Photoshop no longer meets my needs

[kate_2558]

I am an animator. I use Photoshop to make texture maps for my 3D models.

A few years ago, some of the tools I need were removed from Photoshop, namely converting grayscale maps to Normal maps, that ugly lavender used-chewing gum look.

This has created a speedbump in my production pipeline. In other words, this is a serious Quality of Life issue for me.

Substance 3D doesn't have all of the same tools as Photoshop. It has a lot of bells and whistles I don't need and won't use. It is a gigantic pain in the butt to have to swap programs in the middle of what you're doing just to perform ONE function, especially when your edits might be tiny details that need to then be checked in the game engine or animation software. And the earlier version of Photoshop that is still available and can do that one thing doesn't have all of the tools of today's Photoshop.

So, no matter what, Adobe is forcing either compromises or program-swaps on developers like me. That's unacceptable.
And I'm at a point now where I'm prepared to start looking for other programs that can do what I need all in one place, unlike what Adobe has decided I must use.

So, to sum up:

- I need all of Photoshop's tools in my animation/game development pipeline
- I do not want or need the bells and whistles in your Substance 3D program
- It is burdensome and frustrating to interrupt my workflow by having to switch tools just to perform one action (like creating a Normal map from a grayscale map)
- Nobody should have to have two versions of Photoshop unless the old version of Photoshop is updated with all of the modern tools as well
- Anybody who suggests removing functionality should immediately be reminded that people really do rely on these tools, and removing them will cause problems for end-users. Also, they should have their parking space taken away until they learn what they've done wrong.
- I really don't want to have to learn new software, but if I cannot rely on Adobe to make products that still function, then I have to take my money elsewhere

So either put the 3D tools back in Photoshop, or understand that your products are no longer reliable tools, and I cannot be hampered by software that does not keep my quality of life as a developer in mind. I cannot spend my time fighting with the tools that are supposed to be helping me achieve my goals.
As of right now, Photoshop is Not Worth It™ without the 3D tools, not without at least being able to convert grayscale maps to Normal maps. I need a one-stop art suite, not a set of separate Adobe tools; Photoshop used to be that one-stop suite, but not anymore.

Make it so again, or I and my money walk. And, who knows, maybe I make a bit of an online stink about how Adobe hates animators and game developers.

[davescm]

I am not an Adobe employee so these opinions are my own, but when you look at the reasons that 3D functionality was dropped I doubt you will see it back in Photoshop.
https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/photoshop/kb/3d-faq.html

You could try using v22.2 which can be downloaded and supports 3D, although the 3D functions were somewhat unreliable even in that.  
Adobe Sampler is the nearest application for the function you mention.

Dave

[kate_2558]

I understand the reasons, but that doesn't change any of what I said: Photoshop has deprecated itself out of usefulness.

Nor does it change how much I'm being forced to cheat, kludge, compromise, or swap back and forth between programs just to do extremely simple things that Photoshop used to be able to do.

If Adobe has chosen to abandon users like me, that's on them.

If they decided, "This is hard, let's just give up," instead of adapting to a changing to a changing tech world, that's on them.

The fact remains unchanged that Photoshop is now less useful, and my workflow has suffered as a result, and rather than try to stick with tools that don't meet my needs, I'm prepared to look--and shop--elsewhere.

I'm not asking for anything unreasonable.

I don't even need all of the 3D tools.

I only need the tools to convert 2D grayscale maps to Normal maps.

Those should still be present, even if, say, 3D text is no longer supported; it's basiically little more than a filter, for crying out loud!

Again, bottom line: I need my tools to not be getting in my way.

If Photoshop is no longer a user-friendly way to make maps for 3D objects, then Photoshop is no longer useful, and Adobe needs to recognize that and fix it before they shed paying customers.