Adobe’s decision to switch to the Cloud has been met with both cheers and jeers. I don’t want to rehash old arguments. But I thought important to let you know that the change appears to be permanent. If you were hoping for an update to Adobe Creative Suite or to be able to buy a standalone version of Photoshop or Premiere Pro, you’re out of luck.
An official statement reads.
“Adobe creative apps are available exclusively through Creative Cloud.
Looking for Creative Suite 6? The latest versions of all your favorite apps like Photoshop and Illustrator are only available with a Creative Cloud membership. You’ll also get hundreds of step-by-step tutorials, built-in design templates, your own portfolio website, and more.”
As of now, it appears Lightroom has not taken the same path. I checked in with an Adobe sales rep and confirmed that the application is still available for sale. Adobe offers Lightroom as a digital license on their site. What’s unclear is how long this practice will continue.
I’ve reached out for comment, but haven’t gotten any definitive answers. Lightroom currently stands at version 6.8… one can assume that a 7.0 version is in the near future. I’ll continue to look into the issue, but it’s likely a good idea to strongly consider the benefits and workflow of the Creative Cloud Photography Plan.
I didn’t buy ver 6 of LR because it didn’t offer me anything new that I would use. And I used to only buy every other new version anyway. And because my android tablet is to old for LR. So why bother. With a new version costing $150 and the cloud version $10 month that would mean after 15 months I would be getting screwed. If, like me, you qualify for the upgrade version, $70 I think,then after a less than a year I would be getting screwed. And I rarely, if ever, need the use of Photoshop and Photoshop… Read more »
HI John…. Let me try to respond to your points with some additional info. 1. Being a version skipper is fine, many do that. 2. At some point that tablet may stop working and if you upgrade, you may find that Lr mobile is useful. You may also want to check out lightroom web too. 3. The new version is $149 USD, the upgrade is $79. You should still qualify for upgrade prices. 4. The $10 a month includes Photoshop, Lightroom, online backup, fonts, artwork, multiple mobile apps, and a protfolio site. Plus updates nearly every quarter with new features… Read more »
I think personally, i I get the best of everything all the time with Adobe, I always look forward to see what new features are in Adobe, and try to work out how I can use these innovations, so I am one very happy Adobe customer. My website is very new, so it is basic at the moment.
I thought the standalone had stopped being updated, at least in terms of new features compared to the CC version? Obviously they’re trying to nudge people towards the CC subscriptions by starving the standalone version of new features like de-haze. Still using Aperture but do have a 12-month prepaid subscription that I haven’t redeemed yet. Will say one thing about Adobe, there are a lot of videos available from them on how to use their product. So as much as I am against software subscriptions, if this model allows them to continue with this kind of support as well as… Read more »
Lightroom 6 (the perpetual license) has been continually updated with new camera support, lens profiles, and bug fixes. Just like every other perpetual license version of Lightroom since the begining, no new features get added until the next new version of Lightroom comes out (with the exception of a few small new features that have appeared in the first dot release of several past Lightroom versions). So, when a new version of Lightroom is released (Lightroom CC 2017?), and if there is still a perpetual license of Lightroom (Lightroom 7?), then we would expect to see all of the new… Read more »
The perpetual license for Lightroom 6 does not get updated with new camera support; that is raw processing for new cameras. The only option is to go to the Adobe dng converter if you still want to use Lightroom 6 perpetual license. I’ve been checking for updates since I first downloaded the perpetual license (2-3 Years?), and I have yet to see anything downloaded. I’m looking into Capture One Pro 10 as an alternative even though it has a high price tag. Because of the AUD to US conversion, it seems impractical to take on the $11.99/month plus 10% GST… Read more »
ACDSee offers a perpetual license for Windows users.
migrating to “OnOne”. I refuse to be held to a subscription.
OnOne is also a subscription model too… or buy it and then upgrades every year.
You may find a subscription model there too but many of us (even those who are on CC) are using MacPhun Luminar.
Gita, I’ve been with On1 for years. If you don’t think it’s a subscription service, try upgrading to a new version without paying. And the most current version (raw) is a total mess: using the subscribers as the beta testers and still not able to release a usable product months after taking peoples’ money is hardly the hallmark of a stable product. I was also upset with Adobe when they went to the CC version. I wanted to continue to own my software, not rent it. But the photographer’s subscription is not all that bad, especially when I figured the… Read more »
I still cannot understand the resistance to Adobe CC. Subscriptions mean your industry-leading applications will stay up to date with the rapidly changing technology and you will not have to pay extra for updates (like Creative Suite). I have said it many times on my podcast and still believe at $50/month, Adobe CC is the best value on the internet. Hands down. The Photography bundle at $9.99 is a steal. The mobile apps and Creative Libraries blow my mind to think what I am now able to do on my iPhone or iPad and have it waiting for me on… Read more »
I’m still on LR 5.8. The speed improvement of version 6 didn’t apply to my choice of silent graphic card
If version 7 launches with the updates rolled in I will upgrade then. If they remove the option go buy I’ll stick with 5.8 and my other software until I find something else that suits my workflow
Just curious, what is the something to suite your workflow, that you don’t have to pay for unless you go Linux. ?
I was an Adobe user way before even CS started. I could only afford every other version because…and this is my point…I was using it mostly as a hobbyist. Professionals should keep their tools up to date. The CC model is not economically viable for those who are not making money with it.
Even students, who get a big discount, eventually need to pay the full amount. If only it was still usable after you stop paying, it might be a good deal, but I don’t think you can even open a project once you can no longer afford it.
I use it as a hobbiest, but then again I don’t know of many hobbies that you don’t have to pay for.?
I’m happy with my CS6 disc. I don’t want to pay for a monthly subscription when I paid for the software on disc. The great thing about using a PC with windows 10 is that you could use compatibility mode and have it operate as if your using older windows software such as windows 7, 8, 8.1, as well as 10. Other video and photo software ”one time pay to own” is becoming more in competition with Adobe and some dose various things better. Although Adobe is great, they need to make money and not shoot themselves in the foot.… Read more »
Adobe can include all of the bells and whistles they want. If you stop paying, you lose access to (their) bells and whistles, and you lose access to any of YOUR content held on THEIR cloud. I buy it, I own it, I can do what I want with it. Obsolescence eventually becomes an issue, but let ME decide how to proceed instead of being forced to upgrade on someone else’s schedule.
Please stop fear mongering here…. your files are your files. You can choose to keep copies in the could for convenience, but everything is stored locally on your machine too (and first). If you decide to leave the cloud, your images can still be opened. Try the DNG format which stores your adjustments in the file. Plus PSD and other formats can be easily opened. Adobe makes pro apps… as such they charge $10 a month for their photo plan. If you don’t like that, then use other tools from other makers (we have a bunch listed here on site… Read more »
I didn’t buy ver 6 of LR because it didn’t offer me anything new that I would use. And I used to only buy every other new version anyway. And because my android tablet is to old for LR. So why bother. With a new version costing $150 and the cloud version $10 month that would mean after 15 months I would be getting screwed. If, like me, you qualify for the upgrade version, $70 I think,then after a less than a year I would be getting screwed. And I rarely, if ever, need the use of Photoshop and Photoshop… Read more »
HI John…. Let me try to respond to your points with some additional info. 1. Being a version skipper is fine, many do that. 2. At some point that tablet may stop working and if you upgrade, you may find that Lr mobile is useful. You may also want to check out lightroom web too. 3. The new version is $149 USD, the upgrade is $79. You should still qualify for upgrade prices. 4. The $10 a month includes Photoshop, Lightroom, online backup, fonts, artwork, multiple mobile apps, and a protfolio site. Plus updates nearly every quarter with new features… Read more »
I think personally, i I get the best of everything all the time with Adobe, I always look forward to see what new features are in Adobe, and try to work out how I can use these innovations, so I am one very happy Adobe customer. My website is very new, so it is basic at the moment.
migrating to “OnOne”. I refuse to be held to a subscription.
OnOne is also a subscription model too… or buy it and then upgrades every year.
Gita, I’ve been with On1 for years. If you don’t think it’s a subscription service, try upgrading to a new version without paying. And the most current version (raw) is a total mess: using the subscribers as the beta testers and still not able to release a usable product months after taking peoples’ money is hardly the hallmark of a stable product. I was also upset with Adobe when they went to the CC version. I wanted to continue to own my software, not rent it. But the photographer’s subscription is not all that bad, especially when I figured the… Read more »
You may find a subscription model there too but many of us (even those who are on CC) are using MacPhun Luminar.
I still cannot understand the resistance to Adobe CC. Subscriptions mean your industry-leading applications will stay up to date with the rapidly changing technology and you will not have to pay extra for updates (like Creative Suite). I have said it many times on my podcast and still believe at $50/month, Adobe CC is the best value on the internet. Hands down. The Photography bundle at $9.99 is a steal. The mobile apps and Creative Libraries blow my mind to think what I am now able to do on my iPhone or iPad and have it waiting for me on… Read more »
I thought the standalone had stopped being updated, at least in terms of new features compared to the CC version? Obviously they’re trying to nudge people towards the CC subscriptions by starving the standalone version of new features like de-haze. Still using Aperture but do have a 12-month prepaid subscription that I haven’t redeemed yet. Will say one thing about Adobe, there are a lot of videos available from them on how to use their product. So as much as I am against software subscriptions, if this model allows them to continue with this kind of support as well as… Read more »
Lightroom 6 (the perpetual license) has been continually updated with new camera support, lens profiles, and bug fixes. Just like every other perpetual license version of Lightroom since the begining, no new features get added until the next new version of Lightroom comes out (with the exception of a few small new features that have appeared in the first dot release of several past Lightroom versions). So, when a new version of Lightroom is released (Lightroom CC 2017?), and if there is still a perpetual license of Lightroom (Lightroom 7?), then we would expect to see all of the new… Read more »
The perpetual license for Lightroom 6 does not get updated with new camera support; that is raw processing for new cameras. The only option is to go to the Adobe dng converter if you still want to use Lightroom 6 perpetual license. I’ve been checking for updates since I first downloaded the perpetual license (2-3 Years?), and I have yet to see anything downloaded. I’m looking into Capture One Pro 10 as an alternative even though it has a high price tag. Because of the AUD to US conversion, it seems impractical to take on the $11.99/month plus 10% GST… Read more »
ACDSee offers a perpetual license for Windows users.
Adobe can include all of the bells and whistles they want. If you stop paying, you lose access to (their) bells and whistles, and you lose access to any of YOUR content held on THEIR cloud. I buy it, I own it, I can do what I want with it. Obsolescence eventually becomes an issue, but let ME decide how to proceed instead of being forced to upgrade on someone else’s schedule.
Please stop fear mongering here…. your files are your files. You can choose to keep copies in the could for convenience, but everything is stored locally on your machine too (and first). If you decide to leave the cloud, your images can still be opened. Try the DNG format which stores your adjustments in the file. Plus PSD and other formats can be easily opened. Adobe makes pro apps… as such they charge $10 a month for their photo plan. If you don’t like that, then use other tools from other makers (we have a bunch listed here on site… Read more »
I’m still on LR 5.8. The speed improvement of version 6 didn’t apply to my choice of silent graphic card
If version 7 launches with the updates rolled in I will upgrade then. If they remove the option go buy I’ll stick with 5.8 and my other software until I find something else that suits my workflow
Just curious, what is the something to suite your workflow, that you don’t have to pay for unless you go Linux. ?
I was an Adobe user way before even CS started. I could only afford every other version because…and this is my point…I was using it mostly as a hobbyist. Professionals should keep their tools up to date. The CC model is not economically viable for those who are not making money with it.
Even students, who get a big discount, eventually need to pay the full amount. If only it was still usable after you stop paying, it might be a good deal, but I don’t think you can even open a project once you can no longer afford it.
I use it as a hobbiest, but then again I don’t know of many hobbies that you don’t have to pay for.?
I’m happy with my CS6 disc. I don’t want to pay for a monthly subscription when I paid for the software on disc. The great thing about using a PC with windows 10 is that you could use compatibility mode and have it operate as if your using older windows software such as windows 7, 8, 8.1, as well as 10. Other video and photo software ”one time pay to own” is becoming more in competition with Adobe and some dose various things better. Although Adobe is great, they need to make money and not shoot themselves in the foot.… Read more »