A couple of days ago, evidence surfaced that Adobe is considering offering Photoshop CC at a price of $9.99/mo and also providing permanent CS6 licenses to customers who make a 3-year commitment to Creative Cloud for $29.99/mo. Additional support for these moves was suggested in today’s 2Q earnings call for shareholders.
In the company’s earnings call today, Adobe revealed that Creative Cloud now has over 700,000 subscribers and a second quarter revenue of $1.011 billion. While Adobe says the majority of its customers are happy with what Adobe is doing on the Creative Cloud, the company acknowledged that there has been some negative kickback, which Photography Bay readers are well aware of by now.
Adobe President and CEO Shantanu Narayen had the following to say:
Our decision to discontinue perpetual licensing of new versions of our desktop products has caused concern with some customers. While we will continue to offer CS6 on a perpetual basis, the feedback from our community is important and we are evaluating additional options that will help them with the transition. Our goal is to over-deliver on customer expectations, which we believe will make the entire community ultimately embrace Creative Cloud.
There was no mention of when these “additional options” would go live; however, I would expect it Adobe to make the rounds with hype surrounding the Creative Cloud new products launch that kicked off yesterday before we hear any further specifics as to what these options will be.
sjms says
i’ll just bet their customers really are happy paying more. and I have a bridge near by I can sell you too.
Mark Treen says
It seems like a smart business decision.
It seems though that this solution will only last as long as ACR 7/8’s profile updates lasts.
Having CS 6 in 2016 won’t do you a lick of good if you buy a new camera and the RAW images you take can’t be opened in PS.
Matt says
You could convert the images to DNG files and then open them in your CS6. As long as they don’t change how DNG files are read it should be fine. It’s what I do with my images from my 6d and PS elements 10. I’m not going to lie, it’s a pain in the ass, BUT it works.
Mark Treen says
Matt, sounds good. Does Canon and Nikon provide software that exports to DNG?
Matt says
Adobe…d’oh, has the converter for free on their website. The one benefit of it is it helps move images from lightroom to cs6(elements for me) seamlessly and it, as I understand it, is a smaller file than Canon’s RAW file out of camera. It took 10 min to download and now I have an icon on my desktop. So I upload the images from my memory card to my external drive and then I open the DNG converter and save the files I want to work on in a folder on my desktop. Once I’m finished editing the session I move that folder onto the external drive with the original RAW.
Sidenote, Lightroom 5 reads my 6d files just fine but I know, eventually I will buy another new camera so for now I’m trying to incorporate the DNG converting into my workflow for continuity purposes as I still use Elements from time to time.
Mark Treen says
Why not just use the DNG converter in LR.
Matt says
If someone doesn’t own LR than this is an alternative.
Because you were talking about files not being usable in CS6 in the future with new cameras so I was just mentioning that you have an option outside of buying more software. You could use the LR converter now obviously but that means you are upgrading with every LR release to get to use the files from a camera to be released in the future, no? I’ve only started with LR5 so I’m unfamiliar with whether or not LR reads newly released camera RAW files after the version is released (6d readable for LR4) or if you have to have a new v. update.
If they add LR to CC and you have to subscribe then we’re back to your original statement for future camera files.
Eric Reagan says
Adobe stops releasing raw file updates for past versions of Lightroom after new versions are released. Lightroom 4 will see no further raw file support updates not that LR5 is out.
I’m pretty sure it will be a blood-bath the day Adobe makes Lightroom a Creative Cloud-only app. I think they know that too, and hopefully it never comes to that.
Eric Reagan says
Adobe has said repeatedly that it will continue new camera support in CS6. It has released ACR 8 for CS6 even though that steps beyond the version 7 that was tied to CS6 over the first year of its life.
However, ACR for CS6 will not get the whiz-bang upgraded features like we see in ACR for Photoshop CC. But new camera raw file support will continue for CS6 indefinitely according to Adobe.
Additional commentary on the topic is here: http://www.photographybay.com/2013/05/16/camera-raw-8-1-release-candidate-for-photoshop-cs6-now-available/
Mark Treen says
How long though? Forever?
Jocelynne Littlebear says
I will still pass on the Cloud. No matter what Adobe charges monthly, I don’t want to pay rent or lease on CS Anything.
Mark Treen says
Matt
I meant since you own LR why do you go through the separate DNC converter step. Why not just choose that option in LR when you do imports?
Matt says
Because my workflow is a mess at the moment and I don’t import everything. I like to view full size and cull through elements. I’m not a fan of LRs layout. I haven’t made the full jump to LR for everyday workflow, just my adjustment brushes. I decided to try the Beta for 5 to see if I would like to make the switch for majority of my editing. Since I’m using elements and not CS6 I don’t have full ACR, just a bastardized version of it(no brushes, no filters) I personally try to get my exposure in camera as I hate editing. So I’m mostly doing global adjustments and the content aware spot healing tool(which I can’t stand in LR) in elements. I’m not a fan of the current trend of fades and washes, I like bold colors and clarity, so I don’t really have to worry about actions and presets. My girlfriend is awesome at editing. I however, am slower than a snail.
Mark Treen says
Matt
I’m 100% PSE ignorant, but. I have the same requirements and view of my editor and that why I use LR exclusively. I cull, edit and am done. It’s seamless to my workflow and takes seconds. I’m have a dis-passion for the Instagram look as well.
bsbeamer says
Getting a perpetual license after “X” years would get me into Adobe CC. But not just Photoshop – I need a CS6 or higher master collection. Then it’s something I’d really consider. For now, I’m considering upgrading to CS6.
Eric Reagan says
That’s what I take the $29.99/mo for 3-years to mean – the whole CS6 collection. Sorry if that wasn’t clear in the article.
Douglas J Louden says
While this may be a reasonable price in the minds of Adobe, it still does not address the fact that you must pay forever. I’m not comfortable with this plan and there is no guarantee that this “reasonable” price will remain that in the future.
I still subscribe to the old adage: Burn me once shame on you, burn me twice shame on me.
I’m done with Adobe’s ransom demands.
Joe says
I agree, I won’t rent or lease anything CS! The old way was much better. Download a try out and purchase. This cloud nonsense is just that! Nonsense.