Adobe CS5? I know what your thinking wasn't CS4 just released? It seems the window of time between "upgrades" is getting smaller and smaller. But I guess what really matters is whether these are really upgrades or new packaging with some programming tweaks. While I prefer to work in Photoshop for most of my projects (as they are usually using photos for ads, posters etc), but I have been delving into Illustrator when it comes time to make a logo or other vector work for years now. (For those of you who don't know the difference between Illustrator and Photoshop. It's very simple, Illustrator works with Vectors, Photoshop works with Pixels.)
The tools packed into this newest version of this program are pretty amazing and the more I learn about it, the more I like it.
Being that I'm covering this from the "filmmaker" perspective I should say why a filmmaker would want to use this program. The most important thing I could think of is Logo design and vector based resizability (vectors can be infinitely resized, which means that you can size them for a banner or a DVD cover and have them all look crystal clear, unlike pixels which degrade if they are enlarged). In this day and age a logo for a project may be more important than the poster! Your website, hats, and T-shirts will all use your logo. A properly designed vector file can open doors in marketing, as some companies require a clean vector version of your logo before they can make your product. So it's probably a good idea to make sure you have a Vector version of your logo when the time comes for marketing. Illustrator can do that for you, or rather you can do that using Illustrator. (And of course, since Adobe's Flash program is a vector based program, Illustrator-created vector based artwork is easier and more robust to integrate into Flash than Photoshop files for your film's website.)
To try and explain the ease of use for a product like this can be tricky. Let's face it: Illustrator, along with most design programs, has a steep initial learning curve. If you have never touched a program like this before, the blank screen with tons of little icons can be an intimidating thing. But once you get the hang of it, most will find it's not hard to use at all. It's all about the time the user puts into learning the software.
