What's New in Adobe InDesign CS4

We knew it was coming and today Adobe announces CS4. The main trends with CS4 involve the integration of print and digital publishing for multi-channel publishing. Before describing some of the new features in InDesign CS4, let's see what's going on with the rest of the package as described by other About.com Guides:

• Sue Chastain takes a look at some of the new features and enhancements in Photoshop CS4 including a centralized palette (now called a panel) for easy access to all types of image adjustments.

• Jennifer Krynin describes the differences between Dreamweaver CS3 and CS4 as well as providing a review of the new Dreamweaver CS4.

• Jennifer also has a review of Adobe Contribute CS4, a tool that's best for a Web Designer's client to help them to maintain an existing Web site.

• Tom Nelson talks a little bit about Creative Suite 4 from the perspective of Mac users focusing on the user interface and the release schedule.

So, what's new and improved in InDesign CS4? Here's a quick rundown of some key features:

As I mentioned above, palettes are now called panels. This makes sense to me. Palettes make me think more of colors than of an array of tools or tool settings. Small thing but I like it. The change also involves streamlining the dialog boxes so you can do more with fewer clicks. In no particular order:

• Easier to Edit Rotated Text: Have you ever found yourself turning your head sideways as you zoom in on rotated text? With the new Spread Rotation the spread rotates (view only, not the actual pages) so that you can edit the rotated text more easily -- you see it as if it were right side up.

• Smart Tools: Smart Guides, Dimensions, Spacing, and Cursors dynamically show positions and allow precise placement and positioning of objects.

• Choose Edit App: When editing a placed item you choose what application to edit with rather than going with the operating system default program.

• Proportional Place: When you draw a frame with a loaded cursor the file fills the frame to the proportions of the frame or whatever settings you have chosen.

• Contact Sheets: Put multiple images in a grid to create a quick contact sheet.

• Table Editing Improvements: Content of the table is shown in Story Editor. You can add notes inside tables and track changes in tables.

• Set Cross-References: Connect text so that if it changes in one place in your document it will change automatically in the other spot. For example if you change the title of a chapter in the Table of Contents, it will change the corresponding headline in the publication if they are cross-referenced. You can apply styles to cross-reference text.

• Set Conditional Text: Create multiple versions from one source (such as different regional editions or different languages) that are like different layers -- either on or off. Text reflows based on the visible layer or version.

• Live Preflight: Instead of waiting until the end to preflight your document, Live Preflight looks at it during the creation process and shows you potential problem areas as you work. You can create a profile to look for specific conditions on a per document basis, embed or share preflight profiles. The Preflight panel lists and lets you navigate to problems for quick editing. Fix the problem and the Preflight panel updates automatically.

• Custom Views and Workspaces: Tab through multiple documents or set up side-by-side, top-bottom, or other views of multiple documents in a single window. Create task-based workspaces with only the panels, menus, and shortcuts you need for specific tasks for a less cluttered work area.

• Share My Screen: This free service is in all the CS4 applications. Connect online with and share/show what you are doing in InDesign (or other CS4 apps) with up to 2 other people. It's a browser-based mini-meeting and the other people don't have to have InDesign. You can also give the others control of your computer temporarily for Live collaboration on a document.

• Kuler Panel: Create and share color schemes with the online Kuler Web site. Download schemes to your swatches panel and upload your own color schemes.

• SWF Export: Design and export in SWF directly without going into Flash or export as an interactive PDF. The Flash features are super simple with an easy button panel, animated transition thumbnails, and easy page curl option. Makes it easier for those with little Flash experience to create SWF files.

There are several more new features and a lot more enhanced features in the new Adobe InDesign CS4. We'll look at more of them later. Creative Suite 4 ships in October but you can preorder the full package or upgrades today (Buy Direct) InDesign CS4 is part of the Master Collection, Design Premium, and Design Standard suites.

• Creative Suite 4 Master Collection contains InDesign, Photoshop Extended, Illustrator, Acrobat 9 Pro, Flash Professional, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Contribute, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Sound Booth, OnLocation, Encore, Adobe Bridge, Device Central Dynamic Link, and Version Cue -- all CS4 versions. Preorder for $2,499 or Upgrade for $899.
• Creative Suite 4 Design Premium contains InDesign, Photoshop Extended, Illustrator, Flash Professional, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Acrobat 9 Pro, Adobe Bridge, Device Central, Version Cue -- all CS4 version. Preorder for $1,799 or Upgrade for $599.
• Creative Suite 4 Design Standard contains InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat 9 Pro, Adobe Bridge, Device Central, Version Cue -- all CS4 versions. Preorder for $1,399 or Upgrade for $499.
• Other versions that do not include Adobe InDesign are Web Standard, Web Premium, and Production suites.

Will you upgrade to Creative Suite 4? Share with us why or why not. Are you intrigued by the new features?