Recently, Adobe Creative Cloud (CC) has emerged as an industry leader. Due to its suite of powerful apps, like Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and After Effects, Adobe has provided creative professionals with the tools they need to bring their visions to life. However, a recent change in Adobe's licensing agreement has caused a stir among users, as the company now discourages the use of older versions of CC software. Let's learn more about the motivation behind this change and its impact on each customer.
Adobe CC Brief Overview
Adobe is a creative giant in the digital marketplace that has been meeting the needs of design professionals around the world since 1982. Its product line includes:
- Photoshop is one of the basic programs that any designer, regardless of their specialization, should know. It's primarily used when working with bitmap images, i.e. those that consist of pixels.
- Lightroom is a program that allows you to conveniently catalog and edit photos, both individually and with the help of batch processing. Lightroom differs from Photoshop in its focus primarily on photographers, while Photoshop is a multifunctional graphic editor widely used by designers.
- InDesign is a program for creating layouts for print and digital media. This includes all types of media that are printed on paper, plastic, vinyl banners, and other physical media, as well as digital content posted on the web or mobile apps.
- Premiere Pro is a program for processing footage. It's designed for editing videos with incredible special effects and graphics.
- Illustrator is a program designed to create and edit objects of vector graphics, such as icons, logos, illustrations, and so on. It's used in graphic design, web design, and UX/UI design. There are versions of Illustrator for PC and iPad.
- To ensure these programs operate properly and allow creators to release the content they need, it's better to use the latest versions provided by Adobe CC, and here's why.
Adobe License Change: Impact and Motivation
In May 2019, Adobe implemented a significant change to its software access policy, urging users to upgrade to the latest CC versions and cease the use of older iterations. This move sparked considerable debate and divided the creative community. Adobe's intention behind this licensing change is driven by a desire to streamline its support and development efforts, providing users with the best experience at the same time.
Changes to Software Access
Following the license change, Adobe now only allows users to download and install the most recent versions of their CC software. Previously, users had the option to download older versions, which provided a sense of familiarity and continuity for those who preferred a particular version. However, the removal of this option perplexed many users.
Impact on Users
The impact of this change rests on those who rely on Adobe CC for their professional creative work. Some have embraced the update and appreciate the benefits of a streamlined workflow, improved features, and enhanced security measures. However, many users, particularly those with older computers or limited system resources, have encountered challenges and frustrations. For them, older versions were often more suitable due to hardware requirements or compatibility issues.
A lot of users still prefer older versions of Adobe CC. They may have grown accustomed to certain features or workflows which may become disrupted or changed in subsequent updates. What's more, some users claim due to their computer's capability to run the latest versions smoothly, necessitates the continued use of older, more manageable iterations.
Reasons for Changes: Focus on Peak Performance
Adobe's primary motivation behind limiting access to old versions lies in their dedication to providing peak performance and ensuring user satisfaction. Due to focusing on improving the latest software iterations, Adobe developers concentrate their efforts on delivering cutting-edge features, enhanced compatibility, and robust security measures. Moreover, streamlining support for fewer versions allows Adobe to allocate resources more effectively, decreasing complexities in addressing software issues and providing timely updates.
Latest Updates
Although the need for using the latest versions of CC is inconvenient for some users, it still brings benefits to creators, making the latest updates available.
In Photoshop, users can now benefit from the introduction of Sky Replacement. This feature allows photographers to effortlessly replace the sky in their images with a few clicks. Whether you want to turn a gloomy day into a vibrant sunset or replace a dull sky with a starry night, the possibilities are endless.
Illustrator has also received a significant update. With Live Corners, designers can easily round off sharp corners, providing a more polished look to their artworks.
Moving on, Premiere Pro now offers enhanced Audio Ducking capabilities. This feature adjusts the volume of background music or an audio track to prioritize spoken dialogue, resulting in a more professional and balanced sound mix.
Furthermore, InDesign now has Content-Aware Fit that makes fitting images into frames a breeze. This intelligent feature automatically scales and adjusts images within frames, while preserving important elements.
Summary
While the recent changes in Adobe's licensing policy may have caused frustration and dismay among some users, it's essential to understand the rationale behind this decision. Adobe's focus on providing the best possible experience through peak performance, improved features, and enhanced security measures has driven their push for users to adopt the latest CC software versions. Although this may create inconvenience for those who prefer older iterations or face hardware limitations, it's indicative of Adobe's commitment to evolving and optimizing their software for the benefit of creative professionals and the industry as a whole. Ultimately, embracing new updates and understanding the motives behind them will contribute to a smoother and more productive creative journey.
