Whenever a new operating system comes out, the same statements and questions always come up about upgrading.
First… people I run in to, always wonder if Adobe’s applications are compatible.
And next, if it’s a Mac OS update, PC people always say “Just buy a PC”. If it’s a PC update, Mac users always say “Just buy a Mac” 😉 Super helpful right!
Anyway, recently the new Mac OS has come out – Catalina. And the questions are pouring in about whether or not to update. Truth be told, I’m the least techie guy out there. So I have no idea what this whole 32 bit / 64 bit thing means. And if we’re being honest, I don’t care much either.
What I can tell you is that most of your mainstream photography related apps have already been updated to support this (including Adobe if you’re on the subscription plan). That doesn’t mean you won’t have the occasional quirk or problem here and there. Adobe actually has a few web pages where you can find out any known issues.
- Which Photoshop versions are compatible with macOS Catalina? (Click Here)
- Which Lightroom Classic versions are compatible with macOS Catalina? (Click Here)
- Which Lightroom (cloud version) is compatible with macOS Catalina? (Click Here)
But your biggest issue would probably be with older software. If you’re on one of the perpetual versions of Lightroom or Photoshop then you’ll likely run in to some problems. We’ve known this was coming for years, and now it’s here. If you don’t run in to anything today, it’s just a matter of time before your OS, both Mac and PC, (not Adobe) makes your software obsolete.
But you probably use other apps too. If it’s an older app that hasn’t been updated in a while, you may want to check to see if it’s compatible with Catalina.
Final Thoughts – What I Do Personally?
I’ll leave you with some final thoughts on this and what I do personally. For me, OS updates don’t add much value. I don’t use my computer for much more than editing photos, writing articles, recording video, and blog posts. So the OS features that get added don’t do much for me.
Because of that, it’s just not worth the risk of updating right away. I usually wait a minimum of 30-60 days (if not longer simply because I just forget). And it’s honestly not because the photography apps don’t work. It’s because my computer is my livelihood. I work on it all day long. And the possible time lost from having to deal with anything not working, just isn’t worth it to me.
Maybe I’m nervous over nothing, but when something is working fine, I just don’t want to mess with it.
Anyway, hopefully that helps answer the question of whether or not your software is compatible and what problems may arise from the update.
Have a good one!
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
Is your new updates to the Photoshop System available for older versions of the Photoshop System you put out a year or so ? Or do I have to buy them as well?
Hi Rodney – it’s an update and the downloads in your account already reflect the newer version. Thanks!
But have you see that Epson drivers are gone? Where? and will it be fixed??
Hi. Epson’s website would be a better place to ask this.
But they have gone in Lightroom, haven’t you see that?
Printers are my biggest heartache. An upgrade like this one inevitably requires new printer drivers that simply won’t be available for a while, and replacing a printer is not a party I want to be at.