: £1,509
Upgrade (from 1 version back): £516
Upgrade (from 2 or 3 versions back): £675
Upsell (From eligible individual products): £992