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Participant
November 14, 2020
Question

Is there a way to install Photoshop where there is ONLY Photoshop installed

  • November 14, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 501 views

Since the mid 90s, I've been comparing installation of Adobe products (and Macromedia when it was still a thing) to cancer or other diseases: when you install Photoshop it spreads everywhere, you don't know where it goes, what it does and it's hard to get rid of.

 

Since we're 25 years later, is there nowadays a way to purchase Photoshop where the only thing installed would be Photoshop? no additional stuff, no extra libraries, no extra packages, no extra drivers, no extra tools, no services, and a-b-s-o-l-u-t-e-l-y nothing that starts by itself when the computer starts (MacOS here)? additionally, it looks like there are subscriptions now but I'm looking for an outright purchase.

 

Or is it still as messy as it was and then I should look at alternatives? It's mostly for picture editing (layering / slicing of elements, no photo, etc)

 

When I look at the product list I don't even know what is what anymore

 

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

Nancy OShea
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 14, 2020

Which operating system do you have?

If you're contemplating an upgrade to Bug Sur, please have a look at this first:

https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/macos-big-sur.html

 

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
thomasd3Author
Participant
November 23, 2020

I'm on Big Sur already; I'll check if older version can work on it and probably buy a pre-creative cloud license then.

Just Shoot Me
Legend
November 23, 2020

Don't do that. It will NOT install on Big Sur (BS for short).

From Catalina onward MacOS will NOT run ANY 32bit programs. So even if the actual Adobe program you are trying to install is 64bit the installer for it is more than likely 32bit and MacOS will not run it.

 

Then you have 99.9999999% of any older adobe program you might buy, from anywhere, is pirated and or perviously owned, Registered, and legally you can't use it without ownership trasnfer. And that transfer can only be done Once.

 

The Photography Plan subscription that included both LrC and Ps (the Full Photoshop) is only $9.99 a month in US Dollars. That is a DEAL.

John Waller
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 14, 2020

>>>it looks like there are subscriptions now but I'm looking for an outright purchase.

 

Photoshop is only available by subscription. So, not for you.

 

You could trial Photoshop Elements which is an outright purchase. It's consumer-oriented (good for scrapbooking, family photos etc) with a 'friendly' UI and completely different to its bigger cousin Photoshop.

 

>>>Or is it still as messy as it was and then I should look at alternatives?

 

If anything, Adobe's installations are worse than ever. Files, folders, background services, startup services and Cloud services plus other extras scattered everywhere on your hard drive. Sounds like you're very particular about what gets installed on your computer so I'd suggest alternatives may be a better option for you.