Adobe today announced Flash CS3 Professional.

With a new streamlined user interface, time-saving design and development tools, and impressive integration with Adobe Photoshop® CS3 and Adobe Illustrator® CS3, Flash CS3 Professional ensures a fast, fluid, and efficient workflow.

Top new features:

• Adobe Photoshop® and Illustrator® import
  Import Adobe® Photoshop® (PSD) and Adobe Illustrator® (AI) files, while preserving layers and structure, and then edit them in Adobe Flash® CS3 Professional. Optimize and customize the files during import with advanced options.
  
• Animation conversion to ActionScript™
  Instantly convert timeline animations into ActionScript 3.0 code that can be easily edited, reused, and leveraged by developers. Copy animations from one object to another.
  
• ActionScript 3.0 development
  Save time with the new ActionScript™ 3.0 language, featuring improved performance, increased flexibility, and more intuitive and structured development.
  
• Adobe Device Central CS3
  Design, preview, and test mobile device content using Adobe Device Central CS3, now integrated throughout Adobe Creative Suite® 3. Create and test interactive applications and interfaces viewable with Flash Lite™ software.
  
• Rich drawing capabilities
  Visually adjust shape properties on the stage with smart shape drawing tools, create precise vector illustrations with the new Pen tool inspired by Adobe Illustrator, paste illustrations from Illustrator CS3 into Flash CS3, and more.
  
• Shape primitives
  Easily create pie wedges, round off rectangle corners, define an inner circle radius, and do much more. Visually adjust shape properties on the stage. And create custom shapes with the included JavaScript API.
  
• Sophisticated video tools
  Create, edit, and deploy streaming and progressive-download FLV content with comprehensive video support. Ensure the best video experience with a standalone video encoder, alpha channel support, a high-quality video codec, embedded cue points, video import support, QuickTime import, closed captioning, and much more.
  
• Advanced QuickTime export
• Advanced debugger
• User interface components
• Timesaving coding tools
• New Adobe interface

http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/
What's new PDF

::: Are you ready for a creative power? ::: : : .

[Nutrox]

I really can't wait to get my hands on this.

The timeline animation conversion feature sounds really good, it creates an XML representation of the animation(s)... so that means we will be able to dynamically create complex animations at runtime using XML. Nice!

The whole product looks amazing.

I want to see that new fl class package as well.

[Pixelcache]

Wow!!

[StreamerDA]

Originally posted by Nutrox
I really can't wait to get my hands on this.

Me neither! I am buying the full Web Premium Suite!

[digiguru]

It's chock full of tool for both designers and developers, which is promising.

[Renjamin]

Ohh finally. Took them long enough for Photoshop support.

The finance guys are going to kill me when I tell them about CS3. We only got CS2 early last year.

[Cisco-3640]

I'm only interested in Flash CS3 Pro and Adobe After Effects CS3...that being said though, if Adobe had not updated the Linux client, I would not be willing to upgrade.

[Anik]

looks really good, looking forward to use it.

[shirley65s]

and when flash will be out
and the integration will be only with illustration and photosho p cs3 or with the previous versions too?
will be there an home versus a professional edition like in the past (that two editions was a bit of a commedy) ?
and at what price? and finally what about dreamweaver?
it sounds great... and expensive
shirley65

[GIX]

that's really neat

[GrfxGuru]

Should be interesting, but I find myself liking Flex more and more for the work that I do.

[sims11tz]

All the new products look awesome.... but wow what a terrible announcement presentation they put on. I didn't notice one new thing they "announced" that hadn't been leaked yet.

[MadDog-555]

ya, i noticed that too. but i can wait until july.

very nice improvment. great job adobe!

We were knocking Adobe compared to and when they took over Macromedia. Now I really like Adobe's website. With the release of CS3 it looks like they have spruced the site up and I love some of the elements and stuff they have designed to show off the new gear. Good to see the new team working well together. Not easy for me as a non-professional to justify the expense just yet but I really love the idea of the Web Premium package...

[Nutrox]

Originally posted by Mime
...
Not easy for me as a non-professional to justify the expense just yet but I really love the idea of the Web Premium package...

Professional or not, you only need to put together one or two sites with the software to get your money back. Considering the amount of things Flash allows developers to do I think the price is more than justified, and the package deals are a bargain from where I'm sitting.

The price of the Flash CS3 Pro upgrade is well within any developers reach.



On the subject of the Adobe takeover I have to say I am pleasantly surprised. I was honestly expecting the worst but it looks like they have been listening to what developers have been saying, and they seem to be moving in the right direction.

Cool. Buy me a copy then and feel free to put together one or two sites with it before you send it my way.

[Cisco-3640]

I have to agree-the merging of Adobe/Macromedia is showing some real promise.

With buyouts, you never really know (cue Best Buy acquiring Speakeasy)...

[Nutrox]

Release date?

Is that date correct ( April 20th ) ? I have also heard July mentioned somewhere.

[nrg]

Release date for Web & Design Suites (including the individual releases) will indeed be +/- April 20th. The Production & Master Collection Suite would be +/- July because of the video tools that require additional work.

[Hansen]

Let's just hope they drop the new icons...........

[Nutrox]

Originally posted by Hansen
Let's just hope they drop the new icons...........

Those icons are here to stay I think, I spotted the new Flash icon lurking in the Flash CS3 Features videos. I still don't understand why Adobe decided to go with those icon designs.

Never mind though, as long as the new CS3 software is nice 'n' solid then all is cool.

[Tcoz]

Upgrade price seems pretty reasonable.

I actually have a personal website to put up on my dedicated box, I'm going to wait until I get this tool to put it together.

Sadly, I look very forward to killing a few summer weekends working with the new Flash IDE ;p

[3D-man]

Originally posted by Nutrox
On the subject of the Adobe takeover I have to say I am pleasantly surprised. I was honestly expecting the worst but it looks like they have been listening to what developers have been saying, and they seem to be moving in the right direction.

I missed the webcast by a day but just watched it today on Adobe.com

I was a little bummed too when I first heard that Adobe had bought Macromedia, but judging from that video and the address by president and COO, Shantanu Narayen, that Adobe's main interests are with helping the users do our job better and help change the way media is integrated.

In retrospect...these two companies had very similar business models and products that really complemented each other. Its only natural that they merged together!

I'm quite impressed with their site now. The CS3 web pages, elements, shadows and feel is pretty classy. The CS3 colors look great with that white background. I'm not a Microsoft hater but Adobe.com is nicer than microsoft.com considering microsoft are selling and pushing Vista. Makes me wonder if one day Adobe might consider making an operating system. They could make it look beautiful with all of their design talent..
0.02$

[schlagzeug]

Hooray!!!!!!

[duwal]

GREAT!!

[Cisco-3640]

Yeah, I just did my preorder!

$200 is a great upgrade price from Flash MX 2004.

[Brettman22]

In looking at the System Requirements for Macintosh "1GHz PowerPC® G4 or G5 or multicore Intel® processor" does this mean it will run on an Intel mac not under Rosetta?

[BVX]

I'm really excited about the new version. FINALLY Flash & PS can talk the same language.

[xarisx]

I really can’t understand why the US upgrade for Flash is $ 199 (this is what I currently read on the store), while in Euro it will be € 298 (which is $396).

[nrg]

Originally posted by xarisx
I really can’t understand why the US upgrade for Flash is $ 199 (this is what I currently read on the store), while in Euro it will be € 298 (which is $396).

The European price is actually € 199 (excl. VAT) = 266.013 USD atm.

Thank Global Economics & Politics for that, which resulted in import taxes on US software

If Adobe could follow the correct exchange rate, then the European price should be 149 EUR.

[Chee-Z1]

I'll be very curious to see what this does to Mac sales once releases to the public. It will spur me to replace my G4 for a new Macintel and full software upgrade. "Making it a fully operational battle station."

I don't understand people's issues with the icons. Yes, obviously they are not as artistic as the previous icons. But it's standard user interface and wayfinding, make it as easy to find what you want. Macromedia was doing it with all their goods (of course they added a little pizzazz) for some time.

[Nutrox]

Originally posted by Chee Z1
...
I don't understand people's issues with the icons. Yes, obviously they are not as artistic as the previous icons. But it's standard user interface and wayfinding, make it as easy to find what you want. Macromedia was doing it with all their goods (of course they added a little pizzazz) for some time.

I kind of agree that it is all about the software and usability, but some of us would prefer our systems to look clean and modern, and not look like something from the 80's. Those icons will make our desktops look like a broken Rubix Cube.

I also believe that the aesthetics of the environment you work in, and work with, has a direct effect on the work you produce. If Windows Vista (for example) looked like the old Amiga OS, but retained the same functionality as it has now, I'm sure that would have an effect on the way people worked and the way the OS was perceived. The environment you work in/with can be as inspirational and mood-setting as a good looking website, a fancy piece of Flash, or a picturesque landscape.

Adobe's new icons are as user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing as a furry poop.

I'm sure Adobe (or the muppet they hired) could have done a better job with the icon designs. The whole software-spectrum thing is a great idea but it was executed badly IMO.

Anyway, I've gone totally off-topic again so I'll shut up now.

[v1q]

ill be a bad boy and make ya'all real jealous now



developers review version

[Nutrox]

Very cool.

How is everything? Is the software as good as we are all hoping it is?

[v1q]

well its basically everything we have hoped for. they shouldve done this years ago and now its finally here. its mostly time saving features, meaning that you will spend a little less on your projects from now on, thanks to the tight integration with photoshop and illustrator. motion to script is also very neat (not that i assume that ANYONE who visits does motion tweens...yuck! ), you get a feel for the right motion without having to rewrite your code over and over, although....there's fuse. i think many of you guys will be very very happy with this release.

i think the future of these programs will be that you will not have to switch between different programs, but rather switch modes. now that the ui is basically exactly the same in every program, why not make a version which has everything integrated? they could call it Adobe UltraLord Designpimp Program. or something like that

[SugaCrcl]

I will get the web design premium as well. That Mac OS image looks real good with CS3 on it My Apple will look just as good when I get my hands on it. What really sucks for me is that I bought Studio 8 from my school back in early January, and now CS3 is coming out.

Originally posted by v1q
ill be a bad boy and make ya'all real jealous now

developers review version

Can you link us to a 1280x1024 version please . Though it's likely to make me more jealous it would be nice to get a better feel for what's to come.. pweeze.

[v1q]

ok ill upload a couple of screenshots for you guys after the break

alright here you go. if you want to see more just ask.

Thanks! I can't wait to get around to owning it (with Web Premium).