Advice Wanted What happens when you discontinue Lightroom Subscription?

[hazwing]

With the removal of access to some cheaper plans, I once again have to reassess the value of Lightroom for myself.

From a value proposition, I find it the most easiest to use to sort my files and do non-destructive RAW edits. The generative AI removal tool is very good, and I am finding myself using it almost too liberally (mainly to remove random people and junk in the background).

However I find I only use it sporadically, mainly after coming back from holidays and trips. There are many months where it sits unused and it feels wasteful paying from a subscription that don't use much.

As I contemplate whether to keep my subscription, just wondering what would happen if I were to let my current subscription lapse? Would I be able to continue to export previous edits, and just be unable to do further edits?

 

[Drdul]

What happens to my photos if I cancel my Adobe subscription? | The Lightroom Queen

Now, if your subscription or trial version expires, you can continue to use Lightroom with the exception of the Develop module, Map module and mobile sync.

www.lightroomqueen.com

 

[Only RF]

I'm the same as you. Sometimes I don't shoot for months. I keep it around because I'm used to it and I like the features Adobe has been adding. When I travel I don't want to spend time learning new software at my age. I can, I just don't want to. Dropping Zenfolio and setting up Portfolio as my site basically pays for the plan every year.

Lightroom Queen is an excellent site and I have that link Richard posted bookmarked. I'm the there every day. Some of the same info from Adobe. Scroll down to the question about ending a membership.

https://helpx.adobe.com/ca/creative-cloud/faq/CCPp.html?x-product=Helpx%2F1.0.0&x-product-location=Search%3AForums%3Alink%2F3.6.3

 

[Only RF]

With the removal of access to some cheaper plans, I once again have to reassess the value of Lightroom for myself.

From a value proposition, I find it the most easiest to use to sort my files and do non-destructive RAW edits. The generative AI removal tool is very good, and I am finding myself using it almost too liberally (mainly to remove random people and junk in the background).

However I find I only use it sporadically, mainly after coming back from holidays and trips. There are many months where it sits unused and it feels wasteful paying from a subscription that don't use much.

As I contemplate whether to keep my subscription, just wondering what would happen if I were to let my current subscription lapse? Would I be able to continue to export previous edits, and just be unable to do further edits?

Yes to being able to keep and export all your previous edits, just no Develop and Map modules. You can use it for DAM as well. You also get 2GB cloud storage for life.

 

[Irene McC]

Watch this and cry

 

[Irene McC]

From the above linked video

 

[hazwing]

yeah definite over everything moving to subscription. Also noticing that a lot of subscriptions have increased in price, once they have you hooked.

 

[Only RF]

The price of the Photo Plan has not increased for current customers for the last 10 years. It’s still $10 a month.

 

[Only RF]

You know who else is being sued for deceiving customers? Amazon Prime. They already have a court date. They made it difficult to cancel their subscription. Apple just got fined because Siri does listen to you. How many people that complain about Adobe out use Apple and Amazon?

 

[Only RF]

Just in case I don't like Adobe any more than I like any big corporation. All the same. I just like the product and I've had a cancel Adobe backup plan since 2018 if they ever tick me off. Cancel plan button only 10 seconds away. So far they have been fine and accommodating when something didn't go right. I have been burned by perpetual licensed companies.

I did try to cancel Prime about 5 years ago and it was awful. Ran me through hoops. Recently when Bezos who can afford his own rocket ship added add free TV for another $2 a month so I cancelled my subscription. It was very easy and strait forward. Since they are going to court they had make adjustments to that. So did Adobe.

I hope Adobe gets what's coming to them if found guilty. I just don't like the misinformation out there. People make mistakes when this stuff happens. Also Adobe doesn't aways do themselves any favours when they announce something. You think a company that big would have a wiser PR department.

I despise deliberate disinformation. Not saying the video posted here is doing that. I didn't watch it and doubt I will.

 

[davidzvi]

It wasn't until I found the information about the Residual mode that I upgraded from the last perpetual version. I could surely find an alternative the the development module. But I have yet to find a DAM that I like as well.

 

[Only RF]

It’s tough to find that perfect one that does it all. Easier if you don’t need DAM at that level. ON1 claims to honour LrC edits but I’m sure about that or their DAM.

I only need two more things for LrC. For it to get the non destructive Denoise AI that ACR now has. I know that will come. A Sharpen AI module would be nice. Since Adobe came out with Denoise AI I turfed all my 3rd party NR apps. That’s about another $100 + a year in savings. I usually upgrades every year. I just kept Topaz Sharpen AI which is now a non supported product but still works OK.

For now I still feel there is enough value to keep using Adobe.

 

[Xenixi]

I let my Lightroom subscription lapse for a bit to see how much I really used it, and honestly, I had no issues exporting my previous edits. You just can't make any new adjustments or access the advanced tools. I only used it after trips, so when it wasn't in use, it felt like a waste paying for the full subscription. I ended up going for a smaller plan, which works better for me since I don't need constant access to everything. If you're in the same boat, that might be an option to consider.

 

[ShipleyNW]

If your subscription lapses, can you still import new images into the Library module?

 

[Only RF]

If your subscription lapses, can you still import new images into the Library module?

Yes you can. You can use the DAM forever.

 

[David1701]

I like RawTherapee's payment plan (nothing - ever). I'm willing to forego features, to avoid feeding the beast.

Software subscriptions are a way to ensure that the public owns nothing, yet continually pays for everything (I know that this is an oversimplification, but the increase in subscription-based payment models is quite concerning for anyone who values freedom).

 

[Only RF]

To me freedom is to have the right to say what I want, go where I want, right to vote, practise whatever religion I want and my heritage/culture without persecution, etc. Things like that. Something that I can cancel whenever I want doesn't seem to really impose on my freedoms, but that is me. The cancel Adobe plan button is only 10 seconds away. Each to their own which is a good thing.

 

[David1701]

To me freedom is to have the right to say what I want, go where I want, right to vote, practise whatever religion I want and my heritage/culture without persecution, etc. Things like that. Something that I can cancel whenever I want doesn't seem to really impose on my freedoms, but that is me. The cancel Adobe plan button is only 10 seconds away. Each to their own which is a good thing.

The freedom to own property is one of the fundamental freedoms. A steadily increasing rent-only model, equally steadily removes that freedom. If a super-rich "elite" ends up owning everything, and the rest of us have to rent everything from them, then feudalism will have returned and freedom will have vanished. There are some who have made no secret that they intend exactly that future (there's an official W.E.F. video that "predicts" that, by 2030, we will "own nothing and be happy").