Adobe updates Creative Cloud with exclusive tools for Photoshop CC

There is a petition for Adobe Systems Incorporated: Eliminate the mandatory "creative cloud" subscription model at:

http://www.change.org/petitions/adobe-systems-incorporated-eliminate-t he-mandatory-creative-cloud-subscription-model

Please sign the petition to have your voice heard.

So after having bought CS6 for $2000 in May 2012, I am wondering if I will be able to use it a year from now? Five years from now? Will I be able to download my property from Adobe.com if I buy a new computer in the future? This big change is a lit to take in. Why would I pay a monthly fee if I already own the product? Very confused! Are they saying from now on I have to pay $20 a month for each program in CS6 after paying for the software already in full? Did I make a mistake by not buying the software on DVD? Did I just waste $2,000?

For me, this subscription model marks the end of my support to Adobe. I find this subscription cloud based model absolutely unacceptable and for Adobe to force this upon its clients is also a business practice that I don't think should be condoned. I call for a blackmail of their product and will be the first to do so.

I'll continue to use Creative Suite and Lightroom for a while and will not upgrade nor license anything else from Adboe. If Adobe does not reconsider it's licensing model to be the same standalone model that I've had for years, I will transition to Apple Aperture for my digital management software and use Open source software for all my other needs (ie: Gimp for photo editing is a great alternative)

My plan: Keep CS6 and if (big if) I get a new dlsr with a raw format that CS6 doesn't handle, I'll just use LRx (whatever version they are still SELLING) to send it to PS. LR will handle the raw formats for me. But I will NEVER put the computer I use to edit with on the internet.

Goodbye Adobe.

By the way, I just ordered this book from Amazon - "The Book of GIMP: A Complete Guide to Nearly Everything".

I really like the Creative Cloud access. I decided to try it when it first came out, because it was a reduced price, and it also gave me access to the entire Adobe suite; plus more.

I usually evaluate such things on whether they make me money to justify it, and having Creative Cloud paid for the entire year the first month and a half. I myself am hooked on it— I dig the hell out of the access. So much so, that I gave my PS CS6 to a disabled friend. All I can say is, if you can try it on an introductory deal, give it a try. I usually give credit where it's due, and so far, Adobe gets my thumbs up for this. Now... if like your local smack dealer, they get me hooked and then up the ante, I'll be back on here a-bitchin'.

BTW, if you do sign up, please use reference code "raincheck", or adobeCC.com/raincheck; it helps me to... I'm kidding!

PS is a mature product and, although I've been getting the upgrades every 18 months or so I've been thinking for a long time that there's more than I need for my photography already. This initiative by Adobe pushes me over the line. I'm happy with CS6 and will use it until a new system/computer breaks it. There are competitors at significantly lower prices that will work well then.

Also, does Adobe really think that this will reduce piracy? I'll bet that hours after each upgrade is made the "new" versions will hit the torrents.

The issue that Adobe is ignoring and some people are forgetting is that third party plugins have usually been far better at doing what they do than Adobe's attempts. Adobe should have in the past and should in the future stick with what they do best and leave the Camera Shake Reduction to those who have already done it and probably still do it better. And really, I need to reduce the camera shake in my photos? Those that had any have long since been binned. Would that go a long way in reducing the price of Adobe products? Should but probably won't. They've gotten pretty greedy and have figured out a way to ensure a steady stream of gold going their way. And who will suffer? It'll be my customers cause I sure will pass this increase of doing business on to their wallets. That's if no one comes up with a viable alternative to this program before my CS6 becomes obsolete.

Well, actually there's only one group of users to blame and that's all those that copy the software and don't pay license fees at all. Those are the one's that make companies like Adobe look for ways how to make sure there are only legal versions available and thus turn to something like the cloud where you can't use your illegal copy of the software anymore.
It's a sad fact, but it's us legal users who willingly pay for a great piece of software engineering that take the fall for all the thieves out there. For every legal version in use there are multiple illegal versions downloaded. If nobody used illegal software, companies would be able to drop their price easily as they could sell more copies. But hey, downloading software isn't stealing, right? YES IT IS!!

It looks as if the days of the Adobesaurus are over. Good riddance to overpriced mediocrity.

JUST SHOOT JPG , AND NEVER UPGRADE FOR RAW . RAW IS TO SLOW FOR ITS 2 PER CENT IMPROVEMENT.

This is a great opportunity for a competitor. Adobe isn't the only show in town.

Giants can fall. Adobe and Microsoft, you guys are stumbling and slipping. You think your users are captive and will never go elsewhere. Well, customers can and do leave. I left Microsoft for Apple less than two years ago, with no intention of ever going back. I can do the same with Adobe, too.

The new plan makes sense for professionals. However, for amateur photographers like myself, this is a HUGE price increase. I paid $200 for a CS5 Photoshop upgrade 3 years ago ($5.50 / month over the past 3 years). I will probably be fine with it for another year+ at which point I would normally upgrade. However, I guess I will have to stay with CS5 until I find a better solution elsewhere. There is no way that I'm going to be paying $20+ a month for software that I personally don't use that often.

Very sad.

Every company wants you in the cloud, because then, you are a all-life customer. You can't left them.
And that prices are low to let you get in... one year later they can increase the each month price, and the only thing you can do is to pay month after month.
The cloud is an enormous joke, and all companies know it.

Adobe, were you thinking about changing company name? Greedobe would be a good starting point. Fortunately there are other good softwares for developing photos and editing pictures. I'm used to the PS shortcuts, but it seems it's time to learn new ones.

Reminds me of Napoleon entering Russia - the beginning of the end ...
Time for Gimp.

EU pricing: $80 a month including taxes. I wonder how many people realize that when they stop paying, they don't have anything left. Not even an "old" CS6 license they can continue to use.

In addition to the headline on this page: Adobe have posted a letter on their website which states that they have no plans to release new versions of the CS applications. It's cloud only from now on folks. At least Microsoft offers you a choice.

I will vote with my wallet - it's the only thing I can do. Goodbye Adobe. I will find a way to make the alternatives work for me.

VeryKross, I think you're not calculating this the way many causal Photoshop users are. I've had PS for several versions now, so my yearly outlay to update is $199.00 (it's usually a yearly update by the way, not every two years as you stated).

By switching to the subscription, I'll be paying $240.00 per year instead of $199.00 per year, and I will essentially be "leasing" the software instead of owning it outright. Regardless of a few new features here and there, I'm not sure how this will benefit some folks like myself.

Subscribing saves Adobe money. No more cost to duplicate DVD disks and no more printing costs for the packaging to put those DVDs in, ship them, etc. Customers just download the software. This saves considerable $$$ for Adobe. So maybe it's just my opinion, but if they're saving so much, why are we paying $40+ per year MORE to subscribe? Shouldn't it be the other way around??

The concept is fine. The pricing is not.

So, CS6 costs a little over $600 ($699 retail but who pays that) for the Standard edition (you can't get Extended outside of a packaged "suite"). Upgrades from one version to another run $200 and come out about every two years. So, my two-year cost of staying current with CS would be $600+$200=$800.

A Photoshop CC (Cloud) subscription runs you $20/month or $240/yr. Two years of that comes to $480. That's $120 *less* than my original CS purchase and $320 less the two-year purchase scenario above. Ok, let's go out to year 4; my CS outlay (assuming I stay current) is now $1,000 and my CC is at $960.

So, after 4yrs my outlay is pretty close to the same amount AND I've been getting more frequent updates via CC in addition to features otherwise only available to PS Extended users. Yes, by year 6 I am starting to spend more on CC *but* I've also had 6yrs of access to other cloud-only features, enhancements, etc. and there's definitely some value to be had there.

Is that really so bad?

Adobe should realize that maximizing today's profit can be detrimental to customer loyalty. Look at Apples stock and consumer decline. People originally bought into Apple's friendly over IBM Orwellian Big Brother. Bean counters can be a little blind to the concept of customer loyalty.

It looks as though my CS6 is my last PS buy. I've used Adobe products since it's beginnings and am disappointed with the decision to 'offer' these subscription schemes. There now exists opportunity for competitors.

I jumped at the new Office 2013 because for 10 bucks a month I get the whole enchilada on 5 computers. Adobe, on the other hand, want 20 bucks for one app and 50 if you want it all. Every ... fricken ... month.

Sorry .... but I am looking at LR plus Nik and or Perfect Suite as very viable options. Just too much money for too little new stuff from Adobe. Big money grabs sure tend to change your perception of what you need ...

"But if you're a Photoshop user whose workflow lets you happily stay a version or two behind, is the allure of access to Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver, etc worth the additional cost? Let us know what you think."

No, absolutely not worth the additional cost to me. I agree with what PhotoHawk is saying. Greedy Adobe shareholders wanting direct links to our bank accounts. I'll drop Photoshop first. I don't want to have to. Been using it since the early 90's. Subscription software, a bad idea. I much prefer the way it was.

DPR, I have a question for you. Where did you get this $399 CS6 upgrade price. Last time I upgraded from CS5 to CS6 it was $199...? Thanks...