Jun
Adobe has announced the availability of its 14 new versions of Creative Cloud, including systems such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver and Premiere Pro.
Introduced since early April, these updates represent the biggest software advancement since CS6 was released. Also included are four new mobile apps, creative hardware, new Creative Cloud services, and offerings for enterprise, education and photography.
Mobile Apps
The company has delivered on its promise of mobile innovation by launching three iPad apps: Adobe Sketch, Adobe Line and Adobe Photoshop Mix. They have also started marketing Adobe Ink hardware, a digital pen, and Adobe Slide, a digital ruler.
In addition, the Creative Cloud app for iPhone and iPad has been introduced, allowing users to access and manage their files from their mobile devices.
These applications have been developed using a new SDK that makes them available for the first time on mobile devices.
Premiere Pro
Here’s what’s new with Adobe’s editing software:
– Live Text Templates: provide editors with a simple interface for editing After Effects text layers. This is done by opening a linked AE composition from the Project panel in the Source Monitor. We can then modify a series of text fields from the “Effect Controls” panel.
Although these modifications can be seen instantly in Premiere, they do not allow us to change advanced parameters such as font, size or kerning (for that we would have to go back to After).
In order to make text layers editable from Premiere, it is necessary to enable this option in the AE composition. Entering the Advanced tab (within the Composition Settings), we activate the option labeled “Template”.
– Master Clip” tool: this is a very useful new feature with the ability to apply effects to Master Clips from the Source panel and then carry them to all instances of the same clip in the timeline.
To open the clip in the Source Panel, press the F key to activate the March Frame function. Once this is done, all the effects we apply in the Master Clip will be reflected in each subclip of the timeline.
– DCP export: available in Premiere Pro and Media Encoder thanks to the integration with the QuVis Wraptor DCP encoder. It is now possible to export a DCP to 2K directly from the Premiere timeline. Simply select Wraptor DCP from the format menu.
At the moment the options are Full (2048×1080), Scope (2048×858) or Flat (1998×1080).
If we needed to output a DCP in 4K or s3D we would have to buy separate QuVis modules that will work in Media Encoder.
– New masking and tracking tools (also added in After Effects).
– GPU-accelerated debayering of RED material.
– Improved graphics performance by supporting more cards based on OpenCL processing.
– Native formats extended with ARRI Amira, Sony SStP and CinemaDNG from the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera.
– Ability to backup projects to Creative Cloud.
After Effects
The standout new features in After Effects are its new filters, designed to reduce the time spent manually making keys and to work in conjunction with The Foundry’s standard Keylight. They are the Key Cleaner, an automated tool that removes noise to generate cleaner selections, and the Advanced Spill Suppressor, which cleans up the key’s surroundings.
Another feature that will make a difference is the ability to add masks to certain effects, limiting them to an area of the shot and being able to track the clip. These are the new mask and tracking tools.
Adobe has also integrated its TypeKit font service within After Effects (and Premiere), which gives access to 217 fonts.
Finally, there is the integration with Creative Cloud’s Kuler service, which allows you to capture images using an iPhone app and build color schemes around them.
Other systems
– DirectLink more flexible to carry color in SpeedGrade.
After performing a color correction in SpeedGrade, using this enhanced DirectLink to move to Premiere Pro, we can turn off the look inside the Lumetri layer (in the Effect Controls panel) or even control this correction with the masking and tracing tools.
By default, SpeedGrade applies looks to each individual subclip, not to every instance of the clip in the timeline. Luckily, using the Master Clip feature in SpeedGrade is very simple, we simply select a clip that appears multiple times in a sequence and select Master Clip mode from the button at the top of the Look panel.
– Improved multi-track tools for audio work in Audition.
– Ability to create storyboards in PreludeCC.
Adobe has announced that there are currently about 2.3 million Creative Cloud subscriptions (a higher number than initially expected).
The updates are already available for download by members at no additional cost and the mobile applications are free for everyone. If you want to try any of their systems you can access the download link here.
And on this page you can see the details of the prices.
Integration with Red Giant
Red Giant has also been quick to announce that all of its Adobe-compatible products are now compatible with the new updates.
After downloading and installing CC 2014 you will need to update your Red Giant software installations. You can do it through the installers of each product (except Universe) or through Red Giant Link.
