After hosting an open beta that was downloaded at least over 500,000 times, Adobe has announced that its highly anticipated Creative Suite 6 is now available for purchase. The new version of CS brings many new features to the programs that creative types know and love while innovating in key areas.

As we reported last month, Adobe CS6 launches with new versions of Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Flash Professional and other software including Encore and Fireworks. As always, the software is available in four suite versions – Design Standard, Design Web and Premium, Production Premium and Master Collection.

As was announced alongside CS6, Adobe will also be launching the Creative Cloud on Friday. The new option allows users to download and install all the programs that are in the Master Collection. Users can then store and share their content across desktops, mobile devices and the cloud. It’s the version of CS6 that’s targeted towards those who want to publish content to the Web. It’s available at a subscription pricing of $49.99 a month.

“We announced Creative Cloud and CS6 two weeks ago and these releases have caught the imagination of creatives everywhere,” said David Wadhwani, senior vice president, Digital Media Business, Adobe. “Today we’re shipping CS6 and look forward to the beginning of an exciting new era as we introduce Creative Cloud later this week.”

According to Adobe, those who buy CS6 can look forward to these new features:

New levels of performance with tools that take advantage of Adobe Mercury Graphics functionality, allowing users to go from ideas to finished work faster than ever before.

Enhanced user interfaces that vastly simplify workflows, so users can focus on their content and achieve results quicker.

New capabilities that streamline the creation of responsive content, ensuring website and apps look great across virtually all screen sizes and form factors.

Remarkable new science, integrated into imaging and video apps, makes previously impossible tasks suddenly possible.

The four versions of Adobe CS6 are now available at Adobe Authorized Resellers, the Adobe Store in North America and Adobe Direct Sales. The prices are as follows: $2,599 for CS6 Master Collection, $1,899 for CS6 Production Premium, $1,899 for CS6 Design and Web Premium, and $1,299 for CS6 Design Standard. For more information on the individual versions and the software contained therein, check out the official product page.

If you have been a CS user since at least CS3, Adobe is also offering a special discounted price on a full Creative Cloud membership. Normally $49.99 a month, a one year contract for existing customers will only be $29.99 a month for the first year.

Adobe seems to be offering a little something for everyone with the newest release. I’m tempted to sign up for the Creative Cloud if only to have access to After Effects and Premiere Pro at a price that’s way cheaper than what the Master Collection costs.

Are you planning on picking up CS6? Or are you going for the Creative Cloud? Let us know in the comments.