What makes PDF (Portable Document Format) unique is that it can provide an exact electronic replica of any document from any application on all major platforms, including all text, graphics and fonts. It’s an amazingly flexible format with a myriad of uses ranging from electronic manuals and e-books, through secure document exchange and archiving, to multimedia presentation and high-end commercial print.

The Quark-killer has finally landed. For the last year, the hype about Adobe's replacement for the worthy but old-fashioned PageMaker (reviewed issue 22, p108) has been building to fever pitch.

There was a time when semi-professional video editors and home-video enthusiasts had little choice but Adobe Premiere. Back then, video capture and output depended on proprietary hardware, which often only worked with its bundled software.

A new interface, drawing engine and programming language, but surprisingly little new power.

Non-destructive image processing and creative filters feature in this comprehensive upgrade to the market leader.

Yet another leap forward for After Effects, which cements its status as the leading PC video compositing tool.

Powerful new versions of InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator, and now Acrobat 8 Professional too.

A questionable interface redesign and greater-than-ever complexity lead to a half-baked feeling.

Not only slightly cheaper than the last version, but now Encore CS3 and OnLocation CS3 are included too.

Media management gets a Macromedia-inspired makeover; with export preview facilities for mobile devices.

After the launch of the latest Acrobat a few months ago, everything went quiet on the Adobe front. It's now clear what the company was working on, with the simultaneous launch of each of its main creative design packages -- Photoshop/ImageReady, Illustrator, InDesign and GoLive. (Please see individual reviews of all of these packages on this month's cover CD.)

Adobe Photoshop is so dominant when it comes to print and Web-based bitmap-editing that, in many ways, it has come to define the whole field...

Fantastic looks and comprehensive features Lightroom is a winner for improving workflow efficiency.

For many years, After Effects (AE) was the only real choice for PC video compositing - everything else was in a different price/hardware league. But in the last couple of years, with the steady improvement of Pinnacle's Commotion and the huge price drop in Discreet's Combustion, AE isn't alone anymore.

The name LiveMotion comes from its ability to bring compositions to life as animations; these are then output as QuickTime movies..

As it focuses more on the new user, beginners will find this release easy to get to grips with.

With advanced packages such as the latest Photoshop (to be reviewed next month) Adobe is the leading software developer when it comes to traditional graphic design...

Right from the first moment you open Adobe GoLive!, it becomes obvious that this is not your standard Web page layout tool.

Best-of-breed photo management, editing and sharing with great usability and value.

Best-of-breed photo management, editing and sharing with great usability and value.