In today's message-saturated environment, communication programs that produce positive results must stand out in order to get noticed. Thanks to the successful use of graphic design by professional sports teams, manufacturers from Harley Davidson to Kodak, and Hollywood from Disney to Warner Brothers, people have become graphic design sophisticates. The age 20-somethings especially, have been brought up on TV, computer games, and brand name everything, respond only to high quality design. That's why successful companies hire graphic designers to plan and produce business communications. They realize that they need professionals to help them figure out which message to send out and how to deliver it with effective impact.

Text excerpted from "The Graphic Design Handbook for Business" ©1995 American Institute of Graphic Arts/Chicago Chapter

While Adobe Illustrator has traditionally been reserved for the print and prepress marketplace, recent versions have targeted a broader audience, including a growing contingent of new-school Web designers. With the latest incarnation of Illustrator, Adobe aims to please both print and prepress designers, as well as cutting-edge Web designer communities. If you're looking for a greater Web focus from your vector graphics program, look no further than Illustrator.

Photoshop combines the professional standard in desktop image production with new features for Web designers and video professionals. Design your own typography by placing text on a path or within a shape Customize keyboard shortcuts to keep your favorite features at your fingertips Full support for Flash(.swf) files -- create them in ImageReady, along with vector art & variable text.

3ds max has always had one of the fastest renderers in the 3d industry. Its native scanline renderer has been the backbone of everything from cinematic special effects to architectural rendering to high-resolution print work. In short, it's a fast workhorse that gets most every rendering job done quickly.