InDesign CS6 and the Creative Suite 6 Now Shipping
Yes, it’s true. Adobe has shipped CS6.
We don’t have much more to say about it besides what we wrote in this earlier article.
Note that the Adobe Creative Cloud is not yet shipping, but Adobe has told me that it’s going to be “real soon now” (that appears to mean this Friday). If you’re an early adopter to the Creative Cloud and can’t wait that long before you start playing with the software, you should be able to download a trial version today. That’ll at least get you started!
Ultimately, though, I have to tell you: As much as I like CS6, I’m always hesitant to use first-release software for real work. I’m keeping an eye out for CS6.01 (InDesign 8.01), as everyone knows there are always little tiny bugs that need squashing in the opening month or so of any product.
And also waiting for all plugins, font-managers and such, to catch up with the new version.
I’ve never had the slightest problem using new Adobe software for real work.
As for bug fixes, there are always bugs that need fixing…and bugs that never get fixed at any point in the program’s life.
How on earth can you ship a Cloud? :-*
Issac, I imagine it comes in a box. A large one. :D
You just need a very big box to ship a cloud :) Oh wait, the Creative Cloud doesn’t come in a box… Hmmm.
A good point is made about third-party software like font managers and such.
But am I being unrealistic to think that Adobe would be providing early versions of the software to companies that would be supporting the new software in some manner? (Like font managers and plug-ins.)
If I’m Adobe, I don’t want people hesitating to buy because a certain plug-in or font manager company won’t get a chance to update their software until well after it’s officially released.
And if I’m one of those third-party companies, I’d certainly be pounding on Adobe’s door to get early test versions so that my software is ready on “Day 1.”
Of course, I’m looking at the website of my font manager company and no mention is made of CS6. So perhaps I’ve answered my own question.
On the positive end, at least I can keep using the now “old” version and just work in CS6 in small steps to test it out.
@Mike: Yes, Adobe does make prerelease software available to third-party developers. But for some reason, it still usually takes between days and months for new versions of plug-ins to be released.
@Mike: The way I’ve heard it explained is that, while most third-party developers have been involved with the prerelease application, they still have to wait for the GM (golden master)?the final version of the product to test their plug-in.
If you have a simple plug-in, this can be done quickly. For example, this weekend I downloaded from Rorohiko the update to Soxy that supports CS6 products so I can have it choose the version of InDesign, Photoshop, etc. picked correctly.
Other plug-in, for example, font utilities, are inherently more complex and may interact with the software is subtle and unpredictable ways. They will require more testing and need more time for release.
Thanks for the response, guys.
David’s thoughts about waiting for CS 6.01 make sense, but I went to press with a 500-page book in InDesign 1.0. (I was so annoyed with Quark about those stupid dongles they were requiring, and InDesign had just come out?)
The book is now 1,000 pages and I’m about ready to send the 7th edition to press. It will be in CS 6.0, with fingers crossed.
Paul
Just a clarification – CS6 is only shipping for new customers it appears. For those of us who pre-ordered and prepaid we apparently have to wait for another 10 days.
From Adobe’s FAQs:
“Approximately ten days after we begin shipping Creative Suite 6, customers who purchased their CS5.5 product via Adobe.com will receive an email that contains a coupon and instructions.”
What a weird way of thanking people for pre-ordering…
The CS6 suite uses new Pantone colors, with LAB composition, there is a difference in the way CS6 separates Pantone colors, so it would be best to check your output. You can copy the ‘old’ libraries to CS6.
Perhaps the site could write an article about this? This is a major issue, or it could become an issue.
No time to write a posting but here’s a short response:
If you’re using Pantone Solid Coated or Solid Uncoated colors as they were intended to be used?as spot colors?you should have no problems using them in InDesign CS6 or Illustrator CS6. The names of the Pantone colors in the Pantone Plus system are the same as they were before, and they will properly separate out as separate plates as before.
The problem is when you select a Pantone Solid Coated or Solid Uncoated color and want to convert it to CMYK for printing. This has always been considered a poor practice.
Converted to CMYK you’ll definitely get different values with the new Pantone+ Solid Coated or Solid Uncoated systems than in previous versions of InDesign or Illustrator. This is an inevitable result of basing spot colors on the more accurate Lab color model.
It’s always been good practice to use CMYK swatch systems for CMYK values.
For clarification: the Creative Cloud does not ship in a box. It was supposed to ship in a blimp, but UPS and FedEx balked. They are unable to accommodate blimps because a) they create problems with other cargo (there’s only room for one blimp per 747, leaving no space for anything else) and b) the planes become very hard to land on account of being lighter than air.
After months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, Adobe decided to just skip the whole problem by making the Cloud a bunch of downloads. They’re still working on one minor issue: users report being unable to see their hands in front of their faces, far less their monitors, when in the Cloud. The new (optional) defogger app is supposed to handle that.
@David: The biggest issue for me is always managing the transition from one version to the next. All the customizations, workspaces, scripts, macros/actions, favorites, presets, collections etc. that have to be newly set up or manually copied (while in the throes of production) mean that even after months of working with beta versions and previews it’s still a long process.
One potential advantage of the Creative Cloud model is that (in theory, at least) incremental upgrades should eliminate much, if not all, of that tedium. That and the fact that the teams can push out new features without waiting for the next major version release are the most undersold advantages of the subscription model for a small design shop like ours.
@Steve W. You are so right: Pantone Solid > CMYK done in the application has always been a bad idea. But we’ve had the Pantone Bridge swatches for a couple of versions now, they’re stable and very useful for those situations where you need a CMYK version (for digital presses, e.g.) of a spot.
The Lab color representation has always been an option, and I’ve always turned it on in ID, PS and AI just to maintain consistency on screen while working. Also very handy for finding a decent RGB representation of a spot for web and mobile.
@Steve (other Steve!)
“Approximately 10 days after…” refers to people who bought CS5.5 in order to get a free upgrade to CS6. They will be sent coupons for the upgrade.
Adobe are currently shipping to the people who actually pre-ordered CS6 directly.
Appreciate the further clarification Alan, but it mystifies me why my prepaid upgrade is somehow less important to Adobe than that of someone who ordered CS6 directly.
The whole concept of pre-paying/pre-booking something is to be first in line when something is available or to get something as soon as it is available.
Somehow Adobe have flipped this concept and put my category of pre-paying customers to the back of the queue.
10 days more isn’t long, but Adobes’ attitude still stinks!
So… Blatner Tools for CS6?
I understand that DTPtools did not have easy access to the developer version :-(
I REALY miss my Blatner Tools, Annotations, Tables and Cross refs Pro….!
Adobe CS6 is shipping but, the InDesign CS6 upgrade is not yet shipping, as of May 10, 2012.
I prepaid and received it several days ago.
Well done Adobe.
Ken in Spain.
I prepaid and still haven’t recieved it – another 5 days to go still before Adobe will allow me to download what I have already paid for…
Yes, Blatner Tools and the other DTP Tools plug-ins are available for CS6. Like most plug-ins, it takes a few weeks for them to get updated. (All plug-ins must be updated whenever there is a new version.)
arg !!!