Adobe CS4 Master Collection

I've had this software for a couple months now and i'll admit that its great. I feel that its well worth the price that I bought it for. Since I am currently a student, I was able to purchase it at a cheaper price which is good. I am going to college for web graphics design so this is something that I needed. Not everyone has that advantage on getting a discount on it, if you are not going to college. Just by needing photoshop, it payed for itself for me as photoshop extended is $1000 all alone.  If you are not a student, its around $2500 so you have to figure out which programs you need to determine if this is the right one for you.  Look at the prices and you can figure that one out.

In design is not one that I have played around with much. There are some programs in the package that seem to have simular functions, but where one leaves off, the other picks up and so on. It seems to be in the line of illustrator. Both programs remind me of freehand which I used some years ago when I was learning to do computer art.

It seems to have some simularity to both in design and to photoshop.  If you can learn one program, you can learn the others because mostly everything has simular features so that its easier to learn the others as you are ready to learn them.

I've used photoshop since 5.0 so its come a long way since then.  The program has improved tremendously and I love it.  I was glad when I was able to get CS4.  Its just a great program all around.  You can get a free graphics program, but its not as good as photoshop.  Since I really started with photoshop, its really hard to use something else if you are so used to it.  Anyone can really create wonderful graphics in photoshop once you get to know how to work with the program.

You may be asking me why acrobat pro.  I mean you get acrobat free, so why pay more for the pro version.  If you want to create pdf files, its perfect.  In fact, since I have microsoft office, I have a link in office to create pdf files right from there.

Oh I had some fun with this one.  This is great for creating webpages.  Before I was always designing them from scratch but this helped a bit.  You still have to look at codes, but you save time on getting what you need done.  You can still create css and so on.  Knowing html and css is helpful still.  If you understand that, you can use this program.  It says even a beginner can do it, but I think its better for someone whom has some html and css knowledge.  Its possible for a beginner, but I really not so sure as I know both html and css well.  The program does have a learning curve though, but as you learn how to use it, you could never imagine your life without it ever.

Flash is another great piece of software. I have only used it before only because I had to use it for class, so I did learn a thing or two about it. I had a friend whom said to me, you can get flash for free and I had to explain to him how this was different than what you download. What you download is a flash player which makes your computer read flash. This actually creates flash type of items

I have not played with this one that much yet.  What I do know about this program is that you can edit a webpage from you websites browsers.  There is not much more I can tell you about it yet.

Oh this is real fun.  If you want to make vector like graphics, its great. If you are looking to design something that requires using the pen tool but want it as a second layer, its great.  If you try to use the pen tool in photoshop it doesn't stay to a separate layer like you want.  All you have to do is copy right from fireworks over to photoshop. So really, they do benefit each other.

Its not something I have really played around to much with either, but in time I will.  Adobe's website mentions that it helps create motion graphics.  Having each thing in one package is nice so that you can play with different tools.

I really have not played around with it that much.  I know its a video editing program, but I have no knowledge about it.  In time, I know I wil have an understanding of it better than I do now.  It really does take time to learn some things.  At least one thing that adobe does have is video tutorials you can watch to learn how to use the tools.  Thats how I managed to learn how to use dreamweaver.  Its just a matter of getting used to it.

This is another one, that I really have not used yet.  Give me time and I will.  What it does is give you the ability for sound and edit it to your likings from what I had read about it.

Encore I really don't know what it really does.  All I know is that it has to do with DVDs.

This was not mentioned anywhere, but there is an adobe media player that came with the package that was installed.  I've played with it here and there.  You can view videos and sometimes tutorials.  I am not sure if it comes with all but I know it came with mine.  I have a student edition, but who knows, you may get it with this one too.  It be cool.

The great part is that you are spending less money for the suite than having to buy the programs separately. The downside is when you do install it, it takes forever. Its rewarding when it finally is installed. You get all of these programs at your fingertips.   With everything, you can do anything imaginable.

This is a great package and is well worth the price you pay for. The master collection is not the only option. If master collection is not for you, check out the other suites.