Adobe at it again

[kencameron]

It does seem that having succeeded with the marketing steamroller mode of market domination, Adobe now sees zero reason to do more than minimal tinkering with Lr.

My milage varies. Adobe has kept me interested with new features in Lightroom for a number of years. Recently, I have enjoyed finding out how to use the dehaze filter, and the Panorama and HDR functions have partly replaced the specialist software which I also use. These might be minimal tinkering in your perspective but I see valuable enhancements. Adobe certainly doesn't seem interested in making all of the LR modules equally indispensable for professionals, and that may be where you are coming from. But perhaps there is no good business case for that. Also "marketing steamroller mode of market domination" seems to me to somewhat overstate Adobe's market position. They might wish for that, but what I see is a company trying not to lose too much ground in a perhaps declining but still significant market (Photography) while making a bid to be a player in a new and rapidly growing  one (smartphone and other device photography in the world of social media).

[ButchM]

My milage varies. Adobe has kept me interested with new features in Lightroom for a number of years. Recently, I have enjoyed finding out how to use the dehaze filter, and the Panorama and HDR functions have partly replaced the specialist software which I also use. These might be minimal tinkering in your perspective but I see valuable enhancements. Adobe certainly doesn't seem interested in making all of the LR modules equally indispensable for professionals, and that may be where you are coming from. But perhaps there is no good business case for that. Also "marketing steamroller mode of market domination" seems to me to somewhat overstate Adobe's market position. They might wish for that, but what I see is a company trying not to lose too much ground in a perhaps declining but still significant market (Photography) while making a bid to be a player in a new and rapidly growing  one (smartphone and other device photography in the world of social media).

Yes, mileage does vary.

Let's review the updates for Lightroom since the release of v6.0/CC 2015.0.

2015.1.1/6.1.1 was relatively uneventful though some users were still seeking solutions to some compatibility issues for certain graphics cards.

2015.2/6.2 was a total fiasco in 'simplifying and streamlining' the import process that arbitrarily removed several key functions that had become very popular and useful for a great number of users that resulted in an unprecedented outcry and eventual apology and re-instatement of the former dialog which didn't seem to create additional issues for 2015.3/6.3.

2015.4/6.4 had a very interesting issue where the installer was arbitrarily removing files at the user root directory on some Mac OS X systems creating permission issues and also introduced another bug in that Export presets that utilized Photoshop Droplets would no longer function. Though these issues were to be addressed in the next update.

2015.5/6.5 Lo and behold, the Droplet issue was resolved ...  as long as you only wished to export a single image using a Ps Droplet ... if you wished to export a batch of images to a Droplet ... something that was possible dating all the way back to Lr v2 (maybe earlier) ... it was now a no go.

All these problems causing additional end user time in assessing, troubleshooting and most likely rolling back to a functioning version of Lr that does not break long established workflows.

So yes, the Dehaze was a nice addition ... until of course you wished to continue using relied upon features to import images so you could apply the effect ...or want to install a updated version with RAW camera support for a new camera you would like to see how Dehaze would benefit it's images, but you can't because it breaks your workflow in a major way ... or if you wish to export an image to prepare it for client end use utilizing a Ps Droplet.

We seem to pay monthly subscription fee so we can receive updates and new features 'when they are ready' only to discover that Adobe refuses to perform due diligence in testing and assessing that work before they release an update, relegating it's license holders to pay-to-play beta tester status.

My interest in Adobe software is to complete my daily tasks in order to serve my clients in the best possible fashion ... but lately ... it's a trouble shooting nightmare trying to discern why Adobe seems insistent  upon making that job more difficult.

Additionally, the smartphone and social media photography market may be growing ... but how is Adobe going to monetize that market with a mobile version of a RAW image workflow app? When you consider there are many, many ... many ... more low or no cost very capable solutions that have a very strong foundation in the market. I'm not saying it's bad for Adobe to pursue some aspect of that market ... but is shouldn't come at a cost to existing customers and well established applications.

 

[digitaldog]

So yes, the Dehaze was a nice addition ...

Indeed, very useful. Let's give some credit where credit is due; Thomas Knoll and Eric Chan who primarily work on the ACR engine and ACR itself. The LR team gets the fruits of their labor. When we see such new functionality (and more is coming...), it's produced first in ACR due to Thomas and Eric's focus on that raw rendering engine. A lack of focus in other areas, many of the issues you pointed out, fall upon the LR team.

[ButchM]

Indeed, very useful. Let's give some credit where credit is due.

I agree. I think I stated that very clearly, Dehaze is a welcome addition. But you can't glorify the wins and ignore the losses.  My point was, how are my clients to benefit from Dehaze ... if other issues in Lr are preventing me from getting all that goodness to my clients ... where's the benefit?

I just wish the entire Lightroom application could reflect the same level of attention to detail as Thomas and Eric apply to ACR. We all would be much better off it it did. If it were not for the work in ACR ... there really wouldn't be a whole lot to talk about where Lightroom is concerned.

[digitaldog]

I just wish the entire Lightroom application could reflect the same level of attention to detail as Thomas and Eric apply to ACR.

As would I. It used to more or less. But IMHO, it hasn't for two or three versions at least. IF the team had a driving force like Thomas and Eric, maybe this would be different. The product feels like it's lacking a direction to me. So much like a well made film, you can have the best DP or film editor in the world, but if the script or direction is lacking, it's not going to be a very good film.