Adobe Muscles its Way to the Fore with CS3 Production Premium Edition

by John Neely

Published on Mar 27, 2007 2:30 PM
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March 27, 2007 - Adobe announced its new Creative Suite 3 Production Premium Edition today, a suite that is arguably the most robust solution for media content production available. The CS3 Production suite includes a number of new video and mobile device-oriented stand-alone applications, better Photoshop/Premiere/Flash integration, and cross-platform compatibility with both Intel Macs and PCs. It’s a heady combination of applications that brings the entire production workflow under the Adobe stadium roof, and that should have the competition – primarily Apple and Avid – scurrying to respond.

The most intriguing components of the Production suite are a handful of new applications, including Adobe OnLocation CS3 and Adobe Ultra CS3. Adobe OnLocation CS3 is a direct-to-disk recording and monitoring tool based on Serious Magic’s DVRack chassis (Serious Magic is now owned by Adobe). The application includes an impressive set of digital tools including a DVR for DV and HDV recording direct to disk via a FireWire connection, a pre-record buffer option that can be set between 0 and 30 seconds, time-lapse and stop-motion, and motion-activated recording. In addition, the application is outfitted with digital components to enable live picture monitoring on your laptop or desktop computer. These include an adjustable digital field monitor with adjustable aspect ratio, waveform monitor, vectorscope, audio spectrum analyzer, and color value analyzer. Adobe OnLocation is a PC-only application, but will run on Intel-based Macs running Windows.

Adobe Ultra CS3 is another Windows-only application specifically for video keying. This program uses Adobe’s Vector Keying algorithm, which the company says will address many common keying issues including uneven lighting, wrinkled backdrops, or frizzy hair. Adobe Ultra can generate virtual shadows and reflections, and includes a selection of 12 prerendered 3D virtual sets. Additional virtual set libraries are sold separately by Adobe. The program supports video file formats including AVI, MPEG, QuickTime, and DV, and outputs to DV or 24 and 32-bit AVIs with alpha channels.

Adobe Premiere adds a number of new features, but the biggest news may be the return of the company’s venerable NLE to the Mac platform. The combination of cross-platform compatibility, and integration with other Adobe products could bring Premiere back into the fold of studios using Final Cut Pro or Avid DV Express Pro. New features include DVD and Blu-ray disc output, better slow motion rendering, integration with Adobe OnLocation (PC only), Adobe Encore, and Adobe Flash, and mobile device output.

Adobe Encore is a DVD and Blu-ray disc authoring program that also supports SWF file output for web-based content delivery. The main draws of the latest edition of Encore is likely this ability to seamlessly create and author once, and publish to three different formats, and its integration with complementary Adobe apps like Photoshop, Flash, Premiere and After Effects. Additional key features include direct-to-web publishing, slideshow editing, automated chapter menus, DVD mastering tools, dual-layer DVD support, docking panels, and external monitor support.

Adobe After Effects CS3 Professional, the company’s motion graphics and visual effects Swiss Army Knife also adds a number of new features including Shape Layer for vector graphic design, and a character animation Puppet tool. As with all applications in the Production suite, After Effects is closely integrated with complementary programs including Photoshop and Flash. Other new features include per-character 3D text animation, which allows animation of individual characters or phrases, a Brainstorm interface that displays variations of a given theme based on your parameters, color management across your workflow, and mobile device output. Another potentially useful feature is Adobe Clip Notes, which allows work to be rendered as an Adobe PDF file that supports timecode-accurate comments that can then be imported as markers on the timeline.

The complete list of standalone applications included in Adobe’s Creative Suite 3 Production Premium is: Adobe After Effects CS3 Professional, Adobe Premiere Pro CS3, Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended, Adobe Flash CS3 Professional, Adobe Illustrator CS3, Adobe Soundbooth CS3, Adobe Encore CS3, Adobe , and for Windos only, OnLocation CS3 and Adobe Ultra CS3. The Adobe Creative Suite 3 Production Premium bundle can be preordered from the Adober website for $1,699, while an upgrade from CS2 is priced at $799. According to Adobe, CS3 will begin shipping in the third quarter of 2007.