Considering the fact that design related businesses usually need to upgrade to every new edition of software as soon as it becomes available, this can get very expensive very quickly, even with upgrade pricing instead of full pricing. For example, currently CS6 with Design & Web Premium costs a whopping $1,899. It is certainly cheaper for larger production studios.
Also when you try to upgrade your software you have to dig up your previous serial number, etc.
It can quickly become a nightmare to deal with discs and serial numbers if you use just more than one computer. It’s much more convenient for larger production studios to manage a single subscription to all of the necessary Adobe applications, and keep apps up to date year after year. So, what do you think? Are you ready to pay a monthly subscription for your license of the various Adobe programs you use? Let’s break it down a little bit… The Prosīasically, the subscription-based business model is a huge bargain for large studios that use tons of software.
For more pricing information, click HERE. Subscription plans are already available for the current versions of Adobe software, and range from $20 per month for a single App license (such as Photoshop & Bridge CS6) to $69 per month for a team-based Creative Suite 6 license, plus 100 GB of online storage for collaboration on projects. (Here at SLR Lounge, for example, a single project such as our Natural Light Couples Portraiture DVD would consume 200-300 GB worth of total storage!) Of course there are also cloud-based storage options, but at a mere 20-100 GB worth of hosted storage, you’re really only going to be able to host one or two small jobs at a time. It is only the software licensing that will be a monthly subscription. You won’t be forced to upload 100% of your work and do your post-production over an internet connection, or anything silly like that. To clarify some details: Adobe software will still be installed on your computer itself. What does this mean? In other words, within a generation or two of Adobe software, monthly subscriptions (AKA, the Creative Cloud) may be the only option available if you want to stay up to date with the latest software, or if you simply buy a new camera and want to process its RAW photos. According to Adobe’s MAX conference that is taking place right now here in Los Angeles, we will soon be working in a subscription-only environment. Adobe does already offer an option for subscription-based software licensing, although currently it is an optional offering for those who want it.