khumiston

I realize photo processing is not a new topic but I have a new twist. I have Lightroom 6, 2015 release that I believe is the last stand-alone version before Adobe went to the subscription model. Lately when I open it I have received a message that when Mac updates its Operating System, that it will not support apps developed for a 32 bit system. The purpose of the notice is to tell people using 32bit apps to contact their app developer about this coming change. The current Mac OS is Mohave, which was developed to work with either 32 bit or 64 bit apps during this transition. I called Adobe and was told that if I want to continue to use LR, I will have to subscribe. One strange thing I discovered is that a friend of mine has a version of LR 5, and it was developed as a 64 bit app. It would appear that, assuming going from 32 to 64 bit OS is advancement in technology, that Adobe went backward from LR 5 to LR 6 regarding the capability to work with more advanced Operating Systems. What could be the reason for that other than to set it up so anyone purchasing LR 6 for a Mac would eventually have to subscribe when Mac upgrades to the next version of its OS? That is a rhetorical question; my real question is whether or not anyone knows of a way around having to go to the subscription model, yet to continue to use LR 6 after Mac updates its OS? I know there are other image processing software packages, I have seen them discussed on this site and I have a kept a list of them. Personally I like LR 6 and would like to stay with it, but do not want to have to have a subscription, partly because of the cost. I am not a professional photographer and don't think I use it often enough to justify the cost of a subscription, but for other personal preferences as well. Does anyone know of an alternative that would allow LR 6 to work with the new Mac 64 bit OS when it is released? My understanding is that release if a new Mac OS is not imminent, however, there will certainly be a new Mac OS at some point. Thanks to all for any input.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

khumiston - Is it an absolute guaranteed ‘lock’ that LR 6.xx will not work with Mac’s 64-bit OS when it arrives? Ever hear the expression, “Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday and all is well?”
You don’t think Adobe might recognize the problem and come up with a patch or work around that allows users to continue unaffected?

If it is an unavoidable problem, one way around the quandary might be to purchase a free-standing copy of Adobe’s Photoshop Elements (PSE). PSE v19 is available now for $69.95.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Many programs work on both 32 and 64 bit. You may find that LR6 is actually 64bit but would work (but slower) on a 32bit Operating System.

Generally across the board 32 bit is being phased out - even with Linux. In most cases old 32 bit programs may still work - they just will not be updated to work with 'newer Apps'. ie changes in certain lines of code to look for a 32 bit link (that is no longer deemed relevant per sec).

I would wait and see what 'actually happens' to your LR after the new Mac OS is upgraded.

If the 'monolithic' Software producers are no longer keeping historic 32 Bit.....it may be that an even faster logarithm is waiting in the wings. 64 bit has been around for quite a while, yet the need for speed marches on. I think AI requires quite a lot of new tech and that will certainly be appearing soon.

Don't be in a hurry to 'jump the gun' just yet.

Have fun

phot0n0ob

Apple has announced a long time ago that 32bit application will not work on macOS 10.15 - that is why 10.14 (Mojave) displays those warning messages, whenever you run a 32bit app (https://www.macrumors.com/guide/32-bit-mac-apps/).

Lightroom 6 itself is a 64bit app, but there are several helper/utility applications (e.g. adobe_licutil, AdobeApplicationManager, ...) which - depending on their version - might be 32bit or 64bit and thus might, or might not - work, once you upgrade to 10.15. I have no idea to what extend these utilities are required to run Lightroom.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

The answer is pretty simple - just get CC - problem solved. Hell, it's not a money issue - you've got some fairly high end gear - a 600mmF4 and a 5DM4, and other cool stuff - yet you are hesitating at buying software because of some resistance to "renting" "subscribing" or some other notion that is not clear to me. The subscription is just a way for Adobe to stop having to support an entire industry related to it's software distribution channel, and focus it's resources on a single method of delivery - download. The money they saved on packaging, media, warehousing, product returns, inventory management, etc etc etc is now dedicated to software development in their new business model. BTW, if you look at your EULA (end user license agreement) you'll notice that you don't actually "own" anything but a license to use "THEIR" software. That part hasn't changed - but the price - which used to be $1000 for PS and $300 for LR is now only $10/month - and new upgrades every 12 months or so are absolutely included. After paying $1000s for their software in the past, I wholeheartedly applaud this change in the way they distribute and charge for their software.

Archiefamous Loc: Manhattan

Or just don’t upgrade os.

Maik723

I have a better solution,,,,,,,,purchase Affinity Photo.

khumiston

Thanks to all for the input, nothing but good constructive comments.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Lightroom 6.14 should be 64-bit software. Lightroom 6.00 was!

Go to the Apple Menu —> About This Mac —> System Report... —> Software (section) —> Applications.

Sort by the column, "64-bit (Intel)?" by clicking on the column header. Click again to reverse the sort, if 32-bit apps don't rise to the top.

Look for your Lightroom 6 app and verify whether it is 32-bit or 64-bit.

It is true that Apple's next OS will NOT support ANY 32-bit apps. They've been warning us for years about this migration. That new Mac OS 10.15 (yet to be named) will likely be available in the Fall of 2019. Usually, late October is when new versions are launched each year. Developers will get beta versions at, or after, this June's Apple Developers' Conference.

You can always keep your system running Mojave for a couple of years, and continue to get Apple security updates. Eventually, they won't support your hardware OR Mojave, anyway. So I'd start saving for a new set of solutions, now.

Adobe, of course, abandoned Lightroom 6 over a year ago. The last supported Mac OS listed is 10.13. That doesn't mean it won't work on 10.14, just that they have abandoned it. We have no idea whether or not it will REALLY work on the next Mac OS.

It's sad that vendors continue to sell the retail package! It's a dead end, folks. Either get something else, or subscribe to one of the Adobe CC packages. Whining about a subscription vs. a DVD is pointless. Either way, you don't own it, you just license it.

korat Loc: Eastern Shore Virginia

khumiston

I have received a lot of good feedback and it is apparent that I have a number of options, plus time to consider which way I want to go. Thank you for your comments. And thanks to Hedgehog for connecting me with photographers who know more about what I am talking about than I do!

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Adobe did not go backwards, but there was a choice to have at the time of the download and I guess you did not chose the 64 bit version!

khumiston

The version I purchased came on a disk and I don't recall seeing a choice for 64 bit, but it may have been there and I just missed it. But thanks for that tip, that gives me a good reason to call Adobe again, because at least I know there is a LR 6 for a 64 bit OS. And I have some other things to check from other feedback I have received, like first being sure that the version I have isn't compitable with 64 bit despite the warning. I am getting lots of helpful advice and really appreciate all of it. It would seem part of my problem is I just didn't know that I didn't know.