A new focus on animation, better video support and deeper integration, but not the core authoring package it once was.

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

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.

Our massive guide to Adobe's huge overhaul of the Creative Suite, including reviews of Photoshop CS4, Illustrator, InDesign and Dreamweaver.

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.

A cheap and cheerful approach to Flash but the sheer power it offers is exceptional, as is the price.

With Web Standard/Premium, Design Premium AND Macromedia’s products now absorbed into CS3, choosing the right suite is EASY.

Improved handling of templates, tracing, text and layers along with new table support, but ultimately X4 disappoints

PowerPoint’s ease of use, The efficient web delivery of Flash, and a truly professional player.

A period of transition as Adobe deals with its Macromedia inheritance and the changing nature of the web.

Adobe significantly strengthens its print, web and production workflows – and the integration between them

Microsoft prepares to march into Adobe territory with its forthcoming suite of graphics and web development software.

Improved interface, object and layer handling, plus integrated 3D painting add greatly to power, usability and value

When you think of photo editing, the chances are you think of Adobe Photoshop. However, the majority of non-professional users don't need Photoshop's high-end power and can't justify its cost. That's where Paint Shop Pro (PSP) comes in. Its low price is definitely its initial attraction, but that has never stopped it aiming high. At times, as with version 6's introduction of vector layers, it has even left Photoshop trailing behind. However, version 7's minor fiddling was a serious letdown and as time passed, it began to look as if PSP had run out of steam. Version 8, though, shows this isn't the case.You begin to realise how fundamental the overhaul has been as soon as you load the application.

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...

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.)

New effects enable richer design results, while a host of other improvements boost productivity.

Advanced long document functionality and screen-based publishing via Flash contribute to another Quark-bashing.

Improved media handling, Flash video support and greater interactivity see Captivate extend into new areas of training.