Photoshop users are beginning to feel the impact of Adobe's controversial decision to ditch Pantone Color books from its Creative Cloud tools.
In December 2021, the creative apps company revealed plans to remove Pantone color libraries from products. Users will need to purchase an additional license, Pantone Connect, to use them in their work, effectively putting colors behind the paywall.
August saw the beginning of a phase-out that removed the included Pantone Color books from InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. Now this process seems more or less complete. And designer and video editor Iain Anderson revealed on Twitter (opens in a new tab) how movement affects creative workflows.
Paywalls and hackers
"Fun times ahead for #Adobe designers," the tweet began. “Today, if you open a PSD (even 20 years old) with a dark PANTONE color, it will remove the color and turn it black. Pantone wants €21/month for access, and Solid Coated goes behind the paywall in early November. »
Wiresaw users suggest favorite alternatives to Photoshop and your favorite digital art and drawing software. Others have offered workarounds to enable the color system in the app. Many seemed confused by the apparent copyright of the colors (although, technically, it is the Pantone color name and matching system that is licensed here). Most, however, criticized Adobe and Pantone for not coming to an agreement.
Aside from additional costs, one of the designers' main concerns is continuing to provide consistency and accuracy. Although Adobe's photo editor and DTP software allow third-party color books, they may not correspond identically to widely used Pantone libraries. As such, fears of a rise in complaints and assets not meeting brand guidelines weigh on the creative industry.
More concerning, as Anderson's tweet shows, is that this update is retroactive. Only Creative Cloud All Apps subscribers will be able to continue using Pantone swatches.
Adobe did not disclose the reason for this change. Their website simply notes that "Pantone's license with Adobe has been adjusted. Due to this change, customers will need to purchase Pantone Connect licenses to access Pantone Colors in Adobe Creative Cloud products.
The company also confirmed that after November 2022, only Pantone + CMYK Coated, Pantone + CMYK Uncoated, and Pantone + Metallic Coated swatches will remain available.