Last week, Adobe released its latest updates for Lightroom, Photoshop and Camera Raw, bringing new and improved features to each of its photo-centric apps. While the list of updated features is exhaustive, Colin Smith from YouTube Channel PhotoshopCAFE has broken down every new feature so you don’t have to.
Smith’s feature overview is split between two videos: one that focuses on Photoshop and Camera Raw, and one that focuses on Lightroom Classic.
For the 12-minute Photoshop video, Smith covers the improved AI-powered Select Subject tool in Photoshop as well as the updated Lightroom-inspired interface for Adobe Camera Raw.
The Lightroom video comes in at 11 minutes and addresses the new Local Hue tool, the updated Tone Curve interface, ISO Adaptive Presets and the new performance improvements Adobe has made throughout the app.
You can keep up to date with Smith’s Photoshop and Lightroom tips and tutorials over on the PhotoshopCAFE Youtube Channel.
Neither Lightroom Classic nor Lightroom CC is acceptable as a standalone solution for anyone seriously into digital photography in the modern world. LR CC is missing a ton of basic features, and forces your entire collection to be stored in the cloud, which is a non-starter for anyone with a large image library or privacy/security concerns. LR Classic has an ancient, cluttered, unintuitive, and inefficient user interface that makes me cringe every time I open the application, and its bloated source code is a huge resource hog on any computer.
So there's a huge backlog of critical features missing from both Lightroom Classic AND Lightroom CC that are required to make either product viable on its own.
This update addresses none of them.
This is what happens when a company moves to a subscription-based business model. They now have a captive audience, so they're under no real pressure to enhance the service.
Big Yawn!!! Why did they even bother?!! I go to a restaurant for more selection and better taste. The Adobe restaurant would just rearrange the tables and announce they are "all new". Give us better tools and stop moving things around instead.
I've had no issues with ACR like some comments. Local Hue is a big improvement in my mind, and the interface seems faster once you get used to it. As a shameless plug, I did a review on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqBJR6qxQ8I
I wish Adobe devoted a fraction of the resources to improving Photoshop and ACR for Windows, which has always been their largest base of users, instead of devoting resources to ARM based products for the iPad and upcoming iPad laptop, a teensy fraction of their market now and smaller going forward. Arbitrary changes to the ACR interface are just marketing driven decisions about how much lipstick to put on a pig and disruptive to those with ingrained workflows.
What's up with the font checking and substitution feature in PS? It seems like it's a way for Adobe to scan your font files, check what is licensed by them, and find a way to sell you their fonts. They may also be trying to stop collaborative editing when only, say the designer, owns the font and passes it along to the other team members so they don't have to rasterize the text layer early in the design process. With the rise of google fonts and file sharing, I bet font sales have been nearly nonexistent except for big corporations who need strict quality control for logos or have deep enough pockets to pay for a custom typeface.
Good video tutorial, but I wish the presenters would use photos with a more complex background to show the working of the selection tools. For example, a girl with billowing hair in a busy street scene or in front of, say, a bookcase full of different colours. Most of us can make acceptable selections when a background is a single colour or uncomplicated.
I have Adobe CS6 , and I can select "make RAW profile specific to " both camera serial number and ISO. So I can have profiles for noise sharpening , tone etc etc specific to ISO and camera. As for the selection , I am always very wary of anyone suggesting that " we don't have to get this perfect to demonstrate " or is it " I can't do it with this without busting my ar$e " So as a photographer unless you want a new logo and rubbish, stick to 6 and use an independant utility to do selections. This way you don't have to pay every month and get just as good a program. Do you think they went subscription just before they ran out of reasons to buy bi annual upgrades ?
It sounds like you are saying if you want to compromise by using additional software, stay with CS6. CS6 while functional, is not "just as good" as the newer versions.
I have been using Adobe Photoshop professionally for several decades, from the outset any pano work needed PT Gui, selections were done with various additional applications, if you look at the structure of Photoshop they designed it to work with additional software. If you missed this admiring your interface, then your mistake not mine.
Adobe has to pay a lot of salaries, it's a big company with large burdens. There are many reasons why they went to subscriptions. Their products are so evolved, even top pro's could still get away with 10 year old C6 for most projects. The public takes for granted the amount of effort required to develop an app like Photoshop. Everyone thinks it should be free.
When you really think of all the things that you can do with the Adobe creative suite, it's truly unbelievable. The big question is, are you able to utilize these tools enough to warrant the subscription cost? If you're making 20k per month doing creative work, it's a no brainer. But, if it's just a hobby and you dabble around once a month with LR, then it's way overkill.
Managing cash flow is an important goal of a successful business. The subscription business model evens this flow, making it easier to plan and to continually improve the product. The consumer benefits because the subscription costs less than upgrading most used products on a sesquiannual basis, and gives you full access to the entire library of products you might otherwise ignore.
I'm not sure I'd update to the new ACR yet, a many users rolled back to 12.2.1 that they had to make available. Feedback on the Adobe forums is so bad they said they are working on a 'fix'.
I'm gonna post the same comment that I posted under the video on Youtube:
I hate the new "tabless" Camera Raw. Why do I have to scroll to find what I need? Can't I just keep the tabs? This is stupid. Tabs are easier for me. I hope there is an option to keep the tabs. But If I know anything about Adobe, it's not going to happen.
Think the same as above. Please Adobe return the tabs, or at make it an option. This was one of the things LR was way behind ACR. Also, they changed the crop tool to a more LR type functionality, that is, you move the image, not the crop lines. I hate this after so many years used to the previous way. At least Photoshop (the version I have), has the option to do it both ways.
The ISO adaptive presets are the biggest feature for me. I was able to create one using a text editor, but it took me ages, and the only settings I could get to vary with ISO were noise reduction. Now, with this new release, I was able to create an ISO adaptive preset to apply to all my M6II images on import, and not only the noise reduction varies with ISO, but also sharpening, clarity, and shadow recovery. A very welcome addition. I haven't tried the other new features yet, but am interested in the targeted hue adjustment.
Changing Hue in radial color masking huge thumbs up. A good feature for landscape photographers who want to work on those blue distance mountains and bring them more into natural color.
When you get to the next level of photography you'll understand and won't feel the need to make senseless statements to try to make yourself feel important.
I wish they had left the ACR window as is or at least gave us a way to stick with the previous interface . Other than that it is working fine no issues the selection tool works very well
Every time Adobe makes the excellent LR+PS suite even better I get a little bit sadder for the crowd that immediately jumps on these articles crying "Bloody murder subscription!"...They don't what they're missing...
Perhaps they truly haven't used any of the new features that get introduced. I dunno if I'm the only one or just part of a silent majority but I get what's on the box with the Creative Cloud. It's pretty stable, the promised performance improvements are noticeable, and most of the new features they've introduced are actually useful and welcome.
It will never end. What do you figure. 90% don't even use it? Bunch of whiners are probably angry because they didn't buy Adobe stock 10 years ago. They probably have no issues using Amazon.
Besides that the new Hue adjustment is a very nice addition. Adaptive ISO is awesome. Glad it only took one version to get it off requiring a text editor to make it work.
I see a grand total of zero people saying that in these comments. Maybe they've become frightened of Zee telling them off at every turn. It's personal for him too.
I'm good. I don't really obsess over what others think, like you and Zee. You like a product, others don't. It happens. Your world will be fine. I promise.
I don't care if someone doesn't like it. It is all the intentional trolling that you know goes beyond for that often follows any of these postings. I own other software besides LR.
Not one peep about the C1 Pro and SmugMug scam promotion. One year free Portfolio. What do you do after you take the time to build your site and the promotion runs out? Add $180 a year to the $200 annual upgrades.
Dude... In that last article about the same update some guy simply posted his cancellation reply. No trolling whatsoever. You responded with a very mature "good! I'm glad you're gone!" Stop saying you don't care.
Anyway, I'm done. Was simply pointing out no one is dissing Adobe here despite you and Khan saying otherwise.
People are creatures of habit. Once upon a time, we bought upgrades to Adobe software when we needed them. If the value wasn't there, users could choose not to buy the new version.
Well, a lot of people did just that. Adobe used to send surveys asking "How often do you upgrade?" and one of the choices was "Every other version."
So they knew. And that's why Adobe started with subscriptions. That said, I think most people will find this particular upgrade worth paying for.
I always upgraded PS and LR when they were stand alone. The thing about Adobe is back then if a new camera came out everyone got the updated ACR so you could at least open a RAW file.
The current value for me is I have had a personal website since 2008 which was a cost because they are all basically subscription. Before LR7 I used Zenfolio. The plan which I pay $100 a year for is $50 less than what Zenfolio cost me.
Sure those features are nice ..... but not once have I ever thought while I am actually using CS6 and LR did I ever think ...... I wish it would do something extra...
It is just not those. Long list of updates since LR6. Too long to list and I have benefited from many. Much like C1 Pro that added layers and CCP profiles not to mention other useful features. Look at the other top 10. Even people using darktable which is free really liked the last update. All types of new tech and time moves on.
For me, I sort of don't care what other people think about Adobe. It works for me, maybe not for them. I guess why get worked up because people hate the Adobe system? Their opinions don't affect your workflow or your photography... Each software program has its pluses and minuses and yeah there are probably still some features missing from Adobe products, but at the same time ADobe offers some features that others wish they had. The key is to find a system that works for YOU and not care about what others think or use. (And I use both C1 and Adobe so I see both sides of this I guess...)
The hate/trolling is a result of Adobe becoming very rich and successful. This happens to them all. Look at Microsoft as one example. Sure Adobe's success is off my dime but as long as they provide me with a good product at a reasonable price I don't care. I did not what to go subscription when that first came out.
It is my only subscription product. I tried Amazon a few times during COVID and you get signed up for free Prime and I could not find a way to prevent that from happening during a purchase. Apparently if you don't unsubscribe they start to charge you every month. I did that right away and have not used them since.
I don't hate Amazon and won't run them down even after seeing a documentary on how they treat their warehouse employees. I just prefer not to use it.
Yes I'm aware. Some people are worried that Adobe will take over the software industry like Microsoft has, and in a way, they have (for creativity software I guess, at least in terms of marketshare).
I think though that you're right--as long as they keep actually showing people they are continuing to support the product--which I think they have over the past 2 years at least--then the subscription model can be deemed appropriate. Where it becomes a problem is when a product is not updated much at all (some will argue that adobe doesn't update their products, but what these people really mean is they don't have a feature they want).
To me, the $10 lets me do what I need/want to do in terms of photo editing and anyone who knows how much the perpetual licensed software (PS for example , which was about $700 for the program, and $400 for upgrades, will appreciate the $10 per month because 1 perpetual update ($400) = about 40 months of subscription (not including taxes)
(continued...) And that $400 was on top of what you already paid.
If Adobe stopped updating their software, then we'd all have a problem, but if anything, they've really pushed out some good updates over the past 2 years and really added some nice features, all while not raising the price which also says something. They've juggled around some of their other plans, but the Photo plan with LR/LRClassic/PS is still $9.99 a month, same as it was 5 years ago.
No hate, no trolling and absolutely nothing to do with the subscription. Just read the feedback on the ACR 12.3 update. This from people that have used it often for over a decade. Soon as they fix it I'll subscribe again.
Perhaps the people simply would like to have the option back to buy a perpetual licence, especially after Adobe explicitly stated that perpetual licenses would be available indefinitely [1]? The subscription option would not be affected in any way.
Personally, I am not an Adobe customer, but I understand the sentiment. What if Adobe decided not to publish any updates for their subscription products for a year or two? Or five? They certainly have no obligation to.
@AbrasiveReducer I agree sometimes the upgrades are notable (despite this new fine hair masking still being years behind On1), but they aren't that frequent. And yes, as you say, sometimes they're "worth paying for". But I think that's the issue many people have... we're paying whether there are upgrades or not.
And as someone in this thread claimed "whenever there is a new camera released, everyone upgrades ACR". Which is of course, stupidly ridiculous. Why would everyone do that just for a camera profile of a new camera most users don't own? They don't.
So the notion of "free upgrades" that gets touted all the time here... 1) they aren't free. 2) they're often nothing notable.
The fact that this update has, so far, 2 articles on DPR shows you it's a big deal when it happens. Ok, there was that other big deal update when they changed the logo ;)
Yes. You get it when you update, or if you have auto-update running. But the way I read it is as if people actively sought out an update just because a new camera was released. If that's not what you meant then I apologize and retract that comment.
--- Adobe now bigger than Toyota or Disney. Almost as big as Bank of America or AT&T. Use ADBE to pay for your Adobe. It could dip, but patience pays...
--- Stock trade commissions a thing of the past. Almost no overhead now. If one had bought $1K of ADBE two months ago, it would now be worth ~$1280; or $280 profit = 28 mos free Photoshop; no guarantees going forward, but... reason some hate Adobe as subscribers is same reason to love Adobe as an investor... but Adobe derives most wealth from non-photo services...?
The overhead is probably about the same (staffing, things like that) but the bigger expense, R&D has probably been paid back already, considering PS is about 25 years old now, and LR is about 10 years old. They likely recouped those costs within 5 years of when the products were launched. I imagine they still spend a reasonable amount on development and R&D though still as they are still updating the apps (it's not like they have stopped completely).
@Zeee for me, the Smugmug system never appealed to me, with all their branding. Even Zenfolio lets you pretty much remove their branding from your site (except a small Terms and Conditions link which is very small and at the bottom of your site). SS lets you remove any SS branding completely. But for example, if you use your website to sell products, last I checked, the checkout page for Smugmug hs their branding and you can't change that.
When the first version of PS came to our plant (like you said about 25 years ago) it was rumoured the commercial licence was around $60,000 to $150,000. It has been too many years and I can't remember the exact rumoured price. Anywhere in that range was staggering to any one of us. I paid $600 for CS2 in 2005.
I spend more in a week on coffee than I do for the photo plan. Before COVID sometimes we would spend more on movies in a month than what the plan cost per year. I can hardly wait to see No time To Die. We walked the street leading to the Vatican at night two weeks before Spectre was released. Not the best Craig movie. Casino Royal and Skyfall.
Yes Zenfolio lets you remove branding if you get the more expensive plan. I think the basic plan is about $7 a month, last I checked. I was paying $150 a year. Even if LR/PS R&D was paid off there are other apps you get with the plan. Video editing, etc which I don't use.
@User4286416121: Yea, I'm working on a few longer pieces, including a rundown of the new photo features in Apple's new iOS, iPadOS and macOS updates, as well as an interview with a motorsports photographer. Combine that with a slower news day (aside from rumors, which we've shied away from as of late) and you get a rather empty homepage.
@xander18: Should've known you'd comment on that. Haha. It's actually two. I have an interview with Jamey Price from some time ago that I really need to wrap up, but the one that will go live first will likely be Chris Owens, head photographer at IMS.
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