Adobe Lightroom: Perpetual to Subscription Transition: Difference between revisions
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}}'''[[wikipedia:Adobe Lightroom|Adobe Photoshop Lightroom]]''' is a photo-editing and -management software developed by Adobe. As of January 2025, it is licensed for use either standalone or as part of Creative Cloud, and is supported both on desktop (Windows, macOS) and mobile platforms (iOS, Android), as well as Apple TV (tvOS). Despite its simplicity compared to other photo-editing software, it remains a very popular choice among photographers.<ref>[ https://shotkit.com/photo-editing-software-survey/ Shotkit Survey 2024]</ref> | }}'''[[wikipedia:Adobe Lightroom|Adobe Photoshop Lightroom]]''' is a photo-editing and -management software developed by [[Adobe]]. As of January 2025, it is licensed for use either standalone or as part of [[Adobe Creative Cloud]], and is supported both on desktop (Windows, macOS) and mobile platforms (iOS, Android), as well as Apple TV (tvOS). Despite its simplicity compared to other photo-editing software, it remains a very popular choice among photographers.<ref>[ https://shotkit.com/photo-editing-software-survey/ Shotkit Survey 2024]</ref> | ||
== Purchase and licensing == | |||
Lightroom underwent a significant licensing transformation by shifting from a perpetual-license model (up to Lightroom 6) to a subscription-based model (Lightroom 7 and on) under Adobe's Creative Cloud (CC) ecosystem, being either standalone or bundled with other software in the suite.<ref name=":02">[ https://web.archive.org/web/20190209210136/https://theblog.adobe.com/introducing-lightroom-cc-lightroom-classic-cc-and-more/ theblog.adobe.com ] via The Internet Archive</ref> Before 2017, Lightroom was available as a standalone application purchased through a perpetual license.<ref name=":02" /> Users paid a one-time fee, granting them indefinite ownership of the software with access to updates and support for a specified period. In October 2017, Adobe officially announced that future versions of Lightroom would not sold under perpetual licenses, instead being integrated into its CC subscription service.<ref name=":02" /> This strategic move aligned Lightroom with Adobe’s suite of applications, all accessible solely through ongoing subscriptions. The perpetual-license option was permanently removed,<ref name=":0">https://shotkit.com/buy-lightroom/</ref> forcing users to switch to a subscription model to continue using the software and accessing new features. | |||
=== Transition Timeline === | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
!Date | !Date | ||
!Event | !Event | ||
|- | |||
|May 2013 | |||
|Adobe announces its shift to the Creative Cloud model,<ref>https://thenextweb.com/news/after-nearly-10-years-adobe-abandons-its-creative-suite-entirely-to-focus-on-creative-cloud</ref> with plans to still offer Lightroom 5 as a standalone, perpetual-license application, and no plans for Lightroom CC<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20130510151234/http://blogs.adobe.com/lightroomjournal/2013/05/lightroom-and-the-creative-cloud.html</ref> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|June 2013 | |June 2013 | ||
| | |Adobe releases Lightroom 5<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20130611023215/https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html</ref> | ||
|- | |||
|September 2013 | |||
|Adobe releases a new Lightroom and Photoshop $10/month subscription package<ref>https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/adobe-to-offer-lightroom-photoshop-for-10-a-month/</ref> | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | |April 2015 | ||
| | |Adobe releases Lightroom 6 under both perpetual licenses and subscription packages<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20150422103340/http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |October 2017 | ||
| | |Adobe declares Lightroom 6 to be the last standalone version of Lightroom, remaining on sale for "an undetermined amount of time", and that "Lightroom 7 will have no perpetual [license] offering"<ref name=":02" /> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|December 2017 | |December 2017 | ||
|Final cutoff for support and updates on perpetual licenses | |Final cutoff for support and updates on perpetual licenses (on Lightroom 6)<ref name=":02" /> | ||
|- | |||
|2018–Present | |||
|Continuous rollout of subscription-based updates and features | |||
|- | |- | ||
|November 2018 | |November 2018 | ||
|Map feature becomes unavailable in Maps module for everyone on a perpetual license<ref>https://robertreiser.photography/re-enable-maps-view-in-lightroom-classic/</ref> | |Map feature becomes unavailable in Lightroom's Maps module for everyone on a perpetual license<ref>https://robertreiser.photography/re-enable-maps-view-in-lightroom-classic/</ref> | ||
|- | |||
|February 2019 | |||
|Adobe stops selling and supporting standalone Lightroom 6<ref name=":0" /> | |||
|- | |||
|August 2022 | |||
|Adobe ends support for syncing in Lightroom 6<ref name=":1">https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/lightroom-6-end-of-support.html</ref> | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | |December 2023 | ||
| | |Adobe ends download support for purchased copies of Lightroom 6<ref name=":1" /> | ||
|} | |} | ||
----<!--this section can be extracted into its own theme article ratehr than included here on the incident page--> | ----<!--this section can be extracted into its own theme article ratehr than included here on the incident page--> | ||
== Service Siphoning == | |||
==== Definition ==== | ==== Definition ==== | ||
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# '''Technical lock-in mechanisms''': Implementations that tie software functionality to cloud services make it technically challenging for users to revert to standalone usage without the subscription. This includes deliberate omission of highly requested features (catalogs on network volumes, local sync for the iPad version Lightroom Mobile). | # '''Technical lock-in mechanisms''': Implementations that tie software functionality to cloud services make it technically challenging for users to revert to standalone usage without the subscription. This includes deliberate omission of highly requested features (catalogs on network volumes, local sync for the iPad version Lightroom Mobile). | ||
== Impact on Consumers<!--citations needed--> == | |||
=== Professional Photographers and Enthusiasts === | |||
* '''Workflow Disruption''': Long-term users experienced interruptions in their established workflows, necessitating adaptation to new software versions and subscription management. | * '''Workflow Disruption''': Long-term users experienced interruptions in their established workflows, necessitating adaptation to new software versions and subscription management. | ||
* '''Financial Implications''': Transitioning from a one-time payment to an ongoing subscription increased the total cost of ownership over time, affecting budgets and financial planning for professionals and serious hobbyists. | * '''Financial Implications''': Transitioning from a one-time payment to an ongoing subscription increased the total cost of ownership over time, affecting budgets and financial planning for professionals and serious hobbyists. | ||
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* '''Privacy Issues:''' Working with the software on multiple devices is only feasible by using the cloud service, which potentially requires images of third parties (clients, models) to be shared with the company and their cloud storage provider(s) without end-to-end encryption. In a practical environment, a model/client will not be asked for their permission for this. If they are asked and object, the photographer's workflow is disrupted. For non US citizens, Adobe cloud storage can mean that the US government can theoretically illegitimately gain access to their personal data. | * '''Privacy Issues:''' Working with the software on multiple devices is only feasible by using the cloud service, which potentially requires images of third parties (clients, models) to be shared with the company and their cloud storage provider(s) without end-to-end encryption. In a practical environment, a model/client will not be asked for their permission for this. If they are asked and object, the photographer's workflow is disrupted. For non US citizens, Adobe cloud storage can mean that the US government can theoretically illegitimately gain access to their personal data. | ||
=== Market and Industry Implications === | |||
* '''Precedent Setting''': Adobe’s shift set a precedent for the software industry, influencing other companies to adopt subscription-based models and reshaping consumer expectations and industry standards. | * '''Precedent Setting''': Adobe’s shift set a precedent for the software industry, influencing other companies to adopt subscription-based models and reshaping consumer expectations and industry standards. | ||
* '''Competitive Landscape''': Competitors faced pressure to adjust their pricing and licensing strategies in response to Adobe's transition, affecting broader market dynamics and encouraging the emergence of alternative software solutions. | * '''Competitive Landscape''': Competitors faced pressure to adjust their pricing and licensing strategies in response to Adobe's transition, affecting broader market dynamics and encouraging the emergence of alternative software solutions. | ||
== Community and User Response == | |||
=== Feedback and Criticism<!--citations needed--> === | |||
Users expressed significant dissatisfaction through various channels, including Adobe Community Forums, social media platforms, and direct feedback. Common grievances included: | Users expressed significant dissatisfaction through various channels, including Adobe Community Forums, social media platforms, and direct feedback. Common grievances included: | ||
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* '''Impact on Established Workflows''': Professionals reliant on Lightroom for their business workflows found the transition disruptive, as migrating to a subscription model required adjustments and potentially impacted productivity. | * '''Impact on Established Workflows''': Professionals reliant on Lightroom for their business workflows found the transition disruptive, as migrating to a subscription model required adjustments and potentially impacted productivity. | ||
=== Alternatives and Adaptations === | |||
In response to Adobe’s shift, some users explored alternative software solutions offering perpetual licenses or more flexible subscription terms, such as: | In response to Adobe’s shift, some users explored alternative software solutions offering perpetual licenses or more flexible subscription terms, such as: | ||
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Others adapted by integrating Adobe’s subscription model into their business practices, balancing the benefits of continuous updates and cloud features against the recurring costs. | Others adapted by integrating Adobe’s subscription model into their business practices, balancing the benefits of continuous updates and cloud features against the recurring costs. | ||
== Adobe's Response<!--needs quotations from adobe's PR comms or executive statements--> == | |||
Adobe provided several justifications for the transition, emphasizing the benefits of the Creative Cloud model: | Adobe provided several justifications for the transition, emphasizing the benefits of the Creative Cloud model: | ||
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However, these justifications were met with skepticism by many users who prioritized ownership and cost predictability over continuous updates and cloud integration. | However, these justifications were met with skepticism by many users who prioritized ownership and cost predictability over continuous updates and cloud integration. | ||
== External Links == | |||
* [https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html Adobe Lightroom Official Website] | * [https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html Adobe Lightroom Official Website] | ||
* [https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html Creative Cloud Subscription Plans] | * [https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html Creative Cloud Subscription Plans] | ||