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“Adobe CS5.5 vs. CS5 Comparison – What’s the Difference Between?”
Compare Versions: The Differences between Adobe CS5 and CS5.5
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@ Hannah
Just called Adobe today. If you purchased CS5 after the announcement date of April 11, you are eligible for a free upgrade. I purchased CS5 in February as well, but I didn’t qualify.
Jorge
Thanks a lot Jorge for posting that – you’re absolutely right. And actually, even some folks that purchased CS5 a bit earlier (into March) may be eligible for a free upgrade to CS5.5.
You really said nothing about what the updates are, just mentioned a kind of overview that really says about as much as somebody going “they added these programs and are focusing on broad development”… Okay, but what in the sam hill does that mean, Photoshop plugins, new shaders, new scripts for Dreamweaver, new effects for After Effects??? WHAT?
Perhaps you missed the references and links in the summary article above to our other detail pages covering:
– all the new features in each and every CS5.5 application,
– the key differences from earlier versions (CS3, CS4, and CS5),
– the top questions and expert answers about the products,
– all about saving money with the CS5.5 Student & Teacher editions,
– as well as how volume licensing for multiple users works,
– and even when CS6 is slated (so people know).
We have a lot of in-depth coverage on Creative Suite 5.5, just click to follow and read.
Can I save a document in InDesign CS 5.5 to InDesign CS 5?
I teach a class that has CS5 installed and I have several students that are using CS5.5. When the students try to open their files in 5 they get an error message that the 5 version needs plug-ins not installed.
Yes Debra, definitely you can save back to CS5 in InDesign CS5.5.
Thank you for your question!
So, how does one do this?
Do you mean how to save back to an older version in InDesign? See the link embedded within the previous response.
Do you mean how does one get CS5.5? That’s easy.
We have compatibility issues on InDesign CS5 and CS5.5. Although the file was converted, we still encounter problems opening the file. Like missing plug-ins and it took us long time opening the file (vice-versa).
Do we have any solutions for this?
Hi Jen, thanks for your question. Even though you can save back to previous versions, those previous releases may not be able to open or support all features within your newer file that was generated by your more recent product… The older version has to pare the project down to just what it knows about and can support, potentially losing functionality in the process.
I am a teacher and we are still using CS3. I was hoping to upgrade to CS5 next fall, and now am concerned that textbooks for CS5 will not be compatible with CS5.5. How much have the actual interface and basic commands changed from CS5 to CS5.5?
Greetings Nina, it depends a bit on the product. Some of the tools have more changes and features added than others…
But on the whole, the basic interface and commands are similar – so you should be okay using CS5 books to learn CS5.5.
However, one last caveat is that by fall of next year (meaning a year from now), CS6 should be out!
@ Nina
Hello Nina, I teach high school students and I’d be concerned about your curriculum if it weighed too heavily on the UI of a particular app. I am designing my lesson plans around this (we are after all preparing students for the future and not the ‘now’) and rather than teach the Photoshop UI as it is, I try to focus more on teaching students how to identify the UI and capabilities of ANY image editor.
We have a similar problem with teaching ‘Powerpoint’ — students already know how to create presentations with it — but the curriculum fails to teach what actually constitutes an ‘effective’ presentation.
Great points – don’t lose the forest for the trees!
Bonjour, ma question est simple, j’utilise dans mon studio professionel Sonar de chez Cakewalk et j’aurai aimé savoir si Audition cs5 peut faire de l’enregistrement multipiste en simultanée venant de plusieurs canaux audios. J’ai une carte audio qui peut envoyé sur 16 pistes en simultanées et ma console est prête à gérer 24 pistes séparées en envoie et réception… Mon Sonar me plait mais le réducteur de bruit d’audition me plait, il n’y a rien de tel dans Sonar. Ma spécialité, la prise acoustique, donc pas de bruit de fond … Si quelqu’un est à même de me répondre ce serait sympa…car je n’aime pas l’ergonomie Protools…
Bonjour Charcaux – pour la réponse complète, vous pouvez vérifier la documentation en ligne pour Adobe Audition, et probablement la chose la plus utile serait de télécharger l’essai gratuit pour voir si le produit répond à vos besoins.
I probably don’t fit in here with my question, but here it is anyway.
i just like to play with photos for my own pleasure. I don’t own a business, I am not a teacher, I’m just a homebody. I don’t care for the mobile features.
I want to purchase Adobe Photoshop with the “automatic background fill-in” and……I am totally lost as to which is the one I need, CS5? CS5.1 or CS5.5
Please help?
Welcome Ella, you must mean Photoshop’s Content-Aware Fill feature… Yes, the release numbering can be confusing – Photoshop doesn’t have a CS5.5 version, but it does have a CS5.1 version, which is the latest one.
However, when you buy that on Adobe’s site, it will be called, “Photoshop CS5.”
(Photoshop Elements 10 also has a little “content-aware” capability in the its Healing Brush, but that is more for fixing small spot details rather than for filling in or deleting backgrounds and such.)
If you’d like to learn more about how to use Photoshop, check out our Best Free Photoshop Tips, Tricks, Techniques, Training & Tutorials. If you’d like to download the free trial of the full product to get started, that’s available too.
Hope this helps!
OOOOh, THANK YOU SOOO MUCH for your time and information. I was looking then for Photoshop with content-aware fill, but was lost which Adobe it was.
Hello, our college is using Adobe Dreamweaver CS5.
I have Adobe Dreamweaver CS5.5
My professor said that 5.5 will not work on CS 5 is this correct?
Please let me know, as I guess I’ll have to end up going to the college all the time to do work because I’m not going to buy a software that’s old.
Hey there Rob, actually that’s true for some CS5.5 applications – the project and data files aren’t always backwards compatible – but as far as we know, it should work OK for Dreamweaver between prior versions…
This week I started taking a course in InDesign CS5. To introduce non-artists to computer assisted design I still use PageMaker because it is ultra-simple to use and my college students who have no interest in becoming graphic designers can use it to learn principles and elements of good design quickly and efficiently. It is a shame there is no such program still available and supported by Adobe. It is a great beginner program.
Meanwhile, knowing that I am woefully behind the times in desktop publishing (I began in the hot metal days) I am excited to learn InDesign and adapt it for my students by ignoring all the bells and whistles they can’t use in just a one-semester once-a-week class.
TMI I suppose, but the bottom line is, what am I to do? I appreciate the sophistication of CS but I don’t want everything in the suite for my short graphic design course. I just want InDesign and 5 will do. After all, I have been using PageMaker since it was released by Aldus!
Thanks, JB
Advice please.
Hi JB, what is it you’d like to know? Do you mean, can you buy InDesign CS5 by itself in an education edition, without a suite or any other applications? If so, the answer is yes.
@ProDesignTools
Thanks for letting me know about a solo InDesign CS5 education version. Where can I purchase it? Most of the offers I am seeing are not for educators and include the entire suite. Please advise, and thanks, JB
Whoops! Sorry about that… We were going to just point you towards the Adobe Education Store to buy/download it, but forgot that Adobe significantly simplified their academic offerings when CS5.5 came out… Previously they offered almost any product in an education version, but to be honest it often didn’t make much sense.
Here’s why: One example, you could buy a student edition of After Effects CS5 for $349, but then for just $100 more you could/can get a complete Production Premium suite with Premiere Pro, Photoshop Extended, and more. It was similar with InDesign CS5 – it used to cost $199 for education but you can now get the full CS5.5 Design Standard suite for $299 (including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat Pro) – so it’s kind of a no-brainer.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to install more than exactly what you want – so if you only want to use InDesign CS5.5, only install InDesign. It’s still a big discount (almost 60%) off the regular price ($699), even if it comes with other applications you don’t think you need now. Apologies again if the first response was dated, but that’s the way it is now.
PS – Heads-up: we definitely do not recommend trying to buy older versions on eBay or similar, if that’s something you might have considered.
I would like to know what is the difference between Adobe CS5.5 Design Standard and Adobe InDesign CS5.5? Thank you.
Sure Katy, Adobe InDesign CS5.5 is a standalone application for desktop publishing… and CS5.5 Design Standard is a complete suite containing four major applications, including InDesign (the others are Photoshop Extended, Illustrator, and Acrobat Pro).
Adobe gives a substantial discount (about 50%) when buying the suite to make the integrated bundle attractive. Does that help?
What if I decide not to buy the 5.5 version and just wait for CS6. Can I do that, or do I have to buy the in-between versions in order to upgrade when the big version comes out?
Greetings Jennifer, thanks for your question… Adobe has done some shuffling around on that topic recently, so you might want to review the latest changes to their CS6 upgrade policy…
In a nutshell, depending on the version you own currently and when you upgrade, you could be eligible for discounted upgrade pricing to CS6 when it comes out.
i have done some work on catalyst cs5, will i be able to open it on a cs5.5 version ?
Yes Jamie – all Adobe applications can read most older project or data files no problem.
I have a user that has Adobe Master Collection 5 at home, and Adobe Master Collection 5.5 at work. Will there be any compatibility issues when working on the same files (going back and forth) with the two different versions of the programs? Thanks…
Hello Dave, that’s a good question. There is never any issue opening older project or data files with a newer Adobe release, that’s automatic – so there should be no problem opening and using all CS5.0 files in CS5.5.
However, backwards compatibility is not as easy – so there are some things to keep in mind if/when trying to go in the other direction (e.g., if you want to open a newer CS5.5 file with an older CS5 product that might not understand all features). You might have to downsave the file, depending on which Creative Suite application you’re talking about.
See this guide for more details:
Is Adobe Software Backwards Compatible with Older Versions?
Hope this helps!
If you need a file back-saved from CS5.5, CS5, CS4, CS3 or CS2, here is a service that can have the file converted back to the CS Version you need.
http://www.stokesdesignproject.com/down-save-indesign-file-service.php
What a useful site here – thanks so much for all the great material! I work for a non-profit and have CS5. Can I take MY copy of CS5, put it on a colleague’s computer and upgrade my copy to CS5.5? I know Adobe’s licensing is really strict and doesn’t allow very much, but surely you can move the software from computer to computer as long as only one computer is using that license? Any suggestions? I really want her to learn CS5 and not have to buy another copy of the upgrade.
Welcome Alison, thanks for your questions and kind words. Here’s a quick summary of the rules:
1. All software is licensed for a single user who can activate it on up to two machines, so long as you doesn’t use them at the same time.
2. You can move your applications between computers, if you have already reached your limit of two activations.
3. If you upgrade your products you can continue to use/run the previous version on the same two computers as the new one.
4. For more than one person using the software, Adobe offers multiple seat licensing for groups, teams, studios, schools, offices, etc.
5. By the way, there can be Adobe product discounts available for non-profit organizations.
Hope this helps!
Hi, This is a terrifically helpful site, thanks.
I purchased Photoshop CS5 just before it was superceded by CS6. I only use it for Photoshop. I decided I would like to update to CS5.5, and I have followed your instructions to access the downloads. I see there is no standalone Photoshop CS5.5 version, so I am downloading Master Collection CS5.5. Will this actually work with my serial number, or am I wasting my time? Is CS5.1 the only version of Photoshop there ever was? Thanks.
Thank you for the kind words Ruth. You’re right there was no CS5.5 version of Photoshop – only a CS5.1 version. A straight Photoshop CS5.0 serial number may not work with a CS5.1 version, but they are very close in functionality anyway so there is not a great benefit in upgrading to PS CS5.1 over CS5.
One critical piece of advice though: since Adobe no longer sells old software like CS5.5, it’s problematic trying to find a safe and legitimate copy now… There are many places you should definitely not buy from.
Bottom line, why would you want to try to buy an prior version anyway? On the whole, it’s faster, easier, and safer to just buy the real CS6 and be done with it. Photoshop CS6 is much improved over CS5 anyway, in our view.
Hope this fully answers your questions. If not, then just post back!
Thanks for your speedy reply.
I was downloading Master Collection CS5.5 via your web site link, so I presume it would be a genuine version?
I already have CS5.1, with serial number installed, (and CS4 still on my PC) Would Master Collection CS5.5 accept that serial number?
It was still downloading last night, very slowly, so I stopped it. Is it worth downloading it again, or not? All I need is Photoshop and Bridge, and if there are no differences in the two versions then there isn’t any point.
Sure Ruth, glad to help. Yes, all of our CS5.5 download links are absolutely genuine and come directly from Adobe’s servers – but they are only trial versions, not permanent.
And since you already have Photoshop CS5.1, and there is no Photoshop CS5.5, there is no point in using those – since your serial number will work only with the release you have. Your license will not work with any product contained in CS5.5 Master Collection except Photoshop CS5.1 itself. CS5.5 is not a free update or free upgrade from CS5 anyway.
If you want to upgrade your Photoshop (as you said), then just get Photoshop CS6 instead which is brand new.
Thank you. That is absolutely clear. I’ll stick to 5 until I’ve got my head ’round the new stuff.
Cheers, keep up this site, it’s great.
Ruth
Thanks Ruth, will do. By the way, here are two great (and free) resources for learning CS6:
Download Free Adobe CS6 eBooks — 1,022 Pages of New Tutorials
New Adobe CS6 Tutorials – 30 Hours of Free Online Video Training
And you can download the free CS6 trial and get going right away if you want. Good luck!
Thanks for the help. I’m currently using the CS4 suite. I’m not sure whether to jump to CS6 or make the steps, CS5, then CS6 cloud. Then there’s the consideration about CS5 vs CS5.5. Yikes, any advice? I primary do print graphic design, not animation, animated web or video graphics.
Hi MB, why would you bother with making steps through CS5 or CS5.5? There’s no real advantage to doing so in terms of features or performance, and it’s difficult to find safe and legitimate copies of the older versions anyway since Adobe doesn’t sell them anymore…
You are probably aware that CS4 owners have until the end of the year to decide about upgrading to CS6 with the upgrade discounts. Take a look at all the differences between CS4 vs. CS6 and see how it looks for you.
If you’re using InDesign, then InDesign CS6 can save back to older file formats for friends, colleagues, or clients still on older releases.
Yes, the Creative Cloud is also an option, with a different business model of paying each month to access the software. Take a look at our guide here to help decide:
Adobe Creative Cloud vs. Creative Suite 6 – Which Is Right for You?
Hope all this answers your questions, if not then feel free to ask more!
I have a very old version of CS3 that no longer works on my iMac on Mavericks. I am looking to get the pre-cloud version of CS Design Standard. Is CS5.5 a standalone program or an upgrade only, and I would need CS5 in order for 5.5 to work on my machine?
Hey Alison, all Creative Suite programs come in two forms: Full and Upgrade. Full costs more than Upgrade.
For each release (CS5, CS5.5, CS6), the suite upgrade versions vary in price depending on how far your upgrading from your old version. So an upgrade from CS3 is a higher-priced product than an upgrade from CS4.
But we definitely do not recommend trying to find old Adobe software like CS5.5 – besides being dated, it is extremely risky to try to buy…
Instead, just get Creative Suite 6 (a non-Cloud version if that’s what you want), because Adobe still sells CS6 direct. (Yes, it’s true; you can even get free trials.)