Adobe Creative Suite (CS) is a discontinued set of software suites containing various applications targeted at photographers, artists, designers, filmmakers, programmers, and other digital media disciplines, developed by Adobe Systems.
The Creative Suite product line replaced several earlier "collection" bundles previously sold by Adobe and saw the introduction of a unified brand across its included applications.
In March 2013, it was reported that Adobe would no longer sell boxed copies of the Creative Suite software, instead offering digital downloads and monthly subscriptions. Later, on May 6, 2013, Adobe announced that Creative Suite 6 would be the final version released, shifting their focus to the subscription Creative Cloud product.
Applications Adobe sold Creative Suite-branded applications standalone, and in several different combinations called "editions". The final version, Adobe Creative Suite 6, was sold in four editions: Design Standard containing the core applications Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Acrobat. Design & Web Premium which was a superset of the Design Standard edition, adding Flash, Dreamweaver, and other applications for website designers and web app developers. Production Premium, containing headline applications Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition, alongside other applications targeted at audiovisual media post-production. Master Collection, which bundled all applications included in the other editions.
The following table shows the different details of the core applications in the various Adobe Creative Suite versions and editions. Product nameCS versionAvailable inTransitioned to Creative CloudAcrobatsince CSAll editions except Standard (CS and CS2); Web Standard and Production Premium (CS3 onwards)Moved to separate Adobe Document Cloud productAfter Effectssince CS3Production Premium, Master CollectionYesAuditionsince CS5.5Bridgesince CS2All editionsContributefrom CS3 until CS5.5Web Standard, Web Premium, Master CollectionNo, discontinuedDevice CentralAll editionsDreamweaversince CS3Premium (CS2.3), all editions except Design Standard and Production Premium (CS3 onwards)YesDynamic Linksince Production Studio Premium (2006)Production Studio Premium (2006); Production Premium, Master Collection (CS3 onwards)Encore (formerly Encore DVD)No, discontinuedFireworkssince CS3All editions except Design Standard and Production Premium (CS3.3 onwards); not included in original CS3 Design Premium editionFlash Buildersince CS5Web Premium and Master CollectionDiscontinued in 2019Flash Catalystfrom CS5 until CS5.5All editions except Design StandardNo, discontinuedFlash Professionalsince CS3Renamed to "Animate" in 2015; development of new features stopped in 2026GoLiveuntil CS2Premium (CS and CS2)No, replaced by DreamweaverIllustratorsince CSAll editions except Production Studio Standard (2006) and Web StandardYesImageReadyuntil CS2All editions (part of Photoshop until CS3)No, some features merged into Photoshop; otherwise replaced by FireworksInCopyStandalone product never included in a Creative Suite editionYesInDesignsince CSAll editions except Production Studio editions (2006), and Web Standard and Production Premium (CS3 onwards)LightroomStandalone product never included in a Creative Suite editionMedia Encodersince CS5.5All editionsOnLocationfrom CS3 until CS5.5Production Premium, Master CollectionNo, replaced by PreludePhotoshopsince CSAll editions (until CS3); in CS3 onwards, Design Standard only (all other editions include Photoshop Extended, except Web Standard which does not include any version of Photoshop)YesPhotoshop Extendedsince CS3All editions except Design Standard and Web StandardNo - this was an edition of Photoshop containing extra features; these were merged into the standard application with Creative CloudPreludesince CS6Production Premium, Master CollectionRemoved in 2021, features merged into Premiere ProPremiere Prosince CS3YesSoundboothfrom CS3 to CS5Replaced by AuditionSpeedGradeCS6 onlyDiscontinued in 2017, Premiere Pro contains its functionality in its Lumetri Color panel since 2014Stock Photosuntil CS3All editionsDiscontinued in 2008; similar Adobe Stock service launched in 2015Story PlusStandalone product never included in a Creative Suite editionDiscontinued in 2019UltraCS3 onlyProduction Premium, Master CollectionNo, discontinuedVersion Cuefrom CS to CS4All editions
History
Creative Suite and Creative Suite 2
The first version of Adobe Creative Suite was released in September 2003, and Creative Suite 2 in April 2005. The first two versions of the Creative Suite were available in two editions.
The Standard edition included: Photoshop ImageReady Illustrator InDesign Version Cue Adobe Stock Photos (discontinued in 2008) Bridge (introduced in Creative Suite 2)
The Premium edition adds Acrobat and GoLive.
Creative Suite Production Studio was a separate product line for Windows only, sold alongside Creative Suite 2. Its Standard edition consisted of: After Effects Standard Bridge Premiere Pro Photoshop
The Premium edition upgraded After Effects to the Professional edition and added the following applications: Audition Encore DVD Illustrator Dynamic Link
Following Adobe's 2005 acquisition of Macromedia, Adobe introduced a range of bundles adding various Macromedia products to Creative Suite 2 Premium and Creative Suite Production Studio Premium.
On September 18, 2006, Adobe announced Creative Suite 2.3 Premium. This upgraded Acrobat to version 8 and added Macromedia Dreamweaver; Adobe announced that it intended to replace GoLive with Dreamweaver in future versions of the Creative Suite. The Standard edition and Production Studio products were not updated as they did not include Acrobat and GoLive.
Shutdown of activation servers Adobe shut down the activation servers for Creative Suite 2, Creative Suite Production Studio, and Acrobat 7 products in December 2012. Adobe subsequently released replacement installers and serial numbers that did not require product activation. Because the software was made available on a public web page without requiring proof of purchase or an Adobe Account, it was widely misreported that the software had become freeware. Adobe released a statement that the activation-free release was intended only for people who had "legitimately purchased" the original software.
Creative Suite 3
Adobe Creative Suite 3 (CS3) was announced on March 27, 2007.
CS3 integrated the Dreamweaver, Flash Professional and Fireworks applications from the former Macromedia Studio product line into Adobe's Creative Suite branding and user interface design. CS3 introduced OnLocation and Ultra, initially developed by Serious Magic; itself acquired by Adobe in 2006.
Adobe dropped the following programs that were previously included in CS2: GoLive, replaced by Dreamweaver ImageReady, partly merged into Photoshop and partly replaced by Fireworks Audition, replaced by Soundbooth
Adobe had announced that GoLive was to be discontinued, while Audition would be developed separately. GoLive 9, the final version, was released as a standalone product on June 10, 2007. Audition 3 was announced as a standalone product on September 6, 2007; it would later become part of the Creative Suite lineup again in 2011.
For Mac users, CS3 introduced the previously Windows-only Premiere Pro and Encore to the Mac. Those two applications as well as Soundbooth only support Intel Macs. All other applications are universal binaries, supporting PowerPC G4, G5 and Intel Macs. OnLocation is Windows-only; Adobe recommended Mac users to have a separate Windows machine or use Boot Camp to access it.
Adobe sold Creative Suite 3 in six editions. All editions except Production Premium and Master Collection were released on April 16, 2007; those two editions shipped later on July 2, 2007. On June 2, 2008, Adobe released Creative Suite 3.3, a minor update adding Fireworks CS3 to the Design Premium edition and upgrading Acrobat in all editions that shipped it to version 9. The Production Premium edition did not receive this upgrade as it did not include Acrobat.
CS3's activation servers were shut down in 2017. Adobe offered activation-free replacement installers until mid-way through 2019. Unlike with CS2, Adobe required users to sign in with an Adobe Account and register their original serial number in order to access the replacement installers and serial numbers.
Below is a matrix of the applications included in each edition of CS3: Adobe Creative Suite 3 Software Design Web ProductionPremium MasterCollection Standard Premium Standard Premium Photoshop CS3 Photoshop CS3 Extended Illustrator CS3 InDesign CS3 Acrobat 8 Pro Flash CS3 Professional Dreamweaver CS3 Fireworks CS3 (in v3.3) Contribute CS3 Soundbooth CS3 After Effects CS3 Professional Premiere Pro CS3 Encore CS3 Adobe Dynamic Link Shared applications OnLocation CS3 (Windows only) Ultra CS3 (Windows only) Bridge CS3 Device Central CS3 Stock Photos Version Cue CS3
Creative Suite 4
Adobe Creative Suite 4 (CS4) was announced on September 23, 2008, and officially released on October 15, 2008. Almost all applications in CS4 feature a redesigned, unified user interface.
On Windows, Photoshop was offered as a native 64-bit application that could be installed alongside the 32-bit version. In early testing of 64-bit support in Photoshop CS4, overall performance gains ranged from 8% to 12%, due to the fact that 64-bit applications could address larger amounts of memory. After Effects CS4 and Premiere Pro CS4 included optimizations for 64-bit computers, but were not yet native 64-bit applications.
The Mac version of CS4 did not include any 64-bit applications, and was the last version to include universal binaries. Like in CS3, Premiere Pro, Encore and Soundbooth are Intel-only; After Effects newly became Intel-only in CS4. A native Mac version of OnLocation was introduced in CS4, also for Intel Macs only.
Adobe Ultra was not included in CS4, and the Adobe Stock Photos was discontinued prior to CS4's release.
Unlike prior versions, CS4 did not receive a mid-life upgrade. Its activation servers were taken offline in 2020, and no replacement installer was offered.
Below is a matrix of the applications that were bundled in each of the software suites for CS4:
Adobe Creative Suite 4 Software Design Web ProductionPremium MasterCollection Standard Premium Standard Premium Photoshop CS4 Photoshop CS4 Extended Illustrator CS4 InDesign CS4 Acrobat 9 Pro Flash CS4 Professional Dreamweaver CS4 Fireworks CS4 Contribute CS4 Soundbooth CS4 After Effects CS4 Premiere Pro CS4 OnLocation CS4 Encore CS4 Shared features, services, and applications Bridge CS4 Device Central CS4 Version Cue CS4 Dynamic Link
Creative Suite 5
Adobe Creative Suite 5 (CS5) was released on April 30, 2010.
The Windows versions of Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 and Adobe After Effects CS5 became 64-bit only, and require at least Windows Vista. All other applications require at least Windows XP.
The Mac versions of the CS5 programs were significantly rewritten in an effort to modernize the codebase, with all applications now requiring 64-bit Intel Macs.
Adobe Version Cue was removed from the CS5 line-up, and there was no Web Standard edition.
Below is a matrix of the applications that were bundled in each of the software suites for CS5: Adobe Creative Suite 5 Software Design WebPremium ProductionPremium MasterCollection Standard Premium Photoshop CS5 Photoshop CS5 Extended Illustrator CS5 InDesign CS5 Acrobat 9.3 Pro Flash Catalyst CS5 Flash Professional CS5 Flash Builder 4 Standard Dreamweaver CS5 Fireworks CS5 Contribute CS5 Premiere Pro CS5 OnLocation CS5 Encore CS5 After Effects CS5 Soundbooth CS5 Shared features, services, and applications Bridge CS5 Device Central CS5 CS Live Dynamic Link
Creative Suite 5.5