Creative Cloud?

I hate to sound like a dinosaur but what is this "Creative Cloud" from Adobe. Last week I got an email from them for me to try Lightroom CC. I've heard of Lightroom 5 and 6 but not CC. Is there a difference or is the latter something else?

Since Nikon abandoned those of us that still use their Capture NX2 and no more updates or support, I had considered Lightroom but not sure of the CC part. Why can't you buy their software instead having to rent it monthly?

Hello Kitchsorous....!

"Creative Cloud" is an Adobe branding of their products. Instead of serial version numbers, now they call it Photoshop CC 2015, for example. Adobe went from license/product purchase model to subscription model. That's when CC branding started. What that means is that you pay monthly for your rights to use their products. Right now, "photographer's package" for non-professional is $9.99/month for Photoshop CC and Lightroom CC. For this, you get to use both of the products as long as you keep paying. I *think* a year is the commitment period. You can break out early by paying penalty.

As the name suggests, you have an option of uploading your images to their "cloud" storage. I do not use this feature.

These weren't cheap products when they were using purchase model if you keep updating it to the latest. This way, you always have the latest version. I actually like this scheme.

Did I explain sufficiently?

Lightroom I believe you can still buy a license for. Adobe will continue to update this product without having to rent it. Of course updates if you want them will cost additional. But these will all be one time payments. Of course you don't get Photoshop unless you rent. But if you're just doing regular photo without huge editing, LR might be enough. That's what I use although I also \have Elements for those rare occasions I need it. You may find Adobe Elements is good enough too. One thing about the rental. If you stop paying, you wan't have access to the tools that you use to make the edits if you need access to them. You're sort of like stuck forever with the cloud version.

Hi, Alan! I didn't know you are here, too.

I just checked Adobe site. It seems they still sell Lightroom 6 but CC version is on subscription only. I have no idea what the differences are. Yes, it is cheaper if you buy LR since LR doesn't cost that much. PS is a whole different story.... Kind of stuff I do requires PS, so I had no choice.

I have Element, too but don't use it anymore. One time, I had to make drastic changes and for that, jpeg wasn't enough - pretty bad banding and posterization resulted. So I tried to edit TIFF and in 16 bits. Element won't let me. So I ended up taking the plunge.

I have the Nikon NX2, too. It's so unstable, I abandoned it. It crashed in batch conversions and froze if I opened too many images. I have 12 core cpu and 40gig memory so that was unacceptable. I liked the U-point but if I can't use it, oh well... I don't think Nikon was ever serious about software side of business. Japanese companies have bad tendencies to think not so highly of intangible products (like software) and they only support it as an aid to sell hardware (ie. firmware or freeware). I used to work in that industry in Japan, so I'm pretty familiar with it.

Anyway, good to see you here.

Hello Kitchsorous....!

Click to expand...

You sure got that right. Explanation was well received but I don't care for their "cloud" thing. I'll be sailing through the clouds soon enough! It appears to me Adobe has you by the gonads if you want their software..reminds me of a drug pusher.

I don't have any problem with NX2 on either the Vista or Windows 7 computer. I did when I had XP-worse OS Microsoft ever came out with. I guess I'll keep NX2 for a while longer. It does most all I need to do without having to learn yet another software scheme. My brain is already on overload so unless NX2 just permanently crashes I'm staying with it. I don't like the monthly rental. I have a couple programs I pay for yearly that I don't mind but I can ditch those without any penalty.

You must be one of the lucky ones. Results on NX2 seems to run a wide gamut. Either no problems at all or frequent lock ups and crashes. I'm on the latter, although I've used it for long. I don't know what makes that difference though. I really liked it when it worked. When I bought D800, I had more trouble with it. It doesn't seem to handle large amount of data very well.

I don't get this "cloud" thing either. On one hand, people yell and scream about privacy. On the other, they can't wait to upload it to somewhere and/or share. If they actually read the terms of agreement, they'd be shocked.

On Adobe cloud, you can choose NOT to use it. I don't use the cloud feature at all. All mine does is check for updates and subscription status. Without any connection, program will stop functioning in 6 weeks.

For storage, I have a samba server on my private network. That's enough "cloud" for me. I'm in IT industry. I really dislike this tend of abusing/misusing terminology.... just call it what it is... networked storage!

Maybe you could buy the older version of LR. It's not that much and still available.

Good luck with CC - nice combo.

You might be able to find an older version of PhotoShop ie: 4 5 or 6. I believe they can be put on two computers. i would think that Lightroom could do the trick for most. I use PS5 plus On1's Perfect Photo Suite9 which can be used as stand alone or with PS and LR. It is layer based and very user friendly.

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tkamiya said:

Hello Kitchsorous....!

"Creative Cloud" is an Adobe branding of their products. Instead of serial version numbers, now they call it Photoshop CC 2015, for example. Adobe went from license/product purchase model to subscription model. That's when CC branding started. What that means is that you pay monthly for your rights to use their products. Right now, "photographer's package" for non-professional is $9.99/month for Photoshop CC and Lightroom CC. For this, you get to use both of the products as long as you keep paying. I *think* a year is the commitment period. You can break out early by paying penalty.

As the name suggests, you have an option of uploading your images to their "cloud" storage. I do not use this feature.

These weren't cheap products when they were using purchase model if you keep updating it to the latest. This way, you always have the latest version. I actually like this scheme.

Did I explain sufficiently?

Click to expand...

In the beginning I was very much opposed to the subcription scheme but now, a year into it,I like it a lot,always up-to-date and good support without the high purchase cost. I like it and would go that route again.$10/moth for PS is dirt cheap.I went for the larger CC package and pay $30/month.It's a good deal for me,using PS,iD,Il Muse and Acrobat

I think this is a change in mind set.

The way I thought about this was that Photoshop itself used to sell for high hundreds before. Then upgrade was several hundred. Even though I am not require to upgrade, but I will inevitably do every few years. So this is not that far off from "subscription" model. And as you say, $9.99 is cheap for PS.

I think this is actually far more economical for me.

I'd hate to buy OS this way, but Application of this type, I don't mind at all.

Kitch said:

You sure got that right. Explanation was well received but I don't care for their "cloud" thing. I'll be sailing through the clouds soon enough! It appears to me Adobe has you by the gonads if you want their software..reminds me of a drug pusher..

Click to expand...

IT SEEMS LIKE THEY GOT ME TOOI'm wondering.Maybe it's easier if I send them my salary every month and they send me whatever is leftat the end of the year;might be easier and less transfers