Why You Can Trust CNET Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production Premium
Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production Premium
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See all pricesThe Adobe Production Premium CS4 package is built for filmmakers. Its key components include the updated Premiere for video editing, After Effects for postproduction effects, OnLocation to assist with perfecting shoots on the spot, and Soundbooth to tweak audio. Adobe integrates Photoshop and Illustrator for graphics, as well as Flash for crafting video and animation for the Web. With this update, Adobe has focused on expanding integration among the apps while improving work spaces and work flows. Options for repurposing work for mobile devices continue to expand.
For professionals, the main competitor to this package is Apple Final Cut Studio 2.
The release of Adobe Creative Suite 3 in 2007 was the first to incorporate former properties from Macromedia, such as Flash. With Creative Suite 4, Adobe has unified the interfaces of all the applications for a more seamless experience. Workspace adjustments to CS4 include panels that are more nimble than its predecessor's and handy pull-down menus with preset styles that enable you to shift among workspace layouts quickly.
Adobe Production Premium CS4 costs $1,699, or between $599 to $799 to upgrade. The charts below detail the contents of and pricing for this and other CS4 suites; please click on the images of individual applications to learn what's new inside each of them.
To install Adobe Production Premium CS4, Windows users need at least Windows XP SP2 or Vista with a 2GHz-or-faster processor (and higher, to support high-definition video). The necessary available-disk space is 16.3GB--perhaps more during installation. Mac users will need an Intel-based machine with at least OS X v10.4.11 to 10.5.4 with 2GB of RAM and 20.6GB of available disk space. For either Windows or Macs, installation comes via DVD. The display must be 1,280x900 with an OpenGL 2.0-compatible graphics card and support for Shader Model 3.0.
We've been tinkering with rough drafts of CS4 applications, and will report back with rated reviews once we put the final code through its paces.
Applications in Adobe CS4 Production Premium
| Price if bought separately | |
 After Effects CS4 Professional | $999/$299 upgrade |
| Bridge CS4 | n/a |
 Flash CS4 Professional | $699/$199 upgrade |
 Illustrator CS4 | $599/$199 upgrade from CS, FreeHand 9+, or CorelDRAW |
 Photoshop CS4 Extended | $999/$349 upgrade from CS3/$899 upgrade from 5 or 6 |
 Premiere Pro CS4 with Encore CS4 and OnLocation | $799/$299 upgrade/$699 upgrade from Premiere Elements |
 Soundbooth CS4 | $199/$79 upgrade |
Adobe Creative Suite 4 packages
| Price: Full | Price: Upgrade | |
 Creative Suite 4 Master Collection | $2,499 | $899 (from CS3); $1,599 from other CS3 suites; $1,199 from two older suites |
 Creative Suite 4 Design Premium | $1,799 | $599 (from CS3); $599-$799 (from Studios or CS 1-2) |
 Creative Suite 4 Design Standard | $1,399 | Special upgrade pricing available |
 Creative Suite 4 Web Premium | $1,699 | $599 (from CS3); $599-$799 (from Studios or CS 1-2) |
 Creative Suite 4 Web Standard | $999 | Special upgrade pricing available |
 Creative Suite 4 Production Premium | $1,699 | $599 (from CS3); $599-$799 (from Studios or CS 1-2) |