CS5.5 Master Collection / FAQ

To keep users ahead of changing technology, Adobe is changing the release cadence and updating Creative Suite in key areas that are changing quickly. 

Improvements in Creative Suite 5.5 include:

• Mobile authoring: Efficiently create and deliver content and applications for any screen or device (across Android™, BlackBerry®, and iOS) and achieve maximum richness without compromise, thanks to industry-leading tools for creating HTML5, CSS3, and Adobe Flash® Player compatible content.
• Tablet support: Adapt your creative workflow to the new possibilities offered by tablets and mobile devices.
• Sweeping performance enhancements in video products: Take advantage of features that provide new standards for speed and efficiency on both Mac OS and Windows®.

To learn about the new features, visit the features page for each edition and navigate through the "new" filters. There are filters for new since CS3, new since CS4, and new since CS5.

If you've been using an earlier version of a Creative Suite edition, you may be eligible for an upgrade price for Creative Suite 5.5. Check the upgrade eligibility chart on the buying guide page for your product to determine the most cost-effective way for you to upgrade. If you’ve been using an earlier version of Creative Suite and aren’t eligible for upgrade pricing, consider subscribing to Creative Suite on a one-year or month-to-month plan at an affordable monthly cost.

A subscription is a new, more flexible way to buy Creative Suite software. It gives you ongoing access to Creative Suite software for a low monthly fee, while also giving you ongoing access to every upgrade version at no additional charge, as long as your subscription remains active. You may find this an attractive option to paying a single, much larger price for your initial version, and then buying upgrades each time a new version became available. Learn more about Creative Suite subscriptions.

Yes, Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 will be highly relevant to you if you are challenged by the need to design and deploy content to an ever-growing array of devices or seeking top performance in video editing and production. Visit the CS5.5 Master Collection page to learn more.

Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 has been expanded to include two additional products, Adobe Audition® and Adobe Acrobat® X, with support on both Mac OS and Windows. To address industry trends, this mid-cycle upgrade also integrates new features and workflows that enable you to efficiently create and deliver content and applications to the wide range of devices on the market today. Create one project and deliver to all platforms — saving significant time and money on rework and deployment.

The CS5.5 release enables efficient delivery to the myriad of new platforms and devices being introduced to the market. Adobe is dedicated to the development of  tools and workflows that address these new devices because it offers a huge benefit to our customers. As always, Adobe consulted customers on pricing decisions. CS3 and CS4 customers indicated that CS5.5 will quickly pay for itself through easier workflows, increased efficiency, and overall reach.

If your creative workflow requires multiple Adobe components, you can save money when you purchase a Creative Suite edition instead of individual CS components. Depending on the edition you purchase, you can save up to 60% compared to buying the individual components that make up that edition. If you've been using individual Creative Suite products, you may be eligible for special pricing when upgrading to a suite edition. Check the upgrade eligibility chart on the buying guide to determine the most cost-effective way for you to upgrade from an individual CS component to a Creative Suite 5.5 edition. Alternatively, if you use an individual CS component and would like access to everything offered by a Creative Suite edition at an affordable monthly cost, consider a Subscription Edition. Visit the Adobe Creative Suite Subscription page for more information.

Check the What’s inside section of the product overview page to see what's included in each of the suite editions.

No, Web Standard has been discontinued. We have learned that most web professionals want traditional professional design components like Adobe Photoshop® Extended and Illustrator® as part of their Creative Suite product, as well as the capabilities of Adobe Acrobat® Pro, which are all included in Creative Suite Web Premium. Visit the CS5.5 Web Premium page to learn more.

Adobe does not plan to make any changes to the existing complimentary and paid support programs that are enjoyed by our customers. For details on these programs, visit the Adobe support page.

The software license agreement accompanying your product may entitle you to install and activate the software on two systems with certain restrictions.  The product license agreement for suite editions does not allow you to install the individual components of a single suite edition across multiple computers. Read the software license agreement for more information. Subscription editions follow the same license agreement terms.

 Read the Creative Suite compatibility FAQ for MAC OS X Lion.

You can transfer licenses between OS versions. Contact an Adobe sales representative for more information.

Adobe Student and Teacher Edition software can be upgraded to a commercial version when the user is no longer a student or teacher. Contact the online Adobe Store or your local reseller for information about upgrading to commercial versions of your products.

CS products can be configured using your computer's localization settings. For full support of a language different from your licensed language, contact an Adobe sales representative for assistance.

A subscription is a new, more flexible way to get Creative Suite software. A subscription gives you ongoing access to Creative Suite for a low monthly fee, while also giving you ongoing access to every upgrade version at no additional charge, as long as your subscription remains active.

The following products are available by subscription:

• Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Design Premium
• Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Design Standard
• Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Web Premium
• Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Production Premium
• Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Master Collection
• Adobe Photoshop CS5
• Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended
  
• Adobe Illustrator CS5
• Adobe InDesign CS5.5
• Adobe Dreamweaver CS5.5
• Adobe Flash Professional CS5.5
• Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5
• Adobe After Effects CS5.5

There is no difference in functionality, and the system requirements are the same. The only difference is that if you suspend or cancel a subscription, you will no longer be able to use the software.

Subscribing is a great option to consider if:

• You use an individual Creative Suite tool, like Photoshop, and would like access to everything offered by a Creative Suite edition, such as Design Premium, at an affordable monthly cost.
  
• You haven’t upgraded your software in years and want to move up to the current version at an affordable monthly cost.
  
• You have never used Creative Suite software and want an alternative way to try it for the first time.
  

Also, the month-to-month plan is a terrific option if you work on a freelance basis, or you are a small business owner and have only an occasional need for Creative Suite software, or you want to move your staff to Creative Suite at a reduced initial cost.

Subscription editions of Creative Suite software are installed locally on your computer, just like regular Creative Suite products. The functionality of a subscription edition is no different from that of the regular product. You do not need to be online constantly to use your Creative Suite subscription. However, you will need to be online when you install and license your software, and at least once every 30 days thereafter. The software will alert you when you need to connect to the Internet for a license status check.

Creative Suite subscriptions are available exclusively through Adobe.com.

If you are already using a trial version of a Creative Suite edition or individual product that is available by subscription, simply visit the Adobe Store to purchase a subscription.  Select the subscription option when you add the product to your online cart. We will provide you with a serial number at the end of your purchase. Simply copy and paste that serial number when you launch your trial and follow the instructions on the screen to start using your subscription edition product. Please note that you can convert only CS5.5 trials to a subscription; earlier trial versions cannot be converted to a subscription. Exceptions are Photoshop CS5, Photoshop CS5 Extended, and Illustrator CS5, which can be converted.

No. When you purchase your subscription on Adobe.com, you will be able to choose either an electronic download or, for an additional fee, an electronic download with backup media. Your serial number and a link to the electronic download will be emailed to you as soon as your purchase is complete. If you purchase the backup media option, the media will be sent to you in the mail and should arrive within seven business days; however, your subscription starts as soon as you make the purchase.

Your subscription includes access to the current and future versions of the Creative Suite application as long as your subscription remains active. Along with the software, you also have access to Adobe CS Live online services,^1,2 a set of services that support, and in some cases integrate with, Adobe Creative Suite software to help make tasks such as creative reviews and web page testing more convenient and efficient.

Adobe offers both one-year and month-to-month plans. One-year plans have lower monthly payments and require that you remain a subscriber for at least a year. Month-to-month plans provide the flexibility of a short-term commitment that allows you to stop and restart the subscription as your business needs change, but are somewhat more expensive each month. Note that if your month-to-month subscription is inactive for more than six months, you will need to purchase a new subscription.

For more information about Adobe Creative Suite subscriptions, visit the CS5.5 subscription editions page.

Subscription fees vary by product, plan, and your country of residence. Visit Adobe.com or the Adobe.com store in your respective country for pricing information. For more details, visit the  subscription editions page.

Your credit card will be billed each month under either plan. See terms and conditions for details.

Currently, the only way to pay your monthly subscription fee is by credit card.

If you maintain a one-year plan, the cost of your subscription will not go up during that year. Beyond that, the price of a Creative Suite subscription is subject to change.

If you live in Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa, the Czech Republic, or Poland and you purchase a subscription from the Adobe Store with a price quoted in U.S. dollars or euros — but you receive credit card statements with charges stated in your local currency— you may see different amounts charged from month to month because of changes in the currency exchange rates from one billing date to the next.

No. There is no price discount on a subscription if you own a Creative Suite application. However, you may be eligible for an upgrade price for buying the regular version of a Creative Suite edition or individual product. Check the buying guide for the product you own on Adobe.com to help determine your options.

Subscription editions of Creative Suite software are available only on Adobe.com.

Currently, only individual subscription editions are available, and only on Adobe.com.

Licensing customers should consider Adobe Upgrade Plan.

No. Currently, only retail price subscription editions are available, and only on Adobe.com.

Subscriptions are being made available in the following languages: Brazilian Portuguese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Spanish, and Swedish. Not all products come in all languages; check the technical specifications for the product you are interested in.

Subscriptions are available in the following countries:

• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxemburg
• Malta
• Mexico
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Africa
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• United States

Getting started with a subscription is fast and easy.

1. Go to the Adobe Store on Adobe.com; choose your product, plan, and delivery method (download only or download plus backup media for an additional fee); and then complete the purchase.
2. Check your email for a message with your serial number and a link for downloading your software.
3. Once you download the product, simply double-click the installer and follow the onscreen instructions to install the software and start your subscription.

Your subscription begins as soon as the order is fulfilled by the Adobe Store.

Download times will vary based on the product you select and the speed of your Internet connection. In all cases, a high-speed connection of some type is required. Here are some typical estimated download times:

Visit the Adobe Store download forum, where you can find information about typical software download issues.

Go to the Your Downloads tab on the Adobe Store. You will find a column that displays the serial number for your subscription, along with a link to download the product.

It usually takes about seven business days to receive the backup DVD for a Creative Suite subscription. In North America, additional shipping options are available for faster delivery. Note that your subscription begins as soon as the order is fulfilled by the Adobe Store, not when you receive the backup media.

During the course of your purchase and installation, you will be asked to create or enter an Adobe ID. An Adobe ID is simply your current email address. Learn more about Adobe IDs.

When you install your software, you will be required to enter the same Adobe ID that you used to subscribe, for the following reasons:

• To help ensure that the person who subscribed is the same person who is installing the software
• To enable Adobe to send you important account information in the event your subscription is about to expire or cannot be charged to your credit card
• To provide you access to CS Live online services1,2 (your ID and password are your login credentials).

Adobe respects your privacy and will send you information about other Adobe products or services only if you explicitly opt in for such messages.

Please ensure that your Adobe ID is your current active email address; if it is not, please update it.

No. You can use the same Adobe ID with all your Adobe products, including subscriptions. Each subscription is considered a separate purchase, and you may receive a separate email for each subscription if there is a problem associated with multiple subscriptions on your account.

When you start your subscription, by entering your Adobe ID, we will also set up your complimentary access to Adobe CS Live online services.^1,2 CS Live services are designed to support, and in some cases integrate with, Adobe Creative Suite software to help make tasks such as creative reviews and web page testing more convenient and efficient.

See the CS5.5 subscription terms and conditions.

Please see the license agreement for the product you wish to subscribe to.

When you buy a software product from Adobe, you are issued a serial number that represents your license to use that software. Activation is the process by which Adobe validates that your software and serial number are genuine and being used as allowed by your product license agreement. It is intended to protect both your rights as a consumer and Adobe's rights as a software developer. Activation helps confirm that the software you bought is not counterfeit; you will not be able to use your Adobe subscription edition software if it is not activated.

Yes. In the event that we cannot activate the product, we will warn you when you launch the application. Note that blocking access to the activation server will prevent the product from launching.

If you own a business and need to purchase ten subscription edition products to get your team up and running, you will have to download and install all ten subscription products using the same Adobe ID that was used when you purchased the product. This means that your Adobe ID and password will have to be entered on each of the systems on which you install the applications.

If you would like to renew your one-year contract for another year, you do not need to do anything. Your account is set to auto-renew so that you will not experience any interruption in access to your Creative Suite product.

You can suspend your month-to-month plan at any time by simply logging in to your account on Adobe.com and turning off auto-renew. Once you have done so, your subscription will not be renewed at the end of the current billing cycle. You will be able to use the software until the end of your current billing cycle, after which trying to launch the software will result in a message that says your subscription has expired.

Adobe will keep your information on file for 180 days. If you want to restart your subscription within the 180-day period, simply go to the subscription manager and turn on auto-renew, and assuming your billing information is still valid, your subscription will start again. When you launch the application, follow the instructions on the screen to begin using your software again. Note: If a new version of your product has been released while your subscription was inactive, a link to the new version will be available from the Your Subscriptions tab on the Adobe Store.

No. Unlike a suspended month-to-month subscription that allows you to restart anytime within 180 days, a one-year subscription, once canceled, cannot be restarted. Instead, you will need to purchase a new subscription.

You can return a subscription edition within the first 30 days of purchase and get a full refund. The return process can differ for various countries or regions. Learn more about returning products in North America or Europe and Asia/Pacific.

If your subscription expires or is stopped for any reason (for example, due to an expired credit card), you will be notified by email and your software will display an alert that your subscription has been suspended. If it has been less than six months since the subscription ended, simply click the Renew button displayed with the alert to go to the subscription manager, and enter the information required to restart your subscription.

You may suspend or cancel a month-to-month subscription by going to your account on Adobe.com. To cancel a one-year subscription, you must call Adobe Customer Service. If you cancel your subscription before meeting the one-year commitment date, you no longer qualify for one-year subscription pricing. The amount you owe will be recalculated based on the difference between monthly and yearly commitment pricing for the number of months your subscription was active, and your credit card will be charged for that amount. Subscriptions canceled within the first 30 days will be refunded in full.

No. When you suspend or cancel your subscription you will no longer have access to any version of your Creative Suite subscription software.

Adobe may offer a discount to subscription customers who complete their annual subscription and would like convert to a full product license. Adobe expects to announce further details during the first half of 2012.

If you buy the same product that you were previously subscribing to, you do not need to download or reinstall it. You can deactivate the product by choosing Help > Deactivate in the menu bar. Then, the next time you launch the product, simply enter the serial number that came with your new purchase. If your subscription has already expired, when you launch the application, simply enter the new serial number to begin using the software again.

You will be eligible to receive updates of the Creative Suite edition or individual product you subscribed to as long as your subscription remains active. Adobe will notify you by email of updates as they become available. The email will contain instructions on how to access and install the update.

Any ongoing bug fixes, security patches, and other update releases that do not require full upgrades will be made available through the updater in the Adobe Application Manager, just as in the regular versions of Adobe Creative Suite software.

You will receive notice of applicable upgrades as soon as they are announced by Adobe. Adobe will email you with instructions on how to access and install the latest version once it becomes available.

No. You are not required to install any new version of the subscription software, and you have a great deal of flexibility on when you install an upgrade, should you choose to do so. You can continue using your current version of the product for one full year after the subsequent version is released.

If you have questions relating to managing your subscription, contact Adobe Customer Service.

If you have questions about using Creative Suite software, visit the support page.

You get the same service and support with your subscription that you would get under the regular purchasing model for the same product.

On 64-bit operating systems you have access to essentially unlimited RAM, because they offer a wider address system and data path. On 32-bit systems, each application is limited to 4GB of RAM (and in practice this number is actually smaller). More RAM means applications can manipulate larger chunks of data, cache more information, and handle a wide range of tasks more efficiently.

By optimizing code for 64-bit operating systems, Adobe is able to deliver the performance gains video professionals require. Creative Suite customers benefit from working on the latest hardware and operating systems, and the majority of video professionals have already transitioned to 64-bit capable systems, such as Mac OS X Leopard, Snow Leopard, or 64-bit versions of Microsoft® Windows (Windows Vista® and Windows 7).

With the CS5.5 update, Adobe has further optimized native support for 64-bit operating systems released in Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 and After Effects CS5. For an up-to-date list of 64-bit third-party plug-ins for After Effects, visit the After Effects plug-ins page.

On Windows, Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 and After Effects CS5.5 require a 64-bit edition of Windows Vista or Windows 7. If you are using one of the following operating systems, you will not be able to install or run Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 or After Effects CS5.5:

• 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows XP Home or Professional
• 32-bit editions of Windows Vista Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise

If you are using one of the listed incompatible operating systems, Adobe recommends that you upgrade to either a 64-bit edition of Windows Vista Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise or a 64-bit edition of Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate.

Adobe has included complimentary versions of Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 and After Effects CS4 (which both support 32-bit operating systems) with your purchase of CS5.5 Production Premium for you to use until you upgrade to a recommended operating system.

For more information and detailed installation instructions for CS5.5 Production Premium, refer to the ReadMe file on your Creative Suite Application Disc 1 or see the service note.

Mac OS X Leopard and Snow Leopard are already 64-bit capable, which enables leveraging of more than 4GB of RAM. All you need to do is add more RAM to start seeing the benefits of native 64-bit OS support in After Effects CS5 and Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5.

When you install 64-bit Windows Vista, make sure your hardware drivers are available for the 64-bit edition. Specific Windows Vista 64-bit drivers are necessary to run the hardware — 32-bit drivers do not work. In addition, you must have Service Pack 1 installed on Windows Vista to run CS4.  When you install Windows 7, choose the 64-bit version.

Adobe continues to prioritize 64-bit support based on the potential user benefits and the complexity of the code transition. At this time, After Effects CS5.5 and Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 are the only products that are 64-bit only.

Adobe has a number of upgrade paths available to current Creative Suite customers. Use the upgrade eligibility tool on the buying guide for full details on your upgrade options.

Adobe plans to continue offering support according to the existing complimentary and paid support programs. For details on these programs, visit the support page.

With native 64-bit applications, more RAM means better performance when working with multiple applications on high-resolution projects. For that reason, we recommend you use at least 8GB of RAM, and 16GB, 32GB, or even more for high-performance configurations.

If you know what products you currently own, use the upgrade eligibility chart within the buying guide to find out which upgrades you are eligible for. If you are no longer eligible for upgrade pricing and are looking for a way to access Creative Suite products without a big upfront payment, visit the subscription tab in the buying guide to determine if subscribing is the right choice for you.

If you're buying Creative Suite products for the first time, use the buying guide to determine which suite edition is right for you.

Adobe's tiered upgrade pricing policy offers customers who upgrade at every release a lower upgrade price relative to customers who upgrade less frequently. This means that customers upgrading to Creative Suite 5.5 from Creative Suite 5 will pay a lower upgrade price compared to customers upgrading from an earlier version of Creative Suite.

Customers who upgrade regularly have long requested better pricing compared to those who upgrade infrequently. Adobe introduced tiered upgrade pricing in 2008, with the launch of Creative Suite 4, to reward these customers.

No. The tiered upgrade policy applies only to editions of Adobe Creative Suite and not to upgrades to individual components, such as After Effects or Flash Professional. Customers can upgrade to the CS5.5 version of individual CS components from up to three versions back. The only exception is Adobe Premiere Pro; customers can upgrade to Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 from any earlier version of Adobe Premiere. Note that four components of the CS5.5 suite editions are not being revised and so will have no upgrade to CS5.5 — Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks®, and Contribute®.

From within any of your individual Adobe products, select the menu item "About [product name]," which will open a dialog box that displays which version you own. Then check the upgrade eligibility chart on the buying guide to determine which upgrades you are eligible for.

If you are interested in upgrading to a specific CS5.5 product, you can check that product's buying guide page.

There are several options to determine which edition of Creative Suite is installed on your computer:

If you've registered your software, your product registration details will show your suite edition and serial number. Check your registration details by logging in to your account on Adobe.com and clicking the "View product registrations" link.

For Creative Suite 4 and Creative Suite 3 editions, you can determine the suite edition by doing the following:

• In Windows, go to Start > All Programs and check the Creative Suite edition.
• In Mac OS, you can identify which suite edition is installed via the uninstaller (go to Applications\Utilities\Adobe Installers). For example, the uninstaller will say "Design Premium," "Web Premium," or whichever other suite edition was installed.

For earlier versions of Creative Suite or Macromedia® Studio, check your installation CD or DVD for the suite edition.

No. Adobe does not offer upgrade pricing for customers who wish to move from a suite edition to an individual CS component. For complete upgrade information for the product you are interested in, consult that product's buying guide page to determine which upgrades you are eligible for based on the products you currently own.

Current Web Standard customers are eligible for the same upgrade pricing as customers who own other editions of Creative Suite. Web Standard customers should use the upgrade eligibility chart on the buying guide to determine which upgrades they are eligible for.

• There are two main ways to purchase Adobe software:
  
  Buy from Adobe: Buy and download Adobe software to start using it immediately, or choose to have the product shipped to you. Subscriptions are sold exclusively on Adobe.com.
  
• Buy from a reseller: Whether you're looking for a local retail store or a value-added reseller, Adobe has an extensive network of partners. To locate Adobe Authorized Resellers in your area, visit the find a reseller page.

Before you open your upgrade of CS5.5 software, read the upgrade information page to ensure you are a licensed user of eligible Adobe or Macromedia software.

Yes. Qualifying full-time or part-time students, faculty, and staff of accredited educational institutions can purchase Adobe products at a reduced price. Learn more about Creative Suite 5.5 for education and eligibility requirements. Note that there are no reduced-price subscriptions available for education customers.

Yes. You may qualify for a discount on software through Adobe Volume Licensing (AVL). Learn more about volume licensing, or have a licensing specialist contact you. Subscriptions are not available for volume licensing customers.

The Creative Suite 5.5 editions address the needs of various creative roles within a multidisciplinary team. As you learn about the CS5.5 products and review your purchasing options, consider the requirements of each of the roles and individuals on your team. To learn more about your options, have a licensing specialist contact you.

No, there are no upgrades or discounts for subscriptions. Subscription customers will, however, automatically receive new versions of Creative Suite as they become available.

No. There is no upgrade path from a subscription to a full version.

No. You cannot upgrade from a Creative Suite edition to an individual CS component. To confirm your options and learn about the requirements for upgrades, check the buying guide page of the product you wish to purchase. Among other requirements, you must be able to provide the serial number for the product you wish to upgrade from during installation.

Adobe allows upgrades to the current version of Creative Suite products and components from three versions back. Half version upgrades such as CS5.5 allow for upgrades three versions back from the last full version. For example, if you have a validly licensed copy of Adobe InDesign® CS2, CS3, CS4, or CS5, you can upgrade to InDesign CS5.5. You are not eligible for upgrade pricing if you are an InDesign CS or earlier customer. The exception to this rule is Adobe Premiere Pro; you can upgrade to Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 from any validly licensed earlier version of Adobe Premiere Pro or Adobe Premiere. Prices vary depending on which version you are upgrading from (see next question).

If you do own a version older than three versions back of any product other than Adobe Premiere or Adobe Premiere Pro, then you will need to purchase at the full retail price.

For half-version upgrades, Adobe has three levels of upgrade pricing for Creative Suite 5.5 editions:  one price for customers who are upgrading from CS2 or CS3, a lower price for customers who are upgrading from CS4, and an even lower price for customers upgrading from CS5.

Creative Suite customers who upgrade regularly have long requested better pricing compared to those who upgrade infrequently. Adobe introduced tiered upgrade pricing to reward these customers.

No. The tiered upgrade policy applies only to editions of Adobe Creative Suite and not to upgrades to individual CS components.

You may be eligible. Call Customer Service in your region for more information.

Yes, you may purchase upgrades for education versions provided you meet the upgrade eligibility requirements. For requirements, pricing, or to place your single-user license order, visit the Adobe.com Store in your region. For additional sales information about education versions of Adobe products, see the service note.

No. Adobe does not permit individual end users to upgrade components of their TLP or CLP license to individual shrinkwrapped software.

Yes, provided you meet the upgrade eligibility requirements.  For customers who want to move from shrinkwrapped software to a volume license, we also offer a credit against past qualifying purchases. For details and requirements, visit the Adobe Volume Licensing page.

Yes. If you are upgrading from an earlier qualifying version of an Adobe product to the newest version, you can upgrade across languages. To move from one language to another in the current version, you will have to call Customer Service in your region for eligibility and fulfillment. There may be a cost. Restrictions apply. See the service note.

Yes. To help you evaluate Adobe's creative software for upgrade or new purchase, we offer "try and buy" versions of the premium editions of Creative Suite 5.5 as well as most individual CS5.5 products, such as Adobe InDesign CS5.5 and Flash Professional CS5.5, in many of the languages in which we ship. These trial versions offer almost every feature and function of the product for you to test-drive.¹

In most cases, the trials can easily be converted to purchased versions without needing to reinstall the software. The trial period begins on the first day you launch the software and continues for 30 days. When the trial expires, you must purchase the software to continue using it. You can also convert a trial to a subscription edition by purchasing a subscription and entering that serial number in the trial software.

¹Notice to Production Premium trial users

After Effects CS5.5
The trial version of After Effects CS5.5 does not include some features that depend on software licensed from parties other than Adobe. Third-party plug-ins that are not found in the trial version of After Effects include Imagineer Systems mocha and mocha shape, CycoreFX, Synthetic Aperture Color Finesse LE, and Digieffects FreeForm. If you decide to purchase the software after the trial period, support for plug-ins is automatically added to the software via a simple update once you enter a valid serial number.

Encore CS5
Adobe Encore CS5 is not available as a trial. Encore CS5 will be installed as part of the trial for Creative Suite 5.5 Production Premium and Master Collection but will not be available for use until you purchase.

DVD trials
Available to order as a DVD set

Trial downloads

You have two choices: Download a trial version of an individual CS5.5 product, such as Flash Professional CS5.5, or any of the Creative Suite 5.5 editions (for example, Design Premium) directly from the Adobe.com download pages at no charge. Or, purchase a trial DVD set of any of the Creative Suite 5.5 premium editions from the Adobe Store.

Prices for the trial DVDs are listed in the following chart and include shipping and handling. This charge helps cover the cost of producing and distributing the DVD sets.

A DVD set can serve as your backup media if you choose to convert from trial to purchase at the end of 30 days. (Alternatively, you can choose to have a full product box delivered to you when you purchase, and simply use that serial number to convert the trial you already installed.)

You can download trial software by navigating to the "downloads" section of Adobe.com and selecting the product you would like to try. In order to improve your download stability and speed, Adobe offers download assistant software (Adobe Download Assistant).  

On Windows, Adobe Download Assistant downloads two files, an executable (EXE) file and a 7z file. The 7z file is a highly compressed archive that is used with the EXE file to install a downloaded product. The EXE and 7z files must both be completely downloaded and located in the same folder in order for the product to install successfully.

On Mac OS, Adobe Download Assistant downloads a single DMG file.

Visit Adobe Download Assistant help for more information.

By default, some product installers will automatically start when your download completes. If the installation doesn't start automatically, see Start the installer after downloading.

You do not need a serial number to try out your software. To start the trial, launch your software and click the "Start Trial" button on the first screen that loads.  

If you already purchased a product on the online Adobe Store, your serial number will be emailed to you. Alternately, you can sign in to your Adobe account to find your serial number. For additional information about finding your serial number, see "Find a serial number".

You may not extend a trial version once it expires at the end of 30 days, nor can you install another copy of the same trial onto the same computer to try again.

Yes. If you have tried an individual product such as Flash Professional CS5.5, you can either convert that directly to the same product or convert it to one of the Creative Suite 5.5 editions that contains Flash Professional. Alternatively, if you tried an edition of Creative Suite 5.5 but decide to buy an individual component that is part of that edition, you can simply enter the serial number for the purchased product to convert your trial to the individual component you purchased. You can also convert your CS5.5 trial to a Subscription Edition. Learn more about the subscription program.

If you are already using a trial of an eligible Creative Suite 5.5 product or component, just go to the Adobe Store and select the Subscription option when you add a product to your online cart. You can copy and paste your purchased serial number when you launch your trial. then follow the instructions on the screen to start using your Subscription Edition product. However, you can only convert a CS5.5 trial into a subscription. You cannot convert earlier trial versions into a subscription.

Yes. Acrobat X Pro is available as part of the Creative Suite software trial. In addition, the full version of Acrobat X Pro is included with both Mac OS and Windows versions of CS5.5 Master Collection, Design Premium, Design Standard, and Web Premium.  Full versions are available for sale on Adobe.com.

Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 and After Effects CS5.5 require a 64-bit Intel® processor. You must have a 64-bit Intel processor to try the software.  If you decide to purchase CS5.5 Master Collection or CS5.5 Production Premium, complimentary 32-bit-compatible versions of Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 and After Effects CS4 will be provided with your purchase.

Yes. If you have opted to receive email communications from Adobe, you may receive a series of communications with helpful resources and tips to get the most from your trial. There are also additional free resources available:

• Visit Adobe TV, your online source for expert insight and inspiration. Discover insider tips, innovative techniques, and behind-the-scenes tours delivered on video, on demand, helping you make the most of your Creative Suite 5.5 software trial. For more details, visit Adobe TV.
  
• You can also browse the Design Center or Developer Connection for additional training information. 
• Join the worldwide Adobe user group community to network and build connections, master new skills, and learn from your peers. Adobe Groups provide a forum for business and creative professionals at all levels. Join a group now at Adobe Groups.
  

Adobe Technical Support will help you install or troubleshoot an installation issue with a trial version of Adobe creative products. Additional phone and web support is available only for registered users of purchased software. For additional help, we recommend the following free options: 

• Search Adobe Community Help to find the focused answers you need — fast. Searchable content includes the in-depth product-specific Help that Adobe has always delivered, plus additional Adobe and third-party content chosen by experts at Adobe and in the design and production communities.
• Use the search bar within most Creative Suite 5.5 component software, or simply choose Help > Product name.
• Search the online Adobe Knowledgebase in the support area.
  

Yes. CS Live online services^1,2 can be accessed from within certain CS5.5 editions and individual products, streamlining workflow and helping to improve productivity.

To set up access to CS Live during your trial, simply enter your Adobe ID in the trial screen that loads when you launch your product. If you do not have an Adobe ID, click the "Create an Adobe ID" button in the trial screen and follow the prompts to create your ID. You will also need to read and agree to any applicable online services terms of use.

¹CS Live online services are complimentary until April 12, 2012. Learn more.

²Adobe online services, including Adobe CS Live Services, are available only to users 13 and older and require agreement to additional terms and Adobe’s online privacy policy. Online services are not available in all countries or languages, may require user registration and may be subject to change or discontinuation without notice. Additional fees or subscription charges may apply.

Converting your trial is simple:  Purchase the software through the online Adobe Store (as an electronic download or as a shipped product) or from your preferred authorized reseller, store, or catalog. If you plan to purchase through the Adobe Store, simply click the button in the screen that loads when you launch your trial software. Enter the serial number from your purchase into the product screen that loads when you launch your trial. You can enter a serial number to convert the trial at any time during the 30-day trial period or after the trial ends. You can also convert a trial to a Subscription Edition. Learn more about the subscription program.

Optional: If you purchased an electronic download from the Adobe Store, log in to your account and download any additional available content or applications for the product you purchased. You can use your Adobe ID and password to access this content for up to three years after the product is released. If you purchased through a channel other than the Adobe Store and are converting from an individual CS5.5 product to a suite edition or to a different individual product, you may need to install the additional applications on your computer.

Yes.  You can convert your trial to a subscription by purchasing a subscription serial number on the online Adobe Store. After you purchase your subscription serial number, simply enter this number into the trial screen that loads when you launch your software.  Learn more about the subscription program.

Creative Suite 5.5 trials allow you to evaluate individual products or editions of Creative Suite 5.5 and then convert the installed trial to a full version. For instance, if you tried an edition of Creative Suite 5.5 but decide to buy an individual component that is part of that edition, you can simply enter the serial number for the purchased product to convert your trial to the individual component you want.

Alternatively, if you have tried an individual product such as Flash Professional CS5.5, you can either convert the trial directly to the same product or convert it to one of the Creative Suite 5.5 editions that contains Flash Professional.

If you tried multiple products and purchased a suite edition that contains both, you can enter the suite edition serial number in one of the components and the other one will automatically pick up the serial number. You will need to install the additional components contained in the suite edition. If you tried individual CS5.5 products and bought them as single products, you can simply enter the serial numbers in the respective products.

Yes, Adobe Volume Licensing customers can also convert trials by simply entering a valid license serial number. Contact your reseller or authorized Adobe License Center to place a volume licensing order.

When you are converting your trial, the serial number you enter must match your trial software language set. If the language set does not match, you may need to uninstall your trial and reinstall a version that supports the desired language set.

The following is a list of the languages included in each language set:

Worldwide English: English (UE/IE)

Americas/Europe: French (F), French Canadian (FC), Spanish (E), Latin American Spanish (LAS), North American Spanish (NAS), Portuguese (Brazil), German, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian

Asia: Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Korean

Japan: Japanese

Eastern Europe: Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian

To uninstall your trial version, close any open Adobe software on your computer and do the following: In Windows, open the Windows Control Panel and double-click Add or Remove Programs. Select the product you want to uninstall, click Change/Remove, and then follow the onscreen instructions.

In Mac OS, double-click the product installer in Applications > Utilities > Adobe Installers. Authenticate as an administrator, select Uninstall Components, and then follow the onscreen instructions.

Yes, provided you have a qualifying earlier version of Adobe software. In this case, you may purchase an upgrade to convert your trial to a purchased version. To verify that you have an earlier version that qualifies you for the software you're purchasing, check the buying guide page for that product.

When you enter the purchased serial number to activate your trial for ongoing use, the installer will search your hard drive for the qualifying software. If it doesn't find it, it will prompt you for the serial number of your earlier version. If that serial number does not work, contact Adobe Customer Service in your region for further assistance.

Yes, if you choose the download option when converting a trial to a purchased version, we highly recommend making a backup copy and keeping it together with the serial number. That way, if you get a new computer or have to rebuild an existing machine, you have everything you need to efficiently reinstall your Adobe software. Alternatively, follow the instructions in the email receipt to log in and download your software for up to three years after you purchase. If you had the software shipped from Adobe or a reseller at purchase, that package serves as your backup version.

The software license agreement accompanying your product may entitle you to install and activate the software on two systems with certain restrictions. Read the software license agreement for more information. Subscription Editions follow the same license agreement terms.

Refer to the end-user license for the specific product. Subscription Editions are subject to the same end-user license rules.

Whether you're in a studio of one or hundreds, Adobe CS Live online services significantly enhance your workflows, allowing you to focus on creating your most impactful work. The services integrate with Adobe Creative Suite® 5 and CS5.5 software to simplify the creative review process, help speed up website compatibility testing, and more. CS5 and CS5.5 have features to enhance the experience of using the services.

When you register your CS5 or CS5.5 product or sign in online, you will get access to all CS Live services, which are complimentary until April 12, 2012.  See the CS Live Terms of Use for more information.

There are currently five CS Live online services included:                                       

Adobe BrowserLab: An easier, faster solution for cross-browser testing. Preview dynamic web pages and local content with multiple viewing, diagnostic, and comparison tools.

Adobe CS Review: A simple way to make creative reviews faster. Create, share, and get feedback on a creative project from within your CS5 or CS5.5 application or from your browser.

Acrobat.com: A better way to work together, online. Streamline your work with extended teams by using online services to store and share documents, conduct online meetings, and author documents collaboratively.

Adobe Story: The blueprint for your next big story. Craft your narrative in a collaborative writing environment that offers the flexibility to work both online and offline. Turn video projects into efficient productions as you integrate your Story project into CS5.5 Production Premium.

SiteCatalyst® NetAverages™: Information on the latest Internet trends to help streamline and optimize your web projects.

Yes. Adobe plans to enhance the CS Live services offering over time.  If any enhancements are introduced during the complimentary period, these will also be offered at no charge through April 12, 2012.

See CS Live system requirements for detailed information.

See CS Live system requirements for a table that shows which services are available by language. Adobe is currently evaluating options to expand the services to more languages.

The services are available to users who are not minors and who have a verified Adobe ID. See the CS Live terms of use for more information.

No. You must have a high-speed Internet connection to use the services. See CS Live system requirements for more details.

Adobe does not guarantee uptime for any of the services at this time, but uses reasonable efforts to keep them available. We are actively working on a service level agreement (SLA) and expect to make that available soon.

If you proactively ask Adobe to close your account, you will no longer have access to your data or files once the account is closed. If you wish to sign up for another account in the future, you may use the same Adobe ID or a new one to create an account; however, your original data will not be reinstated to your new account.

You will receive an expiration notice approximately 30 days prior to your subscription end date. You will have 30 days from that day to log in to your account and download your data.

A subscription cannot be renewed on a complimentary basis. For-purchase subscriptions are not available at this time; however, Adobe may offer them at the end of the complimentary period.

If you have questions about how a service works or using CS5 or CS5.5 with any of the services, Adobe provides Getting Started Support as part of the complimentary subscription. Getting Started Support for the services provides access to unlimited incidents related to account maintenance or unexpected behavior of documented features. Expanded options are also available through a paid technical support plan. CS Live services Help also provides a rich self-service knowledgebase to troubleshoot issues.

There are several free resources available to help you get started with the services:                                                             

• Visit the CS Live services product pages to learn about features, system requirements, how the services integrate with CS5 and CS5.5, availability, and how to sign up.
• Explore Help to see the latest support information, view or participate in forums, or search the Knowledgebase.
• Get tips, tricks, and tutorials from Adobe experts. Visit Adobe TV, your online source for expert insight and inspiration.
• Attend an eSeminar, OnDemand seminar, live event, or conference. See a list of events.

Visit the Developer Connection for additional training information.

Access to the services is available on a complimentary basis through April 12, 2012. There are three ways to get access:

• When you purchase a Creative Suite 5 or 5.5 product, you can sign up for a complimentary subscription by registering your product. This method allows you to take advantage of the special CS5 and CS5.5 features that enhance the experience of using the services within your creative workflow.
• If you use a Creative Suite product on a trial basis, you can set up access the services during your trial period when prompted to provide an Adobe ID after you install your trial software. This method also allows you to take advantage of the special Creative Suite features that enhance the experience of using the CS Live services.
• From any web browser, you can simply sign up to use the services on a complimentary basis through April 12, 2012.  You can use an existing Adobe ID (login) or create a new one.  

You will have until April 12, 2012, to use the services on a complimentary basis.

Access to CS Live online services is complimentary until April 12, 2012. At the end of this complimentary period, Adobe may offer for-purchase subscriptions. Final pricing of for-purchase subscriptions is to be determined, but is currently estimated at US$19.99–$29.99 per month or US$199–$299 per year.

An Adobe ID is typically your current email address. A verified Adobe ID, plus your password, gives you access to the services. You can create an Adobe ID by registering your Creative Suite software or by signing up for CS Live services.

To use the services, your Adobe ID must be a valid email address. If your ID does not contain a verified email address, you will need to update it. Follow these instructions to update your Adobe ID or password:

1. Go to the sign in page on the Adobe website and log in with your current Adobe ID.
2. Click Edit Your Account Information and select the Adobe ID tab.
3. Click Change to enter your current email address. You can also change your password in this tab.
4. Click Update to apply the changes to your account.

After you change your Adobe ID to match your email address, you can set up access to the CS Live services.

You can sign in to the services with your Adobe ID and password.

To sign in from within your Creative Suite software, click the "Sign in" link within the CS Live services menu, located in the upper right corner of the toolbar in your application. After you sign in, you can access the services from within your software.

To sign in from within your web browser, navigate to the service you would like to use and click the "Sign in" link in the upper right corner. Select a service to sign in:

• Adobe BrowserLab
• Adobe CS Review
• Adobe Story
• Acrobat.com
• SiteCatalyst NetAverages

You can use the online services directly from within Creative Suite 5 or 5.5 applications — enhancing the efficiency and convenience of the services and providing you with the additional workflow benefits. If you're new to Creative Suite and the CS Live services, you can get started by accessing the CS Live services menu, located in the upper right corner of the toolbar in your application. From this menu you can set up access, log in to a service, begin service-related workflows, and more.

The services integrate with relevant workflows for many, but not all, Creative Suite products. CS Live services do not integrate with Adobe Fireworks®, Flash® Catalyst®, InCopy®, Contribute®, Adobe Audition®, Flash Builder™, or InDesign® Server software.

Yes. The services can be accessed directly from your browser; however, Creative Suite 5 and 5.5 have features to enhance the experience of using the services. Access to the services is available on a complimentary basis through April 12, 2012.

No. CS5 and CS5.5 have special features designed to enhance the experience of using the services. Earlier versions of Creative Suite do not have these special features. For users of earlier versions of Creative Suite, CS Live services are available online through a web browser with no in-application integration. Starting with CS5, services updates will provide backward compatibility with two earlier versions of Creative Suite software as long as the earlier version is CS5 or later.

Yes. Even if a service is not available in the same language as your desktop product, you can still use it. Service-related menus in the product will be available in your preferred language. However, when accessing a service on the web, the service will default to English. You will have the opportunity to select from other available languages.

Yes. All users of a licensed Creative Suite 5 or 5.5 desktop product can access the CS services from that product, whether that product is licensed on a retail or volume basis.

Volume-licensed CS5 and CS5.5 desktop products offer users a way to sign up from the desktop product for a complimentary CS Live services subscription through April 12, 2012. If a user signs up for a complimentary subscription either online directly from a service or from within a volume-licensed product, that subscription belongs to the user who signed up and not to the volume licensor who purchased the product.

Federated ID support, including LDAP/directory services, is not supported at this time.

SECURITY
Adobe uses industry-leading security engineering processes in building its products. With CS Live services, security is considered at every level, from applications to networks to physical facilities. In addition to the latest technologies, world-class security requires ongoing adherence to best-practice policies.

APPLICATION‐LEVEL SECURITY
CS Live services use some of the latest technology available for Internet security. When you access a service, Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology is used for both server authentication and data encryption, helping to ensure that your data and documents are available only to you and the users you authorize. The service issues a session cookie only to record authentication information for the duration of a specific session. The session cookie does not include the username (Adobe ID) or password of the user.

NETWORK‐LEVEL SECURITY
CS Live services leverage firewall protection, intrusion detection systems, SSL encryption, and proprietary protocols to protect your important information. The services are hosted in a protected server environment that uses a firewall and other advanced technology to help prevent interference or access from outside intruders.

PHYSICAL FACILITIES SECURITY
Services hosting facilities are protected by multiple layers of physical security, and only authorized personnel may access the facilities and servers. In addition, all facility access is logged, and logs are regularly reviewed and protected from outside access. All data center equipment has physical protections in place against data theft and environmental hazards in order to prevent assets from being lost, damaged, or compromised and to prevent interruption in business activities.

We are currently in the process of assessing CS Live services security practices using ISO 27001/27002:2005 criteria. We will make the necessary documents available when the assessment is complete.

No. The services will be hosted on Adobe servers only. At this point we do not have plans to provide an on-site solution. Visit the support center for additional services support.