[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45_zCZnqmqU?rel=0&showinfo=0&w=704&h=396]
Following months of rumors, Adobe is today announcing Photoshop Lightroom 6 and Lightroom CC, the latest versions of its popular photo editing and organization software. Sharing the same code, design, and much of the same functionality, the two Lightroom releases are separated into purchasable (Lightroom 6) or subscription (Lightroom CC) versions, only the latter of which can sync with Adobe’s mobile applications. Apple notably recommended Lightroom as a replacement for its recently-discontinued Aperture professional photo application, and worked with Adobe to build an Aperture library importing tool to aid users during the transition.
Lightroom manages large photo libraries, while offering photographers powerful tools for RAW and JPEG image adjustment. Now solely a 64-bit application, Lightroom 6/CC promises huge speed improvements when applying prior effects to images, as well as newly added tools and brushes. As shown in the embedded video, facial recognition has been added, enabling functionality similar to Apple’s Faces feature from Aperture and iPhoto. A new HDR (high dynamic range) tool uses two images to create a composite photo with more vivid colors and detail, while brushes such as radial and graduated filters have been added. The app has also gained new slideshow options, automatic panorama stitching, video slide shows, and many other features.
Photoshop Lightroom CC can be downloaded now as part of Adobe’s Creative Cloud Photography subscription service for $9.99 per month; a prepaid year of CC Photography access is normally $119.88, and currently on sale at B&H Photo Video for $99.88. Photoshop Lightroom 6 can be ordered for $149 as a standalone download. Adobe has also released version 1.4 updates to its mobile apps Lightroom for iPad and Lightroom for iPhone with support for Lightroom CC, improved cropping, and TIFF file support. Both iOS apps are now available for free from the App Store, but require Creative Cloud subscriptions.
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I was really hoping they’d get away with “modules” or whatever they call it.
Man, I was hoping it would be easier to get the new version. Can’t download it through Creative Cloud app yet, not even when their own website prompts for the download. Hope this clears up in the next few hours.
Log out of the CC app and log back in again. It should appear.
Jeremy, thank you for your suggestion. I thought I was going crazy trying to get Lightroom to work on my MacBook Pro. One would think that Adobe would push such a message out to its users. Again, thank you!
Somehow I tried many times, it still does not work. Just give me white screen. Any help.
I signed up yesterday for the Capture One subscription service. I’ve been using it for the past month and a half or so and I really like it. It’s like the power tool version of the hand tool that’s Aperture. I was super comfortable and efficient and effective with Aperture, so it’s taking some getting used to, but I like it so much better than Lightroom.
So there is no upgrade path for current Lightroom 5 owners? We have to buy the application like new users? If so, this really sucks.
Yes you can upgrade from Lightroom 5 to Lightroom 6. There is a “Buy” button in the bottom right corner of Adobe’s Lightroom page. Click on that, then click on the “Checkout” button. Then, this bit is the important bit, edit your shopping cart… You can select Upgrade rather than Full, and then select which previous version of Lightroom you own.
John: Thanks, I got through it (before I saw your comment which is spot on).
Adobe sure has it’s UI head deeply buried where the sun don’t shine. Their online processes have always been awful and this is one more example of it.
Thanks.
And updates are free only within the same version right? 5 to 6 will be priced, just lower than straigh up buying 6?
That is truly a poorly designed way on going about it. Not just any normal-stupid…this is Microsoft-level stupidity.
I really don’t like subscription pricing. I’d potentially be interested in paying for Lightroom 6, but no mobile sync without a subscription is a deal killer for me.
Why? $10 a month for Lightroom and Photoshop is a bargain. To buy them outright would cost about $1000. That’s about 8 years of subscription fees…..
Tested and version cannot, as the old one, install on a case sensitive formatted disk. This is just getting more and more silly. I can, fort off, understand that the old CS4 did not work, but their very latest version?
Lightroom’s Aperture importer does NOT import your edits, just the original and the variants. Also, Lightroom does not support a Managed file system, just Referenced. If you’re an Aperture user and want to continue to use a Managed file system, plus transfer most of your edits, along with your originals and variants, I strongly suggest you have a look at Capture One Pro.
Installed Lighroom CC, Restarted my MacBook Pro. Logout Creative cloud, loged in again but still Lightroom CC 2015 will not start. Suggestions?
I’m having the same problem. Downloaded LR5 9 days ago as a trial to decide post-Aperture what to do. Today I saw LR CC 2015 is available with facial recognition. Downloaded it. Now in the CC panel it says that I haven’t started the LR5 trial yet (I’ve been using it 9 days) and LR CC 2015 tries to launch and then immediately crashes. Just weird. Any idea?
thanks for publishing this useful tool
As I read it in Adobe’s “Buy Here” page, you have only 2 subscription options: An annual agreement, payable at $9.99 / mo (but still an annual obligation) and a prepaid annual subscription for $119.88. So, as I see it, either way, I have to sign up for a year. Its just what the payment terms are that differ. Am I reading this incorrectly? The article seems to imply that a monthly option is available.
And I just confirmed this via an online chat: cancel an annual subscription, and they will now bill you for 50% of the remaining term.
In South East Asia, cannot upgrade from 5 to 6 – only goes to the US store… then says “Wrong Store – please log out”
Re-login to the South East Asia Store and now you cannot upgrade or buy lightroom 6, only can sign up to the Creative Cloud – which I dont want.
And they wonder why there is so much piracy – I’m trying to buy this, and so difficult, that I actually cant upgrade a product I have already bought
(dont get me started on Photoshop CC – I paid for a year, and cannot renew the subscription – the reason why I dont want CC for Lightroom)