Reply To: Quixel Mixer beta for free

[josua92]

@williamatics I wouldn’t call it panicking. It is easy to understand why so many are upset about it. And there are several reasons for that. Just a “small” opinion of mine:

I find it ridiculous that Adobe is doubtfully trying to dominate the entire creative industry. This  will never work  (as you can see there are already good alternatives  out there), but I understand why they did it (economically). There are reasons why companies should only offer services in which they are specialized in (and clients obvioulsy trust in that most). 10 years ago (more or less) for example, when Photoshop offered 3D-function, that was the first time I thought how ridiulous that move was: Why would they offer 3D-functions if there were already enough 3D-softwares out there? The 3D-industry was already a oversaturated market, and I was pissed off, because there were many bugs to be solved (there are still decade old bugs!).  I think  Adobe should have  worked with heir primary softwares (make the software faster, less  bugs, more, etc.). Everyone  knows that companies, that are holding a monopoly status, are the ones that get lazy! And no, it does not count as productive, if adobe release new products every few years, just to let it die the following years.  And  then there are companies that are offering alternatives and  Adobe is reacting the last several years with a strategy exactly what apple was and is doing the last decade: Trying to force their clients in their ecosystems, demand ridiculous prices for terrible services (let us be honest; I work everyday with PS, IL, ID….and there is no week without some crashes or bugs….it really became buggy the last years….you need to find workarounds to make it work for you, horrible update services, etc…the list goes on).

Yes, Adobe is a leader in what PS & Co.can  do. And yes there are some exception that really worked out for Adobe and customers. You can really get your work done in a relatively short amount of time (no question about that – for now). The point is: being creative or work creative should mean, that artists should not be forced what tools to choose for. I mean we should respect, that there are artists that are just simply rejecting specific operation systems or strictly avoiding specific products/companies/services (like subscriptions –  who knew, right xD). Every artists has  different ideals or workflows!

You may say: Well, nobody is forcing anyone  to use Adobe (or buying subscription from them),   but that’s just the perfidious thing: What about a really talented, professional artist, who does not want to use adobe but is forced to, because clients demand adobe files (even though he/she could excactly offer his/her work with other file formats/softwares). The same goes  for schools or universities that are demanding knowledge or possesion of adobe softwares, just to be able to take classes. Although I have to admit, that there is a great deal of rethinking in many design universities regarding softwares/apps (luckily!). More and more universities are encouraging students to think outside of the box, by using not only adobe products but also other alternatives. I remember how one lecturer at university told us, that they don’t care if we use 3DS Max, Maya or even Blender…important was, that the given work was done properly!

We should also remember, that we live in times where ideals are more important than functional ones. Just the fact that only a fraction of the people in this world have the opportunity to get education (like us, that can afford cgcookie subscription) or work, shows why we should talk more often about that! We should be angry and concerned about that! We owe it to those, that can not afford that and may never be able to fully develop creativity for whatever circumstances they are trapped in!   Creativity should be about overcoming boundaries! Adobe is increasingly trying to prevent that! I understand that a professional artist has to be able to adapt. No matter what software is provided to him. Nevertheless, artists have ideals and if we prescribe what is to be regarded as a standard, then we violate their consciences and personalities.

That is what I think about Adobe and Allegorithmic. It is not about Allegorithmic itself. It’s about the negative experiences that customers are increasingly experiencing with Adobe (prices, services, innovation, etc.); How Adobe develops and customers know exactly where that leads. People are not getting angry because Adobe chooses to get 3D experts on board by acquiring Allegorithmic (maybe they find a new ground breaking solution, who knows). They get upset because they know the history of Adobe (and how they behave).They are seeing big changes from powerful creative corporations (Adobe, Autodesk, etc.) and are pissed of, because they have enough of beeing  pushed around. They have enough to live a starving life like a “Vincent-Van-Gogh”-Cliché! There are many reasons why people are pissed off because of that. It’s so complex and is maybe also a reason why so many people are talking about that.

And beside: Why not trying something beside substance designer? 😀 If it works for you, then great! But don’t forget, that not everyone is you, and they have understandable (different) reasons for why it does not work for them!