European Union Flag
European Apple Users Information & Support
LOGIN
Smartmockups The #1 Product Mockup Generator
RSS Feed Icon
via fetchrss.com The next event is:
Apple WWDC23

From 5 June 2023
to 9 June 2023
More events…

macOS 13 Ventura
FREE
 Amazon UK Mac Software Affiliate Link
Smartmockups The #1 Product Mockup Generator

Adobe Creative Suite CS / Creative Cloud Useful Information

Article ID = 117
Article Title = Adobe Creative Suite CS / Creative Cloud Useful Information
Article Author(s) = Graham Needham (BH)
Article Created On = 25th February 2014
Article Last Updated = 25th April 2014
Article URL = https://www.macstrategy.com/article.php?117

Article Brief Description:
Useful information about Adobe Creative Suite CS / Creative Cloud

Adobe Creative Suite CS Current Status as of 24/04/2014

As Adobe slowly kills off CS6 and tries to entice/force† users to their subscription based Creative Cloud, MacStrategy presents a run down of the current status of Adobe Creative Suite CS.

† - delete as you see appropriate.

Installation, Registration and Compatibility

  • Photoshop v6, Illustrator v9 and InDesign v1 and all earlier versions are Classic Mac OS apps
  • Photoshop v7, Illustrator v10 and InDesign v2 will run as Mac OS X or Classic Mac OS apps
  • CS1 and all prior versions simply require a serial number to install (registration is optional)
  • CS1 and CS2 require Mac OS X and are PowerPC (Rosetta) based apps - they will not run on OS X 10.7 Lion or later
  • CS2 required activation but Adobe shut down the CS2 activation servers in January 2013 - if you have a valid license you can download a version that does not require activation
  • CS3 was the first OS X Intel compatible version
  • CS3-CS4 are Universal Binary apps so will run on Intel and PowerPC Macs
  • CS3-CS5.5 require internet activation and serial number to install (registration is optional)
  • CS5.5 and all earlier versions are no longer supported and do not get (security) updates
  • CS5-CS6 are Intel Mac native apps
  • CS6 requires internet activation, serial number, Adobe ID and automatic registration to install
  • CC (Creative Cloud) requires internet activation and an Adobe ID to install - it also requires a regular internet based licence check and if the internet based licence check fails then after 100 days of failure to check-in, the software stops working!
NOTE: If you upgrade your CS6 licence to Creative Cloud you should still be able to keep your CS6 licence and go back to it if necessary. This is stated on the Adobe Forums (albeit without a proper, official statement regarding the matter). When you upgrade your CS6 to CC, it's all part of the same Adobe ID/registration/activation system, so it is entirely feasible and easy for Adobe to know you've done this and essentially kill your CS6 licence (in their system). Do you trust Adobe?
NOTE: There is a lot of misinformation being reported on the internet about losing your work/access to documents with Creative Cloud. The simple fact is that although many web sites including Adobe report that Adobe will not delete your files on your local hard disk/computer if you stop subscribing to Creative Cloud, you will lose access to running the CC software. You should be aware that some document formats are proprietary e.g. InDesign - CC documents cannot be opened in CS6, but also some document formats which may appear to be easily accessible elsewhere e.g. Photoshop .psd files, there are actually some things like CMYK colour and layers that may not transfer properly. You really should make yourself aware of the full facts and document specifics before susbcsribing/unsubscribing to Adobe Creative Cloud. There's more information in our What You Should Really Know About Adobe Creative Cloud blog post.

What You Should Really Know About Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe Creative Cloud requires regular payment (a subscription) to continue using the software (SaaS - Software As A Service). If you stop paying you can no longer use the CC software but you should be aware of what this may entail for your documents/work. We wrote a blog post about this back in May 2013, when Creative Cloud was first announced, which we highly recommend reading.

Alternatives To Adobe Creative Cloud

Please see this separate article.

Adobe Creative Suite 6 (CS6) Perpetual Licence

Adobe has already stopped selling Creative Suite 6 (CS6) as boxed, retail product. You may be able to find the odd, unpurchased copies around. Be very wary of buying opened box versions of CS6 as CS6 installation requires a serial number, Adobe ID and automatic registration of that serial number to the associated Adobe ID. It is possible to legally transfer an Adobe licence but be aware that Adobe limits the number of software transfers an individual can transfer to just four (4) in a whole lifetime! Adobe will stop selling Creative Suite 6 (CS6) via its volume licence programmes on 31st May 2014.

Useful Adobe Links

Creative Creative Suite 6 (CS6) Retail Editions at Amazon UK/USA

NOTE: As Adobe has discontinued boxed, retail product the following links may no longer have stock available:

Article Keywords: Adobe Creative Suite CS Cloud Mac Macintosh OS X Useful Information Info Installation Registration Compatibility internet activation serial number ID account Alternatives docs document documents links buying purchase purchasing Perpetual Licence Licences licencing License Licenses licensing boxed retail personal single user home corporate small business SME education educational volume sub subscription

This article is © MacStrategy » a trading name of Burning Helix. As an Amazon Associate, employees of MacStrategy's holding company (Burning Helix sro) may earn from qualifying purchases. Apple, the Apple logo, and Mac are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

If this information helped you or saved you time and/or money why not donate a little to us via PayPal?
All proceeds go directly to MacStrategy / Burning Helix to help fund this web site.
If this information helped you or saved you time and/or money why not donate a little to us via PayPal?
All proceeds go directly to MacStrategy / Burning Helix to help fund this web site.

Go to this
web page
to donate to us.