I received the news early yesterday morning from fellow HDR buddy, Nick Marzinski, of Trapping Light. Adobe is releasing Photoshop CS7, or what would be CS 7, on the Creative Cloud only. It was only a matter of time, RIP CS 🙁
“So what does that mean for me?” You may be wondering.
The Adobe Creative Cloud allows you to pay a monthly fee for access to every Creative Suite application. The fee is $49.99 per month, which really is not bad at all for access to the entire Suite. That would be a yearly rate of ~$600.00. Much less than upgrading the entire suite every year or so!
That would be great if I were a Creative Suite user, however I am just a Photoshop guy. I do not need Illustrator, or InDesign to do what I do, just Photoshop.
So what does this mean for Photoshop users?
If you do not need the entire Creative Suite, just the power of Adobe Photoshop, you can sign up for the Photoshop Creative Cloud (CC). The fee is $19.99 monthly @ a yearly rate of ~$240.00. At first glance you may be saying… “Ouch”…
However, the cost to upgrade Photoshop last year was $299.99! Adobe has been putting out new updates almost yearly making that a $299.99 annual hit to the wallet. Not to mention the initial cost of the software at anywhere from $700-$1000.
In Conclusion…
I know the masses are flooding to the scene in furious droves. However, I think this will be good. With the Creative Cloud, Adobe will release updates as soon as they are ready. No more waiting 18-24 months for the next innovation in the clone stamp or paint bucket tool (paint bucket tool, does anyone use that?).
PROS:
- This is great news for anyone interested in Photoshop who did not want to put up that initial $700-$1000. Access to Photoshop for $20 per month… I want my initial 50 months in back-pay 🙂
- I kind of like the idea of putting my payment on auto pilot and only having to spend $20 a month as opposed to the huge chunk of $300 every year to 18 months.
- I like that I can synchronize my settings across multiple machines. That will be nice, especially for teaching purposes.
- I believe this will be easier to write off on taxes as a business expense under “Subscription Services” without having to bother with software depreciation. However, I am no tax professional and that really only applies to those that are running a business.
CONS:
- I don’t like being tied to “Cloud Crap”. Call me old fashioned, but I like the idea of a stand alone, away from the internet type that doesn’t auto link my life to my phone, email, computer, tablet, and any other device I may be leaving out.
- Not sure how this will effect Topaz and other software plug-ins, that will be interesting to see.
Also check out Trapping Light, Nick has some great insight too.
What are your thoughts?
For Blake, it's all about the art and process synergy. He dives deep into complex topics and makes them easy to understand through his outside-the-box thinking so that you can use these tricks in your workflow today!
Blake,
The “Cloud” idea has me a bit concerned. What happens if you are “in the field” and with no internet connection? Spontaneous creativity might be hindered, right? Forgive me if my interpretation is off on this. This sounds good as your “pros” are well stated, however I am old fashioned and would want something not tied to this type of system. No fault of Adobe’s, but what happens when you have clients that are on a limited schedule and the internet is down? Ouch! There goes that paycheck! On the other hand, for some this could be the answer to a extremely fluid workflow as you stated with the respect of “synchronization. It will be interesting to see how others fair in the new era of Photoshop. Great stuff Blake and take care!
With Much Respect, Tal
I would have to look into it further but I believe it just checks up on your license from time to time. Not sure if internet is a requirement or not. I will get back to you on that.
Great points though!
As a Creative Cloud user for the past year. The “file manager” only checks in once a month, otherwise it runs as it did before. If you are paying monthly (some 3 and 12 month plan are available via third party vendors such as Amazon) you can go 37 days before you have to ‘check in’. Check in is a very small amount of data exchange, somewhat like (Program:”Hey are we still good?”, Adobe “Yep you’re still good”, Program, “Ok see you next month”)
Thanks for the insight Clay, very helpful coming from a current user. I appreciate your additions.
Problem is that when you want to take Adobe’s money sucking needle out of your arm after X years, you own absolutely nothing. That’s a tough pill to swallow.
That is very true. I never really thought about the end game. Good point.
Check out this link from Scott Kelby
http://scottkelby.com/2013/my-take-on-adobes-announcements-yesterday-at-the-max-conference/
Another major con is that you are wide open to copyright theft.
Another major con is the spying done by the US government, collecting all data that passes through any server based in America.
Shoot – CS3 is over my head.
Me too, I just act like I know what I am doing!
Blake,
Adobe’s new business model is called SaaS (Software as a subscription).
I believe the new MS Office uses it.
Actually. PS has been upgrading about every 18 months.
Current CS6 owners can get on a CC- PS only subscription rate for $US10 a month for the first year and $20 a month for the second year… (who knows at what price thereafter).
So After 18months you have paid $240. I believe I paid less t$200 when I upgraded to CS6.
Therefore It will cost you more if you upgrades with each release and a lot more if you upgrades every second release.If you stop paying Adobe you will be left with your files which you can access through CS6 or LR but with none of the functionality for which you were paying.
Not a good deal for photographers IMHO
Yeah. It may not be the best for us, but I guess we are stick with it. They don’t seem to be changing their mind on this one!
Hi, No the subject has been run through the mill but on a personal note I think Adobe should hang there heads in shame, all the people who have bought there products over the years and some of them have spent thousands of dollars or pounds or yen are being told you must go down the CC road or your software will be no longer supported and you will not be able to upgrade unless you have a web connection and YOU MUST subscribe to the CC.
I have upgraded from CS to now CS6 Photoshop but will not if I cannot get my disc in a box as I have always done go forward with Adobe, there are other softwares out there now that will I am sure for the photographer will take a lot of business from Adobe.
Many will not agree that what Adobe has done is wrong and that CC is the next best thing to slice bread but many will feel that it is wrong but I think in the end Adobe will regret there CC idea.
Russ
I can see your point, but Adobe is evolving. To some they may be going in the wrong direction but they are making a move that will benefit many in the long run.
I don’t think any other software out there will be comparable to the power and versatility of Photoshop and/or Lightroom, although if you find one before I do please stop back by and tell me about it! I am always open to alternatives.