Get your hands on some demo software

Photoshop free trial:
http://www.adobe.com/go/tryphotoshop

Illustrator free trial:
http://www.adobe.com/go/tryillustrator

InDesign free trial:
http://www.adobe.com/go/tryindesign

More Adobe Products:
http://www.adobe.com/downloads

Autodesk 3d studio max:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/mform?siteID=123112&id=10083915

Acrobat Professional 30-day tryout:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobatpro/tryout.html

Microsoft Office 60-Day free trial:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/editions/prodinfo/standardtrial.mspx