Adobe Systems has released another component of its much-touted Network Publishing strategy–the Adobe Studio Web site, a design network for the creative community. The Adobe Studio site offers designers tools and services to inspire the creative process, facilitate productivity and find new business opportunities. Macromedia’s production management system–Sitespring–which is also aimed at simplifying the professional Web team production process, was released in June.

Adobe Studio

Adobe Studio consists of two main areas: Adobe DesignTeam, a subscription-based collaboration service, and a free community area offering a wealth of design-related content.

The Adobe DesignTeam service, now available in public beta, is aimed at helping designers to be more efficient by using the Internet to collaborate with team members, clients and third-party service providers in one secure, online location. Web and print professionals working in small or geographically distributed teams can use DesignTeam for any of the following uses:

• Securely share and manage visually rich files, with version control

• Organize and track team communication around key project milestones and assignments

• Review files and Web sites, and automatically collect, track and collate reviewers’ comments, without reviewers needing the original applications

• Securely deliver files to customers and service providers, while controlling and tracking the distribution

DesignTeam is integrated with Adobe’s design applications and compatible with any file type.

“With Adobe Studio we’re pleased to embark on a new business model that provides a network publishing solution for creative professionals, ” says Jim Stephens, senior vice president of eBusiness development and worldwide customer care for Adobe. “Adobe Studio complements our design and layout applications, such as Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, while expanding the power of the Internet for Web and print designers.”

Membership in the Adobe Studio community is free. The DesignTeam service is also free during public beta review period. After the public beta period, DesignTeam will be available in the U.S. and Canada for a monthly rate of $39.95 per user, with discounts for teams.