What happens to Photoshop when you stop paying.

[arbor123]

I understand that with LIGHTROOM, when you stop paying, it is still reasonably functional (you can import photos, browse your catalog, etc.), but I cannot find out what happens to Photoshop when you pull the plug.  Does the software just not open at all?  Can you work on a photo but not save it?  Does Bridge work at all?  I am well aware that the image files are MINE, and will not disappear, and I lose the cloud storage..

Adobe is very clear about explaining what happens to Lightroom, but for the life of me, I cannot find similar information on the Adobe website, or anywhere via a Google search.

I will probably pay Adobe for the rest of my life, but I teach classes, and students always ask, "What happens when you stop paying."

[gener7]

This should help: Can I still use the software if I stop paying for it?

Your files are kept on your local drive, and are not part of the software. However, your layered files are not editable in software that do not offer Photoshop's features.

For example you can't adjust an effect that your alternate software does not have.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Your files are kept on your local drive, and are not part of the software.

But one should maybe also keep the Library files in mind.

[gener7]

c.pfaffenbichler  wrote

Your files are kept on your local drive, and are not part of the software.

But one should maybe also keep the Library files in mind.

Good point.

[John Waller]

Adobe is very clear about explaining what happens to Lightroom

Mainly because Lightroom is a non-destructive editor with a Library. All edits, keywords and metadata are stored inside the catalog or a sidecar file.

People who have accumulated years of edits and added years of metadata would be rightly ticked off if they could not access their edited files (originals plus editing instructions in the LR catalog) when they stop subscribing. Hence limited access is still available.

Photoshop stores its layers and adjustments in the PSD file so any software which can read the PSD will allow you to continue editing that file. So you don't need to access Photoshop to continue your edits.

[Test Screen Name]

Lightroom is the exception (this is the first I heard of this generosity from Adobe). So far as I know, all the other products simply refuse to open. For some, like Photoshop, you might be able to open the files (PSD). For others, like InDesign, you are stuck unless or until you resubscribe.

[arbor123]

While a few people have replied to my initial question, no one has answered the question:  What happens to Photoshop when you stop paying.  Per my original question, I KNOW the original picture files are mine and do not disappear.  But does Photoshop retain any functionality at all (a la Lightroom), or does it refuse to open?  Someone speculated that "you MIGHT be able to open the files (PSD)."But does anyone know for sure?  And what happens to Bridge?

    Maybe we can find a guinea pig who will stop paying, making the ultimate sacrifice, and then report back to us in 99 days.

[c.pfaffenbichler · Accepted solution]

or does it refuse to open?

There may be a grace period but in effect it will stop opening.

you MIGHT be able to open the files (PSD)

I think that referred to other applications (like Gimp) being able to open and edit psd-files (Edit: Though some features may be lost when editing psd files in other applications).

[John Waller]

arbor123  wrote

While a few people have replied to my initial question, no one has answered the question:  What happens to Photoshop when you stop paying.

I thought it was clearly answered already but to avoid any doubt: yes Photoshop WILL stop opening.

Someone speculated that "you MIGHT be able to open the files (PSD)."But does anyone know for sure?

PSD files can be opened by any software which can read them, not just Photoshop.

The 7 Best Ways to Open a PSD File Without Photoshop

And what happens to Bridge?

Bridge is free, even without a subscription.

https://prodesigntools.com/free-adobe-bridge-cc.html

[arbor123]

Thanks guys and gals, that's the answer I needed.

Lester

[rayek.elfin]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/John+Waller  wrote

Someone speculated that "you MIGHT be able to open the files (PSD)."But does anyone know for sure?

PSD files can be opened by any software which can read them, not just Photoshop.

The 7 Best Ways to Open a PSD File Without Photoshop

I think this answer needs to be qualified a bit. Yes, PSD files can be opened by other applications, but unless the original creator avoided the use of specific Photoshop features (or flattened those layers which make use of Photoshop-only features), the result of opening PSD files in other software than Photoshop often requires manual tweaking and fixing.

Photoshop-specific functionality is generally flattened or might be rendered quite differently compared to the version in PS. Live effects and adjustment layers are often lost, depending on the software used, and the conversion between applications, or will often render visually different. Text may be rasterized, and no longer be editable. Colours may shift as well, in my experience.

In short, while PSD files can be opened in other software, the result might look quite different from your original and editability severely reduced or impeded. PSD is not meant to be used as a intermediate file format, unless the creator and recipient agree on strict guidelines.

The only way to make certain a Photoshop saved PSD looks exactly the same and retaining full editability is by opening the PSD in Photoshop. Some alternatives like PhotoLine, Affinity Photo, and PhotoPea do pretty good conversion jobs, even retaining non-destructive adjustment layers and layer effects, but often the converted version still needs fixing and adjustments.

While importing PSD files in other software is reasonably predictable if adhering to a strict ruleset, exporting to PSD in those alternatives is quite limited. For example, text layers are generally not retained, and converted to bitmap. Which means it becomes very frustrating to work with other persons who do use Photoshop.

The situation is made more complicated by Photoshop introducing new features over the years, which means newer PSDs may have issues when opened in older Photoshop versions.

Anyway, in short: if your workflow depends on PSD files, unless the files' structure are kept relatively simple without text and all layers rasterized with no live effects/adjustments, in a practical sense it is not really feasible to work without having Photoshop installed.

[gener7]

I'm glad you took the time to go into this subject in-depth, Ray.

I took a simple PSD with only Brightness/Contrast layer +40 B/-40 C and read it into Affinity Photo (Mac).

The B/C adjustment values were now B +16/C -40, and that is just one thing. So I suspected the PSDs can be opened and edited, but only on the new software's terms. I know Gimp will open PSDs, but clipping masks are not recognized because Gimp does not have the feature. Don't know if that has changed.

I would have wanted to say so, but I did not have enough detail to go on. Glad you had the time and background to correctly point this out.

[rayek.elfin]

gener7​ Yes, that is my experience as well. I have both PhotoLine and Affinity Photo in my toolbox, and it depends on the software reading the PSD how well it converts it or if at all.

GIMP doesn't support live adjustment layers, for example, and those will be lost (actually, GIMP is pretty much a dead-end for non-destructive editing anyway). PhotoLine and Affinity Photo do interpret and convert adjustment layers to their own versions, and this may result in changed values. Only PhotoLine reads smart objects, and converts these to its own version (placeholders), even with PDF/illustrator content. But again the complexity of the data may wreak havoc to a certain extent.

As long as things are kept relatively simple (just raster layers, groups, clipping masks/layer masks) things tend to translate relatively well. Even maintaining editable text may be problematic.

Many applications merely read the rasterized flattened version in a PSD file, and layers are completely lost in the process.

Which is why I often resort to my old copy of Photoshop CS6 or convert the files at work in CC when I receive client source files in PSD format. Otherwise I tend to keep PSD out of my own workflow, or stick to a very strict rule set when working with others (who often work with a variety of image editors).

Exporting to PSD using alternative software is far, far less dependable compared to importing. Again, keep it simple to maintain file conformity between apps.

There's an outdated PSD format spec, but it leaves it up to a developer to interpret how to implement things. Developers have to reverse-engineer the PSD format themselves. Adobe is not interested in reaching out a helping hand, unfortunately (but understandable from a competitive point of view).

[gener7]

I meant to ask, how is Photoshop Elements in regards to PSD compatibility?