I continue to be amazed (and thankful) at the quality training podcasts that are available for free.

A new one dedicated to Adobe Illustrator has surfaced called Gradient Mesh. As I write this, the podcast is only two issues old, so time will tell if this is a podcast that direct market designers will get some use out of that they can directly apply to their projects.

But as someone who has been having to spend more time in Illustrator recently, I welcome anything like this that’s going to make me more comfortable moving around in the program. (Side note: I’m seeing a Lynda.com subscription in my future very soon to get some extra training.)

Gradient Mesh is presented very professionally by Justin Seeley. It reminds me a lot of one of my favorite podcasts, The InDesigner which is a similar style in terms of solid information without what my kids call “silly business”. “Silly business” is what you see a lot of in Photoshop User TV, another great podcast, but one that I find myself fast-forwarding through a lot these days to get past the silliness and on to the tips. That type of silliness gets old quickly and, frankly, I don’t have time for it anymore. (Still, it’s free so I hate to complain too much about it.)

Justin also has a Photoshop podcast, but I have yet to check it out.

In my mind, this new Illustrator podcast fills an underserved arena. I just haven’t run across many Illustrator podcasts that are updated consistently. Of course, when people are doing these podcasts and offering them for free, you want to cut them some slack. But I’m hoping Justin steps into this void with lots of great tips and hints.

On the day I’m writing this, Adobe has just let the world in on what to expect with next version of the Creative Suite due toward the end of April here in the U.S.

Without a doubt, I’m upgrading. (I’m kind of a geek that way.) But I always hear this question from beginning designers: Do I need to upgrade? In other words, they’d love to get the latest and greatest, but it’s not cheap either.

I’ll cut right to the chase…you won’t stop getting jobs if you are using older versions of InDesign, Photoshop or Illustrator. So don’t feel you have to get CS3 in order to keep up with everyone else.

Having said that, if you depend on these programs, I’ve seen enough to know that each one has improvements that make life a little easier and will probably make you more efficient.

For example, InDesign has a new “multiple place” feature. In CS2, you can only place one thing at a time in a document. That’s not fun when you have a dozen or so pictures you want to put in a document. It’s just so repetitive to have to go through the process of opening and placing each file one at a time.

With the ability to place multiple items in one whack (you do have to click to place each one), you save yourself time.

That’s what I mean…nothing really earth-shattering, but with so many little improvements, your life is going to be a bit easier.

Also, for you Intel Mac folks, this version of CS3 was created to take advantage of the Intel processor. You should find it runs much smoother than CS2 does on an Intel Mac.

For you Vista folks, I’m sure everything will be fine (in fact, Adobe says it will be fine), but do some research before you buy to make sure CS3 and Vista play nicely together. Being a former software tester at Microsoft, I’ve seen it all when it comes to a brand new operating system working with brand new software.

The web design tool, GoLive, is no longer a part of the Suite, replaced by Dreamweaver. (Raise your hand if you didn’t see that coming.)

And in certain Suite configurations, Flash is now included. (There are multiple configurations for you to choose from. I’m going with CS3 Design Premium.)

I continue to stand by something I’ve said when people just starting out in design ask what software they should buy: If you buy an Adobe CS product, you basically get a complete design studio in one box. (Of course, it’s up to you to learn how to use it.) It can be pricey, but with one purchase, you’re on your way.

And, obviously, you can buy any of the software titles individually…so if you just care about InDesign, you can buy it alone.

But, again, if you’re a current Adobe software user and finances don’t allow you to upgrade, you’re going to be ok unless you run into a client who demands you use something you don’t have and I haven’t had that happen too often.

A lot of people have done great work today to provide video previews of new software in CS3. I’m going to point you to those if you want to learn more.

First, for an overview, head over to the Adobe website.

Adobe Creative Suite Podcast – This is primarily a slide show overview the whole Suite, but also includes some video demos. (Watch the 3D stuff in Photoshop and Live Color in Illustrator. Waaaay cooool!)

InDesign Secrets Podcast – New features in InDesign (audio)

The InDesigner – New features in InDesign (video)

Photoshop CS3 Learning Center – Lots of videos showing off the new Photoshop

Real World Illustrator Podcast – New features in Illustrator

Total Training Videos – Despite being pricey, hands-down the best professional video training you can buy.

The Christmas/New Years holiday allowed me to get caught up on some podcasts that I had fallen behind on. And in one case, it allowed me the chance to watch all the podcasts of one title I had mentioned here, but never had the time to watch. (It was put on the back burner during my recent move.)

WOW! Was I ever missing out by not watching it sooner.

The podcast is The InDesigner .

Again, allow me to say WOW!

As you might guess from the title, the podcast is about Adobe InDesign. The first few episodes were audio-only, but it’s now video and what a difference it makes.

Unless you consider yourself an InDesign expert, you’re going to learn something. And unlike some of the Photoshop podcasts I subscribe to (which are excellent) each InDesigner episode is going to give you something that you’ll probably be able to put into use immediately.

Host Michael Murphy is an Adobe InDesign Certified Expert and works as a designer for a what I’m guessing is a trade magazine. When you see samples of his work that he uses to illustrate InDesign techniques, you’re going to understand just how amazing InDesign can be.

I subscribe to about eight design-related podcasts, all of them valuable and full of stuff I can use in my business. But The InDesigner is the only one of these podcasts that I actually save on my computer so I can refer back to it if I have to. (Some of this stuff is easy to forget unless you use it everyday.)

The podcast is free, so if you’re an InDesign user and not subscribed to it, you’re flat out missing the boat. Get yourself started on the right foot this year, download all the “back issues” and then keep up with the new ones.

I tried finding a podcast related to Quark since I do have to use that software from time to time, but came up empty. If you know of something, let me know.