According to statements made by Richard Galvan, Flash Product Manager, to Macworld USA, “One of the main issues we have focused on has been integration, especially the interface and integration with Photoshop and Illustrator.”
Of particular interest to Flash users is the application’s integration with Photoshop and Illustrator. With CS3, you can import native Photoshop (PSD) and Illustrator (AI) files directly into Flash CS3 projects.
When you import a Photoshop file into Flash, a dialog box appears showing the available options. You can choose to import the entire hierarchy of layers from the Photoshop file or select the layers to import and select a series of settings for each of them. For example, you can retain Photoshop text as editable text in Flash, convert Photoshop layers or layer groups to movie clips, and even specify specific publish settings.
Flash can also resize the project scene to match the canvas size for the Photoshop file, as well as ensure that the layer content appears in the correct position.
According to Galva, “By itself, this feature will save users a lot of time.”
Users will also go through a similar process when importing Illustrator files. Although this option has not been well implemented in the past, Adobe indicates that Flash CS3 maintains a much higher level of fidelity in the treatment of objects, which means that Illustrator objects, and text, embedded in Flash will have the same as they looked in Illustrator.
Flash also now features a redesigned interface with the same workspace panels and interface options found in other Adobe applications. In fact, this unified user interface is now consistent between Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, and Soundbooth.
Flash is integrated with Adobe Bridge, an application in which you can open, save, and drag and drop files directly into projects. You can also manage and track file versions using Version Cue CS3.
Flash CS3 introduces an advanced QuickTime export feature capable of accurately capturing what the Flash Player plays. This means complex symbols nested and ActionScript will be exported exactly as you can see and hear it in Flash Player.
Older Flash users will appreciate the addition of ActionScript 3.0, a new version of the programming environment. According to Adobe, ActionScript 3.0 is easier to use than you might think, and it scales easily to meet user expectations.
Created as a Universal binary for Intel architecture-based Macs, Galvan indicates that Adobe has seen increases of between 40 and 60 percent for certain tasks.
Adobe Flash CS3 Professional will be available in April 2007 for users in the United States and Canada. Adobe Flash CS3 will have a guide price of $ 699.
Web: www.adobe.es
