Adobe just announced several major changes to their software. Getting the latest features are now available only from Creative Cloud. Plus there’s a ton of new features and ways to use their photography tools for your workflow. Lightroom is not changing its license structure.
I caught up with Scott Morris backstage at Adobe Max. The audio is a little rough in spots (it is a backstage interview) but the news is breaking and important. Have a listen.
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It certainly is one way to guarantee a revenue stream: You can have the latest and greatest, but it’s ONLY available through the cloud. Cha-ching
Get used to it Jean. All software companies are doing this. Nobody is making you buy it. There are plenty of alternatives. Some are even free. And what’s wrong with Adobe wanting a steady revenue stream? Do you work for free?
Great interview! Of course I’m bias but would be great if they added a music feature such as Audisoocket.
I see CC as a new product. CS has been discontinued. Like a Jeep Cherokee. Unfortunately, I doubt anyone will be able to call CS6 a classic in 20 years and sell it for more than it was purchased for.
I am not sure I will like this…I have always bought my software and used it for many years before I needed to upgrade. Now it seems that I will not have that option. Now I will just be renting…hummm good luck with that.
Trying hard Michael to understand how CC stops you from using software you’ve already purchased or that you might purchase in the future because yes – Adobe is still selling boxed software. Are you just uninformed or an Adobe hater looking for an excuse to rant?????????
Unfortunately Camera Raw is on the suite. This locks you in to current cameras or looking at alternatives if you don’t want to rent updates.
@thefrod so you are worried about camera raw updates? That can only mean one thing. You don’t mind spending $100 a month to upgrade your camera but $20 a month for Photoshop no way??????????? I should also add that you can buy Lightroom 4 (IN A BOX) and get ACR upgrades forever – which will work in CS6.
You can continue to buy Lightroom or Photoshop Elements as boxed software. That doesn’t lock you into the Cloud. You can also get Photoshop only for $10-$20 a month with other cloud services too.
Note the spin whereby anyone who doesn’t like the forced rental model is one of those “creative people” who just can’t handle change … like we’re the frail old men of the creative industry. It’s arrogant.
I didn’t get that Andrew can you be more specific?
No, it just means you don’t like change. Which is why I asked the question. And why they told me you can continue to use or buy CS6.
I can see why a company like Adobe takes this step, that doesn’t mean I have to like it or that I have to go with it. One reason why I don’t like the Creative Cloud: At least once or twice a year I do some extended documentary work in parts of the world where it’s hard or impossible to get an internet connection. Let’s say I’ll stay there for eight weeks… but I have to connect to the cloud once in a 30 day period or my software will stop working … Great … for the second half of… Read more »
@Jay really? That is a red herring. Let’s say you go somewhere in the world where you misplace your install disk and your drive goes bad and you can’t re-install Photoshop. See how silly this can get> And you can still use any Adobe boxed software you have and boxed Lightroom will still be sold. You will soon find out that almost all the companies are moving to this model. I am glad to see you moving on from Adobe because it doesn’t sound like a good match for you. GIMP is free by the way – you might want… Read more »
I’ve asked this question before JAyEm. Here’s answer. 1. After 30 days it asks to activate if you don’t have a net connection… otherwise it stays active. 2. If no net connection, it stays active for another 30 days and just asks for a net connection. 3. You can call in on phone and activate that way. Plus if you know you’re going to be traveling, you can call customer support and they’ll activate the account for a longer travel window in advance. Yes… company’s have had to change their ways to combat piracy some… but they do have easy… Read more »
Scott, in your response to Michael – Adobe is NOT still selling boxed software for future upgrades (aside from Lightroom). Sure, current versions will still continue to work, but eventually our computers will get an operating system that is no longer compatible with CS6, or we’ll have a camera that isn’t supported. Adobe has promised new camera support to CS6, but we’ll see how long that lasts, given the current push to the CC.
@Jordan Your math is fuzzy. The cost of CS 5 was about $600 plus $200 to upgrade. So you’re downplaying the original cost to help boost your point. When you have to go to that extreme it shows you’re argument is weak. And the tools will not stop working with the cameras you have to day – all software becomes outdated and you have the option to buy it again or not. This in effect can be compared to a monthly subscription. The most silly argument is that people complain they can’t afford $20 a month (that’s the cost the… Read more »
Camera support can also come via Lightroon, Photoshop Elements, etc. which are boxed.
Creative Cloud has made Photoshop CS6 my last Photoshop. It’s not the ‘cloud’ part. That’s fine. I can deal with that. It’s the jacking up of the price at the same time removing security in my purchase that will make this a non-starter for me. I use two Adobe products for my photography: Photoshop and Lightroom. Lightroom isn’t affected (yet), so that’s fine for now. Photoshop, I have owned since version 6, and have purchased upgrades to 7, CS2, CS5 and CS6. My upgrade from CS5 to CS6, both of which I did at release, cost me $200. That’s $200… Read more »
Scott, I jumped on board just two days ago after visiting the Adobe booth at PSW and listening to Rich. The tipping point for me was my aspiring 15 year old son who is already using the latest Adobe products in his public high school graphics class. I’m a Mac, he is a PC, so the cloud was a cool choice offering both systems A no brainer for us. Now sonny boy is up and running creating in Flash and loving it. Imagine where he will be in 5 years working in the cloud.
Embrace the change. Thanks Rich.
@ Scott: I know that I still can use my “old” boxed Adobe software and in the case of Photoshop I will do so… but you’re right: On the road my HD can crash or whatever… but before Richard’s reply I didn’t know that you could call the support and ask for a longer activation period for travel. And no, GIMP is (at the moment) not an alternative for me… and I don’t ask for some free software, I only want to be able to buy some software, not to rent it. It’s just a personal preference, nothing more. It’s… Read more »
Jay you are proving my point. All this outrage is coming from people like you who didn’t even know the facts. Maybe getting the facts would be a good idea before you start such a tirade? You’re called a hater when you do things like that. And as for your comment, you can still buy CS6 and Lightroom in a box. Nobody is stopping you.
@ Richard: Thanks for the clarification about the longer activation period for travel. Didn’t know about that. But I still think that I will not go with the subscription model. I also understand that the software companies need to fight piracy and I agree with them in this case. But I’m pretty sure the subscription model will not help them… the crackers are criminals but they aren’t stupid. I’ll bet there will be cracked Photoshop CC versions (it may take a few days more this time) for all the cheap guys who are not willing to pay for a good… Read more »
Scott, you said, ” Your math is fuzzy. The cost of CS 5 was about $600 plus $200 to upgrade. So you’re downplaying the original cost to help boost your point. When you have to go to that extreme it shows you’re argument is weak. ” Actually, my math is not fuzzy. I have already paid the $600 for the original…plus four different upgrades throughout the past 15 years I’ve been using Photoshop. The standard pricing structure that has been in place since Photoshop’s origin requires about $200 every year and a half to stay current. The new play, if… Read more »
@Jordace you’re already backing up – first you said it was double. Now you’re saying it was an 80% increase. In time you may get to the truth. As for your threat to leave Adobe for greener pastures, something tells me they’re not missing any sleep over that one. You are throwing out red herring after red herring to try to justify your faux outrage. What boggles my mind is why anyone with so much hate and disdain for Adobe would even want to use their stuff another day. Move on. Use something else. Get over it.
Sure, Scott and Richard … you guys (and NAPP and other Adobe Evangelists) have taken drink from the Adobe Koolade foutain, and are now part of the “believers”. Seems you have no patience for those of us who would prefer the other alternative. Fine and dandy – I have no patience for the new model … remember, not all change is necessarily “good”. In fact, it is not really change, but is instead a reversion to an old model of the computing industry – in the olden days, IBM leased both its hardware and software to customers, with no option… Read more »
Martin you have no patience for anyone who won’t subscribe to your entitlement theory and faux outrage. So be it. You want something for nothing. Here’s the bad news pal. I know your mom told you that you were special, but she lied. You’re not. Call me a Kool-Aide drinker because I see more value in this than you. If it makes you feel good call me every name in the book. But it doesn’t change the facts. You aren’t owed a thing by Adobe. You can quit using their product any time. Tomorrow I have a post just for… Read more »
You can still buy cs6. Listen to my audio interview fully so you can understand the reasons.
This move is really a killer for me! 1. I live in Vanuatu and Adobe wont accept payments from here, despite the fact that I have a paypal account and my credit card is from an Australian bank. 2. I am an amateur, this means that all my photo work is done on my home machine. I do not have an internet connection there. To get a connection with any near reasonable speed would cost me about USD100 a month. 3. If I cancel my subscription I can no longer user the software. Cheers Rex P.S. I believe Lightroom will… Read more »
@Rex Q1. Adobe says a ton more countries being added. Q2. App installs on your computer. Doesn’t run over cloud. You can order install discs if you need them. Contact support. Dials in once a month to verify subscription. Sending as much data as an email. Can also activate on phone. Q3. That is correct. If you wait to long to upgrade you apps you also can’t run them. Old software can’t run on newer computers. Upgrades and maintenance are part of life. Do you expect to buy one car for life, never put fuel in it or have to… Read more »
I understand why Adobe are doing this, and I see that for those who want the Master Collection or who always buy the new version of Photosop this is a good deal. However, for the tens of thousands of hobbyists out there, this is yet another tech related subscription. When you purchase something outright, you can assess your finances and decide whether you can afford whatever piece of software, camera body or lens you’re talking about. If you later fall on hard times and decide to economise, you own that thing, are free to continue using it, and can maybe… Read more »
@gavin If you’re a hobbyist buy Lightroom or Elements. B&H are in boxes.. Offer perpetual licenses. Etc. you can also buy CS6 if you want.
You Photoshop CC files can be opened in older versions of Photoshop just fine. Some new features may not be editable, but files open.
Did you LISTEN to my interview. You absolutely have a choice to buy a perpetual license. Cs6 still exists and is still sold.
Come on Rich he doesn’t actually want facts he just wants to hate on Adobe. Facts are inconvenient truth :)
Scott, I can totally get on board if the premise is Adobe deserves more money for their products, that the increased amount is still fair etc. but we can’t be in denial of what the reality is. For existing users of Photoshop (but not other Adobe products outside Lightroom) this is a significant cost increase with risk attached. Under the older boxed software model upgrades occurred on average every 18 months and cost at retail about $200. This represents a cost of ownership of $11.11 per month. However this doesn’t even tell the full story as many, many hobbies and… Read more »
2 to 4 times? Crazy math
New Photoshop. $699
Upgrade Photoshop $199
Photoshop Extended $299
Photoshop shipped about every 1.5 years
That’s $11-16 a month
You now get extended feature set
More frequent updates
New features faster
20 GB cloud storage
Yes. A little more at $20 a month
If you need a suite of products
Master collection $2600
Upgrades about $1000
Cloud $50 a month
Plus acrobat, Lightroom, fonts, storage, and more
Relook at your math
Rich
1. For how many revisions will Lightroom still be available outside of CC?
2. Regardless of what you’re getting for your $50 per month, if you stop paying, it’s game over. How can the removal of the option to buy outright be good for the end user?
@Gavin I wrote this post so I will answer. We don’t know how many revisions of Lightroom will still be available. We also don’t know if Canon or Nikon will ever make new glass; we don’t know if Aperture will ever be updated, or Word, or Evernote or if the world will end. There are no guarantees and you are owed none. What do you mean if you stop paying $50 it’s game over? And did you even read the post. You can purchase outright – right now. CS6 and LR4 are available as stand alone products. You can also… Read more »
Scott, I would not be so rude as to comment on an article I hadn’t read. “What do you mean if you stop paying $50 it’s game over? ” If you have a CC subscription and you stop paying money to Adobe, regardless of how long you’ve been doing so, or what the total amount you’ve handed over is, all access to CC software stops. This is what I mean by “game over”. Am I wrong? BTW, UK pricing is £46.88 per month which is about $72. I am not a student and qualify for no upgrade discounts. “We don’t… Read more »
Gavin thank you for clarifying your comment. I agree that if you stop paying for CC you no longer access it just like if you stop paying your mortgage you don’t get to live in your home or if you stop paying your car payment you no longer get to keep your car. I am not concerned about UK pricing. We’re a USA centric site and cover photography with that bias in mind. There are plenty of European magazines and blogs better suited to comment on European pricing. I am not defending Creative Cloud. I don’t need to. Nor do… Read more »