# Seeking Adobe CS5 advice **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 27, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-adobe-cs5-advice/594248 "2011-08-27T00:52:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-adobe-cs5-advice/594248/1 "2011-08-27T00:52:19Z")
I have been using Adobe Creative Suite 2 since it came out. I am an InDesign power user; I’m pretty darned good with Photoshop; I can stumble around in Illustrator & Acrobat Pro and (usually) create what I need; I have absolutely no need for Dreamweaver; and I’ve never used anything else in the suite. I’m interested in Fireworks, Flash, Flash Catalyst & Media Encoder, which aren’t in my CS2. So I finally succumbed to peer pressure and purchased Adobe Creative Suite 5. I want to learn to use these marvelous tools I now have at my fingertips, but I do not want to start over from beginnerville (“this is a layer…”), and I can’t find any appropriate classes in my area. What should I read (I own a bookstore, so I’m very book-oriented)? Are there any good online classes or videos that won’t talk down to me? ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-adobe-cs5-advice/594248/2 "2011-08-27T01:29:04Z")
I’m a big fan of [lynda.com](http://www.lynda.com). I was a subscriber for a while (although I’ve since let it lapse), and was never disappointed with any of their video tutorials. They get great instructors, and the production qualities are always high. They do start at the basics, but I’ve never felt like they were talking down, and you can always skip ahead a few lessons if you’re going over stuff you already know. I actually did do the course for InDesign - it was a while back though, and probably for CS4. I know they have “New Features” courses, but since you’re a few versions behind, that might not help you much. But their fundamentals courses should be easy for you to work through. ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-adobe-cs5-advice/594248/3 "2011-08-27T01:37:02Z")
I was also going to suggest [lynda.com](http://lynda.com). Lynda was a godsend in my early HTML days, before she actually started the whole online training thing. Her website (and book) were a font of knowledge about good web / web graphic design for non-designers like me, and I passed on a lot of that info when I taught HTML classes. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-adobe-cs5-advice/594248/4 "2011-08-27T02:04:00Z")
> [@Anamorphic](#): > > I’m a big fan of [lynda.com](http://www.lynda.com). I was a subscriber for a while (although I’ve since let it lapse), and was never disappointed with any of their video tutorials. Holy cow! Those are some serious courses. A 26-hour Photoshop CS5 advanced class? Wow. But I think I’ll try one or two of their free ones before signing up for the paid stuff. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-adobe-cs5-advice/594248/5 "2011-08-27T02:09:08Z")
Another nod to [Lynda.com](http://Lynda.com). $25/month is well worth it. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-adobe-cs5-advice/594248/6 "2011-08-27T02:20:40Z")
> [@Claire\_Beauchamp](#): > > I was also going to suggest [lynda.com](http://lynda.com). Lynda was a godsend in my early HTML days, before she actually started the whole online training thing. Her website (and book) were a font of knowledge about good web / web graphic design for non-designers like me, and I passed on a lot of that info when I taught HTML classes. Totally. Her book is where I learned the basics of web design back in 1997 (when Web Safe Colours mattered and Netscape ruled the Browser roost). It’s great she’s still around doing more of the same. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-adobe-cs5-advice/594248/7 "2011-08-27T02:45:52Z")
I think this is unprecedented. Four people responding, and all suggesting the same resource? [Darth Vader voice]Impressive. Most impressive.[/Darth Vader voice] Any book recommendations? I’ve always liked Pogue’s _Missing Manual_ series, and I’ve heard good things about Deke McClelland. Or should I go with Adobe’s own _Classroom in a Box_ books? I like having a book to read in bed. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-adobe-cs5-advice/594248/8 "2011-08-27T05:47:47Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:7, topic:594248”] I think this is unprecedented. Four people responding, and all suggesting the same resource? [Darth Vader voice]Impressive. Most impressive.[/Darth Vader voice] Any book recommendations? I’ve always liked Pogue’s _Missing Manual_ series, and I’ve heard good things about Deke McClelland. Or should I go with Adobe’s own _Classroom in a Box_ books? I like having a book to read in bed. [/QUOTE] Oh man, it’s been a few years since I used one of those Adobe books. IIRC, they’re just lessons that build on each other, and kind of assume you’re at the computer doing the exercises as you read the book. You know, ‘here’s the chapter on Photoshop layers, follow along on your own computer!’ sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-adobe-cs5-advice/594248/9 "2011-08-27T15:30:13Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > Oh man, it’s been a few years since I used one of those Adobe books. IIRC, they’re just lessons that build on each other, and kind of assume you’re at the computer doing the exercises as you read the book. You know, ‘here’s the chapter on Photoshop layers, follow along on your own computer!’ sort of thing. Ah, thanks. That’s not what I’m after. If I’m sitting at the computer, I might as well be following a video. If I get a book, I want something I can read in bed, or in the hammock, or sitting down by the creek. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-adobe-cs5-advice/594248/10 "2011-08-27T16:36:57Z")
If you are already somewhat familiar with an older version of Adobe, the new stuff isn’t all that hard to learn. Do a Google search on any particular new tool/feature and you will find video tutorials - even Adobe has some good (free) tutorials that briefly explain what’s new. I found Adobe Illustrator didn’t make a whole lot of changes in the most recent upgrade, whereas Photoshop has a few new features that are cool. I found some of the changes in Dreamweaver to be a step backwards and not an improvement. Rumor has it that in version CS6, that supposedly is coming out next April, they are going to combine Photoshop and Illustrator into one single program. I think that would be a brilliant idea as many of the tools are similar if not the same, and it would make working with both of them a lot easier. [Lynda.com](http://Lynda.com) is great for beginners, but if you have some basics under your belt there are lots of (free) tutorials online that are just as good, if not better. It might be a single, short video of someone who found an interesting way to do something that you never thought of - but try just Googling the specific thing(s) you want to do and most likely you will find lots of options. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-adobe-cs5-advice/594248/11 "2011-08-27T17:54:59Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > Rumor has it that in version CS6, that supposedly is coming out next April, they are going to combine Photoshop and Illustrator into one single program. I think that would be a brilliant idea as many of the tools are similar if not the same, and it would make working with both of them a lot easier. But…but…vectors! And raster! Those concepts are hard enough for the average person to follow in different programs. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-adobe-cs5-advice/594248/12 "2011-08-27T18:42:10Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > But…but…vectors! And raster! Those concepts are hard enough for the average person to follow in different programs. Yeah, but Photoshop already does vectors. To a limited extent, to be sure, but enough that I haven’t had to open Illustrator in about three years. Between Photoshop and InDesign, I’ve managed to build everything I’ve needed to build. ---
**Author:** ![AndyLee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@AndyLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyLee)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-adobe-cs5-advice/594248/13 "2011-08-27T19:52:24Z")
Another vote for [Lynda.Com](http://Lynda.Com) It got me through a lot. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-adobe-cs5-advice/594248/14 "2011-08-27T23:24:21Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > Rumor has it that in version CS6, that supposedly is coming out next April, they are going to combine Photoshop and Illustrator into one single program. I think that would be a brilliant idea as many of the tools are similar if not the same, and it would make working with both of them a lot easier. Can you provide a cite for this? I would be willing to bet my life savings they are not doing this. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-adobe-cs5-advice/594248/15 "2011-08-27T23:41:42Z")
[InDesign instructor checking in] The thing about your predicament is that it sounds like you aren’t learning something from scratch, but are looking to fill cracks in your knowledge. It’s hard to recommend a book for something like that because a publisher isn’t writing based on your particular needs. Not only that, but Photoshop (and to a lesser degree, Illustrator) have tools created for very different users. Designers, web developers and photographers can all be Photoshop pros, but they probably use the tool in very different ways to do very different things. Like the other folks, I like the [lynda.com](http://lynda.com) stuff that is posted for free, though I’ve never felt compelled to pay for it. I’ve found Adobe’s own online help resource (accessible via the help menu item; here’s the [Illustrator](http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Illustrator/14.0/index.html?trackingid=DYNQC) example) the best first step to understanding a feature and sometimes they link to very good free videos (sometimes Lynda, sometimes others). I would start with the Subject area column on the left, determine if that feature area is relevant or interesting to your line of work. For InDesign, it should be fairly easy for a pro to get caught up, since the fundamentals are the same as they’ve always been. I’d just be on the lookout for the stuff that’s different and play with them a little bit. The “What’s new in CS 5 will be of some help, but since you’re skipping a few versions, it will be leaving some stuff out as well.” ---
**Author:** ![Meme\_Chose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Meme\_Chose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meme_Chose)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-adobe-cs5-advice/594248/16 "2011-08-28T04:42:30Z")
You may want to check out some free resources that will probably get you up to speed with new features. As previously suggested, Adobe’s tuts are pretty comprehensive, and the guides will help with individual features. Russell Brown has boatloads of articles/videos covering several versions of many Adobe products. Layers Magazine is another good source. I did Kelby Training for a while–anything by Matt Kloskowski or Corey Barker is solid info, well-presented. I think Matt did the ACE test prep course, which taught this veteran user lots of new tricks. A series of PS basics was recently posted on PSDTuts. I didn’t read/watch it, but i have seen another series by the same presenter, who seems quite capable and thorough. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-adobe-cs5-advice/594248/17 "2011-08-28T16:51:18Z")
> [@B.Serum](#): > > Can you provide a cite for this? I would be willing to bet my life savings they are not doing this. No cite. However, my teacher from UNLV, and three teachers at the college where I currently work, are all on the Adobe advisers team and every one of them has mentioned this is the direction Adobe is going. That’s why I said, “rumor has it…” - but these are pretty reliable people. Supposedly this version of CS6 was to come out this year but they didn’t get it finished - thus you are now seeing Adobe CS5.5 and an estimated release date of CS6 in April (or November) of next year, depending on the progress.