LR6 + PS CS6 in 2018?

[xbartx]

Hi!

So, after few years of "retirement" I just want to go back to photography. I just finished reading about the new Classic CC and other products. Currently, I'm thinking about my license strategy.

I currently own licenses for LR6 and PS CS6. I mainly use LR. I don't do retouching or graphics and barely edit my photos in PS. Definitely, the CS6 version is fair enough for me if we talk about features needed.

I also think that there is not deal-breaking features in LR Classic CC (aka LR7). At least nothing that would compromise a very high subscription price[1]. So, in fact it looks like staying with LR6+PS CS6 and not spending any extra money would be the best solution.

My concerns  are regarding compatibility between LR <-> ACR <-> PS + Bridge CC. I remember that I had some issues with it in the past.

As Bridge CC is free now and delivers the newest version of the ACR how these 2 apps would work with the LR6 and PSCS6?

Can I open ACR via Bridge, edit some RAW files and then click to open it in PSCS6 without any problem? Can LR6 import the metadata XML file created by the newest ACR? Can I use Edit in Photoshop function from LR without any issue?

I'm looking forward to read some comments how to keep LR6 and PSCS6 usable. Thanks.

Bart

[1] - This is actually very interesting. So, basically 1 year subscription costs $120. This is similar price tag to the LR6 standalone license. As the LR6 was the most recent version for about 4 years (someone can correct me here), this actually means that a revolutionary idea about subscriptions multiplied the price by 4 just in one day. Congrats for Adobe's marketing department that people didn't burn the Adobe's offices 😉

[JP Hess]

Although Bridge might be free, it is not a "qualifying" product to use the latest Camera Raw. Lightroom does not use the camera raw plug-in. All of the raw technology is built in to the Lightroom program. So Lightroom 6 will still be able to interact with Photoshop CS6. But you will not be able to take advantage of the latest Camera Raw. The latest version you will have compatibility with is Camera Raw version 9.1. That means that, in the future, when you purchase a new camera that isn't supported by Lightroom your free option will be to download the latest DNG converter from Adobe that will convert your raw images to the DNG format. Then you'll be able to import those images into Lightroom and continue as you always have. But there will be no path for you to use the latest Camera Raw.

[xbartx]

JimHess  wrote

Although Bridge might be free, it is not a "qualifying" product to use the latest Camera Raw. [..] But you will not be able to take advantage of the latest Camera Raw. The latest version you will have compatibility with is Camera Raw version 9.1. [..] But there will be no path for you to use the latest Camera Raw.

Just for clarification. I tried to open a CR2 file in the Bridge CC (I haven't installed PS/LR yet). It said that I have run a qualifying product at least once to enable this feature.

So, lets assume the following scenarios:

1. I have Bridge CC + ACR CC + PS CS6 + LR6. Can I run the ACR 9.1 (from CS6) via Bridge CC? Or it will require a PS CC to be launched at least once?
2. I use PS CC, so Bridge CC would use the newest ACR CC and store changes in the XML metafile. Then, lets say I don't use PS CC anymore, just PS CS6 with ACR9.1. Can Bridge CC display RAW files with using modifications from the XML made in ACR CC? If so, the incompatible changes will be notified somehow? Can I edit the RAW image in ACR9.1 with the ACR CC XML file associated? Would it import compatible changes at least or just ignore the file?

[JP Hess]

You haven't clarified which versions of Photoshop CC and Bridge CC you are installing and running. It seems to me that what you are trying to do is find a way around having to subscribe in order to have access to the latest Camera Raw. I don't know how to answer your questions based on the information you have provided. You can try to skirt the normal path, and maybe you will find a way to do it. But I doubt it.

[xbartx]

By saying "Photoshop CC" or "Bridge CC" I mean the most recent version (I believe the whole idea is to stop thinking about a specific version for CC, right).

However, I have to say your assumption is wrong. I use Bridge CC not because I want to have a possibility to use the latest Camera Raw. I am forced to use it by Adobe. Apart from my external monitor for editing, I use Retina display and Bridge CS6 doesn't support it. This is why I need Bridge CC in first place. In fact, I was lied by Adobe as the company stated that they would provide support for Retina in Bridge CS6. This is actually why I decided to buy a license for Photoshop CS6. I paid and it never happened.

Anyway, I asked about the second scenerio, cause I can imagine that for specific project I need newer version of PS. As I cannot buy it just for a month, I would like to use it for what I paid for (a year of usage). Then simply switch back to what I own. So, the second scenerio is really independent from the main question here.

[JP Hess]

When you switch back to what you own (Photoshop CS6), then you'll have to go back to using Camera Raw 9.1.1. That's the last version of Camera Raw that Photoshop CS6 is compatible with. I don't know what else to tell you. Any adjustments that you have made with newer versions of Camera Raw will simply be ignored when you later open them in the older version.

[xbartx]

JimHess  wrote

I don't know what else to tell you. Any adjustments that you have made with newer versions of Camera Raw will simply be ignored when you later open them in the older version.

This is exactly my answer. If it would be still possible to open a file in CR 9.1.1 just with some adjustments ignored, it's OK.

What if I would convert the RAW file edited in the latest Camer Raw to the DNG? Can I then edit it in LR6 or I would still miss the adjustments?

[99jon]

Only the develop module (and Google map) gets disabled in Lr Classic if you ever stop subscribing.  So you can still export tiff, jpeg files etc. and print from the Library.

[JP Hess]

You can convert it to DNG, but you wouldn't gain or lose anything. You would still be under the same constraints as you would be under working with the raw image. There is no difference. All the DNG conversion does is put the raw image data into a different container and "standardizes" it. You don't gain any increased raw capability going forward as far as your software is concerned. You're still constrained by whatever version you are using.

[john beardsworth]

xbartx  wrote

[1] - This is actually very interesting. So, basically 1 year subscription costs $120. This is similar price tag to the LR6 standalone license. As the LR6 was the most recent version for about 4 years (someone can correct me here), this actually means that a revolutionary idea about subscriptions multiplied the price by 4 just in one day. Congrats for Adobe's marketing department that people didn't burn the Adobe's offices 😉

The $120 includes Photoshop.

[xbartx]

You are right. But as I mentioned before I don't use PS that much. In fact, all features that I use, I can find simple in any free software in 1 minute. I use it as I own it. But it's not important for me. I could pay once for it (as I did) but don't want to pay monthly for software that I use maybe 10-15 times per year.

This is actually the bad side of the subscription model. It's focused only on commercial use. Amateurs have no possibility to use this software as a tool used in a spare time. As it can happen rarely and you pay monthly with 1 year plan signed.

[99jon · Accepted solution]

LR6 would give you access to ACR9.14 whereas the final ACR plug-in for Photoshop CS6 was ACR9.1.1

Lightroom automatically flags up ACR incompatibility when editing in Photoshop from the Lr Library. You simply choose “Render Using Lightroom” and a PSD or tiff file etc will be sent to Photoshop and will get saved back to Lightroom.

[xbartx]

Thanks for the answers. Seems, I am OK to go as long as I don't need any features added after ACR 9.14. Actually, it's pretty surprising that after few years of break nothing really changed. Same workflow, same versions. Nice!

Is there any Changelog for LR and ACR changes? I found some news on the Adobe's blog but it's difficult to follow from version to version? I would love to compare the 9.1.1 - 9.14 - the most recent ACR versions step by step

[JP Hess]

xbartx  wrote

Is there any Changelog for LR and ACR changes? I found some news on the Adobe's blog but it's difficult to follow from version to version? I would love to compare the 9.1.1 - 9.14 - the most recent ACR versions step by step

Changes between those versions will probably seem subtle except for the addition of camera models that were supported. And camera support is probably one of the bigger issues that will be noticed. It is one of the main reasons that users of the subscription model often wait impatiently for a new update. They purchased a new camera that isn't yet supported and can't understand why they aren't able to process their raw images. Your only frustration will be that it will be necessary for you to add the DNG converter to your workflow in order to use your raw images if/when you purchase a camera in the future that isn't supported by Lightroom 6. Not a big issue really. Just an extra step. Hopefully, someday this will all change. But it's up to the camera makers to agree on a common raw format. Do you think that will ever happen?

[xbartx]

Thanks @JimHess. Seems like I am all set.

If I would be in need of new camera I can always go with the DNG converter or decide for the subscription plan and get both LR/PS.

However the bad side is that once I start to use the CC versions there is no way back due to incompatibility of Camera Raw and LR Catalog. So, it's really like kissing a devil For this reason I want to stick for as long as possible with the standalone versions.