As I mentioned in my last post, Adobe today announced the upcoming release of both the CS6 Creative Suite, including Photoshop CS6, and Adobe’s new Creative Cloud subscription service. There are now therefore two ways to purchase Photoshop CS6 — as we are accustomed to, through purchase of the stand-alone traditional product, and now also through the new Creative Cloud subscription service.
Below is my early take on the options.
Overview of Pricing and Options
The traditional stand-alone Photoshop CS6 full version will be $699, and the upgrade will be $199. (Photoshop CS6 Extended, which contains the ability to create and manipulate 3D objects, is $999/$399. Note that video editing has moved from the Extended version to the Standard version.) Upgrade pricing is available to owners of CS3 or later, though for CS3 and CS4 owners, it will expire December 31, 2012.
As before, you can also purchase the stand-alone version of various bundles of subsets of Creative Suite software which include Photoshop CS6.
The Creative Cloud is a subscription plan — for an annual fee, you have access to:
- The entire Creative Suite of software (Photoshop CS6 Extended, Illustrator, Lightroom 4, InDesign, Muse, Acrobat X Pro, Flash Pro, Flash Builder, Dreamweaver, Edge, Fireworks, Premier Pro, After Effects, Audition, SpeedGrade, Prelude, Encore, Bridge, and Media Encoder)
- Integration with Adobe Touch apps (purchased separately)
- Cloud storage (20 GB) and sharing
- Tools for publishing apps and websites
- Access to new software features as they become available — i.e. in advance of stand-alone purchasers who must wait for a new stand-alone release (18-24 months? longer?).
For more information, here is the Adobe home page for information on the Creative Cloud.
A one-year Cloud subscription is payable in advance. The base subscription breaks down to a monthly fee of $49.99, but owners of at least one individual Creative Suite product (e.g. Photoshop), CS3 or later can get the first year for $29.99/month.
Which Version Makes More Sense?
Of course this will depend on your needs and interests. To weigh the two, I would start with the following three questions:
How Many Products or Services Would You Like to Use?
If you are a graphic designer or other rich-content creator, you most likely use many products in the Suite. In this case Cloud pricing becomes very attractive. It is a harder case for photographers though, as many of us use very few products.
I would highly encourage you to review the products yourself, but my take on it is that if you are a photographer, and plan to continue doing photo work only (and basic video editing, which Photoshop CS6 now can do significantly more of), you may only need Lightroom, and possibly, for more complicated work, Photoshop. If you are eligible for upgrade pricing on both, you can get the stand-alone versions of both for $199 + $79 = $278, far less than the $360 first year and $600 planned subsequent year Cloud pricing. If you are not eligible for upgrade pricing, the stand-alone price is $699 + $149 = $848, compared to the Cloud price of $600, and the Cloud becomes more of a contender. If a third product interests you or the cloud storage and sharing are compelling to you, the case for the Cloud starts to become an easier one.
How Up-to-Date Do You Want to Be?
Adobe has told analysts and investors that its goal over time is to get all or most of its customers onto the more-profitable subscription plan, so they have a great interest in making cool new features available to Cloud subscribers well in advance of stand-alone purchasers. That cool new image de-blur technology they gave us a glimpse of, but is not ready for CS6? My guess is that it will make it into the Cloud well in advance of CS7. Adobe has stated that Cloud products could be updated weekly or monthly.
Are you committed to staying in the Cloud?
With a Cloud subscription, you always have access to all of the latest and greatest, but when you cancel your subscription, you walk away with nothing. Conversely, when you purchase the stand-alone products, you own and can use them forever. Be aware that with the Cloud subscription there is also no price guarantee from year to year — when your subscription comes up for renewal next year, the price may or may not be $49.99.
If You’re On the Fence, Consider Giving it a Try
According to the Adobe FAQ, if you purchase the annual subscription and cancel within 30 days, you can receive a complete refund; if you cancel within the first 6 months you receive a 50% refund. CS3 and CS4 owners beware: if you decide to switch from the Cloud to the stand-alone version of CS6 after December 31, 2012, you will have lost your eligibility for upgrade pricing.
When Will CS6 and the Cloud Be Available?
The date has not yet been announced, but when you pre-order on the Adobe site, it gives an “estimated” date of May 7.
Lightroom does almost everything I need.
Subscription based computing is too expensive for me. I don’t need the cloud either.
For the price Adobe is charging, they should give you a printed manual.
Don
Creative Suite 6 will sell at $2,599 for the Master collection and $1,899 for the Production Premium versions.
You say, “CS3 and CS4 owners beware: if you decide to switch from the Cloud to the stand-alone version of CS6 after December 31, 2012, you will have lost your eligibility for upgrade pricing.”
Isn’t it the same for CS5 owners, or is the policy more lenient for them (us)?
Cheers,
Will
Hi Will, I would verify this with Adobe, but my understanding is that CS5 owners get the upgrade price to CS6 as long as CS6 is the current offering.
I have been unable to find anywhere that I can upgrade from my CS5 to CS 6.
Hi Tobé, it isn’t hidden, but it certainly isn’t featured either! On the home page, you can go to Products>Creative Suite>Photoshop CS6>Buy Photoshop CS6. Click here for the direct link to Photoshop CS6.
I can only strongly recommend to any serious designer: Stay away from Creative Cloud. There are so many reasons for you better not getting even more depending on Adobe then you already are. I point out a few here http://www.ecliptic.ch/designers-beware-adobe-creative-cloud.html
Hi Thom… Do you know anyplace where I can buy a stand-alone Adobe Photoshop CS5 or CS6 64-bit version??
I don’t, Rick.
It is depend on how often you use the photoshop, you need to pay for photoshop CC every month, but photoshop CS6 is lifetime license , the functions are most the same , no big difference, if you want to save some money, you can buy a promotianal photoshop cs6 extended on student-photoshop.com, it is genuine and cheaper
Hi May,
I agree that CS6 is a fine choice for some people. Whether there’s no big difference in functions depends on how much individuals value what has been introduced (such as the camera shake reduction filter) and what will be introduced. Keep in mind also that while the CS6 license is a lifetime license, eventually it won’t work on new operating systems.
I do not want to sign up for Creative Cloud but I would like to get the newest version of Adobe Photoshop that does not require CC in order to do advanced editing of pics. Can anyone please tell me, does Photoshop CS6 require CC in order to do the advanced editing or is it a complete standalone program? Thanks!
CS6 is a standalone program, J.L. – the last stand-alone version before Adobe went to CC.
Can I use photoshop extended without having the full version photoshop on my computer?
I have a chance to but a student priced creative suite premium package with photoshop extended but
I don’t have the stand alone photoshop.
Sorry for the delay, Fred. Photoshop Extended is the full Photoshop (though an old one.)
Hello Laura, You have a very helpful website. I purchased CS4 a while ago and have been using it on my iMac 10.6.8. However, I need to purchase a new iMac with El Capitan, 10.11. Do you know if the CS4 will work with this OS? If not, do you know if I can update the CS4 to CS6? If I need to purchase the standalone CS6, I would do this but I do not wish to use the Creative Cloud version. I haven’t been able find a price or to locate a store that sells the standalone CS6 version. Thank you for your help.
I’m not sure, Fay. I’d suggest posting on Adobe’s Photoshop forum.
Thank you Laura. After doing more research, I think my only option at this point is to do the Creative Cloud version.
Okay Laura. I will do that right now. Thanks for your suggestion. Best wishes and Happy New Year!
Hi there.. I have a canon 5d IV – will the CS6 be able to process it’s raw files, or is there no option but to use the CC do you know? many thanks
You can use Adobe’s free DNG converter to convert your files to Adobe’s DNG raw file format, and then you should be able to use them with CS6, Rowena. (However, if you’re using a current version of Lightroom and opening your files from Lightroom into CS6 converting them to DNG won’t be necessary.)
Can the photoshop CS6 make 2D animations? Or is it only for photo editing? Also you said the price is 699$ for the photoshop CS6 alone? (Not extended)
This article is 5 1/2 years old. I don’t think CS6 is still for sale, but I can’t say for sure.