I mean, I use every alternative I can. Vapoursynth scripts, libraw-based projects, random GitHub repos, DaVinci…
But there are some features I just can’t get great support for outside of definitely-not-high-seas Lightroom Classic:
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Good lens profiles for weird lenses.
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Proper HDR PQ/HLG editing and AVIF/JXL export support.
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RAW support for newer cameras, like my little R50V
I have yet to try DaVinci’s photo editing mode though. That’s very interesting.
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Fuck Adobe & their subscription model. I switched to affinity & never looked back
We’re in a mature software stage for these art software applications. Easier to catch up than create new features that people make essential to their workflow. Today it’s commercial alternatives that have closed the gap well enough. Someday in the future open source stuff will. It’s inevitable
But now Adobe has generative tools. Every wannabe artist and ass CEOs will look into it as a primary feature.
It’s only a matter of time before the open source stuff gets those features too, if people want them. There’s plenty of decent open source generative AI out there. I’m sure people can find creative ways to incorporate them.
If they can achieve similar results without the subscription I think they might consider moving over. That being said I’ve seen what companies pay to use Microsoft shit lmao.
Wonderful! Now I need an Acrobat alternative that my work will accept, and I can kick adobe to the slims from which it came.
Bluebeam revu?
Edit: it’s comparably priced to acrobat but is significantly better on all fronts (opens and runs faster and more reliably, markup tools are leagues above, pdf editing tools are more comprehensive, review tools are significantly more advanced, everything is more user friendly. It’s wild how much better revu is when it’s literally the same price point.
Looks like another subscription service.
I’ve been using Stirling. It’s a little quirky sometimes but works fairly well. I’ve heard pdf gear is decent too
It absolutely is another subscription service, but is equivalently priced to acrobat. While I’m all for pay to own, if you are already paying a subscription to acrobat and need the features of that application, revu is a no brainer change.
That said, I’m pretty keen to hear about alternatives, I’ve never heard of Stirling or pdf gear so I’ll check em out. Thanks!
Our engineering department uses bb revu. I’ll look into it as a replacement for Acrobat. Thanks!
My last firm used revu and switching back to acrobat at the new one has been crippling. Acrobat is an abomination.
I’m a creative. I’ve used InDesign since version 1.0. I’ve built my career with Adobe tools.
Adobe Creative Cloud peaked around ten years ago. Since then, it’s totally jumped the shark. I’m not even talking about the company, just the software and its features.
When I open InDesign, Photoshop, or Illustrator I’m trying to work. It’s software I’ve used for, in some cases, 25 years. My point is, I know it inside and out.
The past few years, every new “feature” gets in the way of my work. Adobe has been changing things that already worked very well, or has added extra steps to do something that used to be easy.
Even worse, Adobe has started to fill its software with notifications that can not be disabled. Invasive blue dots. Invasive blue buttons. Invasive blue overlays that stay visible on the screen even when the software is minimized. Rich tool tips that aren’t disabled by the option to disable rich tool tips.
Adobe has lost me as a devotee. It’s been taken over by venture capital. The company only cares about adoption of new features.
Now, I use it out habit. Because my workplace provides it. Because it’s what folks on my team are used to… but because they’ve come to the ecosystem so late, they only know a fraction of its capabilities.
If Adobe faces demise, I will mourn what if once was. But not what it has become.
Adobe faces demise, I will mourn what if once was
What wait? You can mourn what it was even now. 🤷♂️
While their boot is on your throat, it is difficult to mourn what your oppressor used to be.
Been using Photoshop since 3.0 released on windows. I knew when they went cloud that shit was going sideways, but it was the acquisition of substance painter that did them in for me. Even though CC was kind of a mess, instead of building on the value proposition and including substance, they decided to have it as a separate charge.
Fuck adobe. Fuck subscription software.
“Fuck Adobe” is my near-daily mantra. I actually utter it out loud at least once a day, if not more. I used to teach PS and worshipped at the temple of PS. These days, FUCK ADOBE!!! I cannot wait for ANYTHING to replace Photoshop/Adobe. Adobe MUST die!.
Have you tried Gimp and Inkscape?
Gimp and Inkscape are excellent programs, I LOVE them. But, they are not Adobe replacements.
Yes.
How do they compare, in your experience?
They are better than they were. But they are still at least 10 years from being able to match Adobe software - partially because we need to wait for Adobe patents to run out, so that other software can replicate an intuitive software experience.
Adobe has always been pricy. The tradeoff was that you were getting one of the best, if not the best piece of software for that nieche.
They have failed to keep their product the best while trying to lock in users with cancellation fees, which is going to backfire hard.
The only thing they can do to try and maintain dominance now is to go back to quality software that offers features that creatives want.
Hurt myself laughing at that last line. Are you doubting the mighty power of enshitification? Are you the last true believer in corporate quality?
Autodesk next, please
that article is like an alternativeto list
This is great news for everyone.
Not for Adobe lol
Well deserved
Personally I love how acrobat has different colour pallets for markups depending on how you access the objects properties and think its a perfect example of how well put together their software is in general.