Adobe Photographic Software - Pricing and Comparison

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spb
Posts: 146
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:04 pm

Adobe Photographic Software - Pricing and Comparison

Post by spb » Fri Jun 07, 2013 9:27 pm

Adobe have been working hard over recent years - unfortunately, to alienate their loyal Photoshop user base;

This started several years ago when they decided that only the current version of their photo products could receive the latest Adobe Camera Raw updates. This meant that, for example if you had just spent £600 on Photoshop CS4 and then CS5 came out, you would not be able to open raw images from a new camera unless you spent another £160 on an upgrade.

In 2011 Adobe announced that Photoshop upgrades would only be available from the previous version and not from any of the three previous versions as before. So, if you wanted to upgrade from CS3 to CS5, that's £600 thank you very much. After considerable uproar from the user base the policy was reversed with a limited-time offer for CS6 upgrades during 2012.

Now they are at it again. If you have tried to buy CS6 recently you will find that it is not available from any of the usual sources. This is because CS6 has been withdrawn and replaced by the Creative Cloud (CC) version which requires a monthly £17 subscription. This does not apply to Elements or Lightroom which continue to be available for sale as before.

Does this affect you? Here are some scenarios;

1. You are a happy Photoshop Elements or Lightroom user - stick with them and only upgrade them when you see new features that you need such as the latest raw converter.

2. You are a Photoshop CS5 user - seriously consider whether Elements or Lightroom would be sufficient for your needs (see summary below). If you are determined to stay with Photoshop CS you will have to move to the subscription model eventually but CS6 is currently still available from Adobe(NB the upgrade option is hidden - choose to 'buy' CS6 and the upgrade option will be offered for £188). Be quick this appears to be the last place to buy!

3. You are a Photoshop user with a version earlier than CS5 - as far as I can determine it is not possible to upgrade to CS6 so you may be better off with the CC subscription model (NB there is a special half-price offer for CS3 and later users who can get the first year's subscription for £8.79 per month). Alternatively, consider a move to Elements or Lightroom.

4. You are happy with your current Adobe product and don't want to give Adobe any more money but can't open raw files - you have the option of converting your raws to DNG format with the free Adobe Converter (Windows or Mac) and these will then open in any version of Adobe software. However, it's a two stage process and you might feel happier storing both raw and DNG versions of important images.

5. You are fed up with Adobe's games and no longer want to play - unfortunately whilst there are many other image editors out there you would not benefit from the shared learning at APS that many have felt to be valuable. Here is a recent summary of 10 alternatives from dpReview but there's no question in my mind (after 20 years of use) that Adobe products are still the best available.

6. You are a teacher, student or have a student in the family (or apparently, a member of U3A) - major discounts are available for Adobe products through their Student and Teacher Editions. This does not apply to Elements. It may already be too late for discounted Photoshop CS6 and only the Creative Cloud versions seem to be on offer.

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Comparison of Adobe Products for Photographers;

Lightroom 4 £90, Upgrade £55
- Very good for comparing, organising and selecting photos. Image development is limited to whole-image adjustments and cropping, plus some localised adjustments via brushes and gradients. Full raw conversion capability. No layers, no selections, few tools. Lightroom is ideal for those who compose their pictures in-camera and only want to tweak them for presentation. In the last couple of years it's become the go-to software for many photographers.

Photoshop Elements 11 £60, Upgrade £50
- Sophisticated image editor. Ideal for complex image manipulation and combining images or image elements. Although aimed at the amateur market, recent versions have added virtually every useful tool and feature from Photoshop. Includes the Organizer - a sophisticated image database. Photoshop Elements is ideal for photographers who want to go beyond simply presenting a picture that they captured.

Photoshop CS6 £600, Upgrade £188 (but see above), Creative Cloud Version £17 per month (for continual incremental updates)
- Professional image editor. Mostly adds pre-press and other features not appropriate to amateur photographers but some are worthwhile*. Necessary only for the most demanding creative photographers or for those who have been weaned on earlier versions of Photoshop and don't wish to change. Terminology can be obscure. Includes Bridge - a good image viewer. If you aren't sure if you need Photoshop CS you don't need it!
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*Additional features in Photoshop and workarounds for Elements users, where available;
Colour Balance # - use channels in Levels instead
Vibrance # - available in raw converter or use HSL
Channels and Channel Mixer #
Selective Colour #
Fully featured Curves # - add with SmartCurve plug-in
Patch Tool
Screen Mode - Tab key is sufficient
Smart Objects #
Smart Filters #
Vanishing Point - might be handy for architectural purposes
Refine Edge Enhancements - only useful for really tricky selections. Topaz Re-mask provides a similar capability
Layer Styles #
64 bit operating system - 32 bit programs such as Elements run happily under 64 bit operating systems
Slice Tool - only used for website creation
Pen Tool - rarely essential in photography and tricky to use
Paths # - ditto
Puppet Warp - nice to have but obscure
CMYK and LAB modes - mainly for professional applications
Recording Actions - but Elements can play Actions
Soft Proofing #
Full raw conversion - Elements includes all of the important controls but omits curves, grayscale, split toning, lens corrections, effects
Full support for 16 bit colour - Elements allows cropping and some corrections only in 16 bit. You won't see the difference in practice.
Full set of Adjustment Layers - Elements omits curves, exposure, vibrance, col balance, b&w, channel mixer and selective colour as adjustment layers.

# If you find that you can't live without this feature it can be added to Elements with the Elements+ plug in for £10.

Whilst the above looks like a long list of features missing from Elements, in fact hardly any of these are significant and most have alternatives or work-arounds. Furthermore Elements includes support for social media and is easier to use with helpful guidance and simpler terminology. Beginners would not miss any of the above features.

Cheers, Steve Brabner
Last edited by spb on Mon Dec 09, 2013 11:07 am, edited 1 time in total.

spb
Posts: 146
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:04 pm

Re: Adobe Photographic Software - Pricing and Comparison

Post by spb » Sat Oct 05, 2013 12:45 pm

Update September 2013 - In recognition of the furious backlash (again) from their customers, Adobe have announced a Creative Cloud For Photographers whereby for £8.78p per month, you get Photoshop CC, Lightroom and some other stuff.

Note that this pricing will be maintained long-term only if you apply before the end of 2013 and you must already have a licence for Photoshop CS3 or later.

The economics of this offer may be of interest to some photographers but does not in any way change my recommendation that Photoshop Elements and/or Lightroom are the solutions of choice for our members at this time, both of which continue to be available with traditional perpetual licences.

Cheers, Steve.

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