At Photoshop World Keynote today, Adobe made a big announcement – a Photographer’s Creative Cloud bundle at a great price!
Beginning today, customers who own Photoshop CS3 or higher are eligible for a special Creative Cloud membership offer that includes all of the following for just $9.99/month:
- Photoshop CC
- Lightroom 5
- 20 GB of online storage
- Behance ProSite
- Access to the online video tutorials in Creative Cloud
It’s not an introductory price – it’s the ongoing price for anyone who signs up by December 31, 2013. If you sign up in October 2013, then when you renew in October 2014, the price will still be $9.99 per month, and they’ve said they don’t have any intention of increasing the price.
We’re still waiting for more details, including international pricing, and the offer’s not available for a couple of weeks (when 5.2’s released), but it’s good news for photographers who already own Photoshop. I’ll post again with more details when they’re available.
* UPDATE * I posted this in the Lightroom 5.2 blog post, but just a quick update to say it’s now available!
Tom also showed off the new Lightroom for mobile devices which is still under development. Looking good! If you missed the keynote, you can watch the replay here, which should be posted within about 24 hours.
I didn’t hear any offer expiration dates during the keynote, did you?
or limitations to CS3+ owners.
Laura, it’s here: http://clkuk.tradedoubler.com/click?p(265883)a(2791170)g(22913796)url(https://blogs.adobe.com/creativelayer/introducing-the-photoshop-photography-program/)
Is there a price for those who don’t own CS3 and up?
Not that I know of, but the details are pretty sketchy so far. They’ve said all of the details will be available in the next couple of weeks, and I’m trying to track down extra information in the meantime.
Thanks, Victoria.
It mentions LR 5, what happens when LR 6 is introduced?
They haven’t said specifically, but the main Creative Cloud includes all updates including to Lightroom, so I’d expect this one to be the same.
Victoria, I’m concerned that those of us whom are hobbyists, and solely use Lightroom, might get caught up in the subscription game. Has there been any indication that Adobe might end physical Lightroom releases and go sub only?
I haven’t seen any sign of that. There may be new features in future that require cloud access (along the lines of cloud sync, I’d guess) but I understand perpetual licenses are still expected to be available.
Actually, I’ve just found an FAQ for this new bundle, which says “This offer includes access to Photoshop CC and Lightroom 5, plus feature updates and upgrades as they are available”
Thanks 🙂 I missed that portion of the FAQ 😉 now it is worth it to me as I already own LR 5 😉
I would not say they have listened. I would say they have thought about how to silence those who were most critical.
It seems like those who sign up now will get this perpetual price. What about new photographers just entering the field or those that fail to sign up before the year end. They do not say how much they will pay, or even if the package will be available to them. They will announce that later in the year when the most vocal people that care will have already signed up to the $9.99 price
If they really listened then they would have created a package with not entry barriers
I would agree that Adobe has not listened. If they had, they’d be offering an option that didn’t require a subscription. The most vocal critics basically said they would never “rent” software. It removes the user’s choice as to when they want to upgrade.
They’re still a business – they still have to do what they think is best for their business. They said from the start they weren’t going back to perpetual licenses. They’re not going to be able to please everyone.
That said, if you compare it with the $300 loyal customers would have paid to upgrade Photoshop and Lightroom every year or every 18 months, it’s a really good deal.
This assumes that everyone buys every upgrade, which is (was) not the case, so, as previously stated, Adobe simply removed the choice. Either subscribe and always be current, or no software for you! (adobe as the software version of the soup nazi)
Yes, Adobe have a business to run, and if people continually skip upgrades, then that business isn’t sustainable long term. Loyal customers, who have supported the development by buying each upgrade, are being rewarded by this deal.
We’re now talking about $120 a year, for the industry standard tools of our trade. I’d say that’s a very fair compromise.
There are currently businesses who appear to be thriving selling “apps” (with a perpetual license) for a dollar, yet adobe can’t figure out how to stay in business selling an *upgrade* for $199? I find this hard to believe.
Plus, as many others have stated, this “subscription” model requires the user to pay $120 FOREVER. So, when I retire and no longer want to pay the subscription fee, *poof* my software magically disappears. Assuming I retire in 15 years – and the subscription fee never increases – I will have paid adobe $1800 and will have NOTHING to show for it.
Yes, there are small companies selling apps for a dollar, but they’re not multi-national corporations with shareholders to satisfy. It’s a different ballgame. They’ve decided that the best way forward for their business is to provide, not only traditional software, but also services. They also need to be able to react more quickly to changing technology, and that means a complete shift in their business. Time will tell whether they’ve made a good or bad decision.
It’s a huge change, and change is always difficult. I understand you don’t like it, and it wouldn’t have been my first choice, but Adobe don’t owe us anything. There is no entitlement here, just because we bought perpetual licenses to their software in the past. We have what we’ve already paid for. They’re a business and as customers, we choose either to buy what they’re now offering, or not to buy it.
At the end of your subscription, you won’t have nothing to show for it – you’ll have all the work you created using the tool. If you pay for internet access, or web space, or electricity, or even a coffee, THEN you have nothing to show for it.
They have listened, and although they’re not changing their minds completely, I do believe they’re now offering a fair compromise.
Rovio Entertainment, the maker of Angry Birds, had revenues of $200 million dollars in 2012. Not exactly small potatoes. But yes, I do see your point. Adobe has made its decision and, apparently, no amount of complaining is going to make them change their minds. As you said, we’ll just have to wait and see how many customers choose to remain customers under the new pricing model.
By the way, please don’t take this personally, but saying things like “change is always difficult” is dismissive (although I’m sure you didn’t mean it that way). It implies that there are no legitimate reasons to be unhappy with Adobe’s decision. You aren’t the only person who has made this statement (I believe someone from Adobe said something similar). It seems to be the fall-back sentiment of anyone who is in favor of the new pricing model. “All those people who disagree just can’t handle change…” Even if that is true, unhappy customers tend to leave, regardless of why they’re unhappy, so again, we’ll just have to wait and see.
Sorry, I didn’t mean it in a dismissive way. Of course there are reasons to be unhappy – no one likes feeling forced into something, and the terms are certainly less flexible than they used to be.
All I’m trying to say is Adobe are now offering a very reasonable compromise (IMHO), but compromise means both parties making concessions.
I was talking to someone yesterday, who was absolutely resolute that even if Adobe were to offer it for 1 dollar a month, they’d still be unhappy because ‘they don’t rent software’.
If Photoshop CS3 and Up was not a requirement, then it would have been perfect for me :-/
Is there any information about how current subscribers to CC will be treated? I pay for PS on CC and am about two months into my years subscription, will i be able to switch over to this deal do you know?
There’s an FAQ here: http://clkuk.tradedoubler.com/click?p(265883)a(2791170)g(22913796)url(https://www.adobe.com/products/creativecloud/faq.html#pslr-bundle) which says:
“Existing Creative Cloud members who wish to transition to this offer must own a previous version of Photoshop or Photoshop Extended, version CS3 or later (CS3.x, CS4, CS5.x, or CS6).
If you meet this qualification, how you transition will depend on the type of membership you have:
Photoshop CC single-app members will be automatically transitioned to this new program, with its additional benefits and lower ongoing price.
Creative Cloud complete members should contact Adobe Customer Service to discuss transitioning to this new offer.”
which sounds quite promising for you Neil!
Thanks Victoria, that’s really hlepful
Does this price include access to Bridge too?
Yes it does Cindy