I've just sent this message to Adobe Customer Support.
 
Do any of you fine people know the answer to my query by any chance?
 
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Hi there
 
Apologies if this is the wrong place for my query, but I've been trawling this site for over an hour and cannot find the information I need.
 
I currently own 3 versions of Photoshop Elements (5; 10 & 11), but I've decided that instead of upgrading to PSE13, I want to start using the full version of Photoshop.
 
From what I can tell, purchasing the software is no longer an option, so I'm guessing I need to start a subscription. The only subscription I can find is the £8.78 per month plan which allows me to use Photoshop and Lightroom.
 
However, I have already purchased both Lightroom 4 and 5, so until Lightroom 6 comes along, it would appear that I'll have to be paying part of my subscription for a subscription to a program I already own outright.
 
Can you let me know if I'm correct in all my assumptions, or is there a way I can simply pay a lower sum to subscribe only to Photoshop?

SteveStrummerUK
  
Can you let me know if I'm correct in all my assumptions, or is there a way I can simply pay a lower sum to subscribe only to Photoshop?

I don't know but I assume your assumptions are correct. I had Lightroom 4 but needed to upgrade to 5 to get support for the RAW format of my new Canon D70, so I went the CC route, I only had an old version of Photoshop Elemes.

 
 
Thanks Glyn, I appreciate your input
 
I eventually managed to get through to Adobe's Live Chat and apparently, I was almost correct.
 
There are two plans available and now I have to work out the difference between the 'Photography' Plan which does include Lightroom (@£8.78/month), and the 'Single App - Photoshop' Plan (@£17.58/month).
 
Either I'm useless, or their website could do with a massive overhaul when it comes to easily finding out the answers to some pretty simple questions regarding their products

I really, really dislike that subscription idea in general. I don't use Photshop for making money, I use it a few times a year, but I'm used to using it's advanced features as well, so PS Elements feels pretty crippled for me.
Over 200 euros a year is a lot compared to paying 300-400 for the product and using it for fifteen years.

You sure you can't BUY a copy any more?  Last time I checked (a year or so ago), you had the choice of either buying or subscribing.  I chose to buy of course.

Kalle Rantaaho
I really, really dislike that subscription idea in general. I don't use Photshop for making money, I use it a few times a year, but I'm used to using it's advanced features as well, so PS Elements feels pretty crippled for me.
Over 200 euros a year is a lot compared to paying 300-400 for the product and using it for fifteen years.

Kalle, I'm finding myself in the same position.
 
Specifically, the lack of support for 16bit images in Elements is really starting to become an obstacle. I've got Elements 11 maxed out with some great plugins such as the excellent Elements XXL2, Topaz Lab and the Nik Efex Suite. I 'develop' all my RAW files in Lightroom, but once I export them to Elements, the options for processing the 16bit images is really limited.
 
On the other hand, I'm now two versions of Elements behind, so that's about £170 I haven't spent. As the 'Photography' Plan works out at about £105 a year, I look at it as though my £170 'credit' means I'm good for well over 18 months, plus I'll actually be using much more sophisticated software, and get automatic upgrades to both PS and Lightroom.
 
What I found a bit annoying was having to have Lightroom included in the Plan, but seeing as version 5 is now over 16 months old, I guess it won't be long until that's replaced by #6.
 
Whatever happens, I'm going to download the free months trial of PS, that effectively brings my monthly outlay down to £8.10

craigb
You sure you can't BUY a copy any more?  Last time I checked (a year or so ago), you had the choice of either buying or subscribing.  I chose to buy of course.

There are a few places still selling the boxed version mate, all around the £325 - £350 ($525-565) mark.
 
It's a case of balancing the fact that I can get around three and a half years subscription to PS and LR with all upgrades for that sort of dosh, but knowing I won't actually own any software once I stop subscribing.
 
I'll see how much I lurve the free months demo. Trouble is, I think I already know the answer to that

I also have Lightroom 4 and the upgrade to 5 was $79.
I considered buying PS CS6, but found out there would no longer be upgrades/updates for the standalone app.
I assume they would issue bug fixes, but no new features. 
 
I weighed the pros and cons, and decided to go with the Photo Plan with PS & LR.
 
Yes it stinks that I already had LR4 and yes, I know I'll still be "paying for it" a few years down the road, but I use LR a few times a week and PS more than a few times/month, so to me it's worth the $10/month, since I always have the current versions with upgrades.
 

I have PS CS6, but never heard about the end of upgrades/updates.  That sucks.  Since I do branding for companies (logos, themes, business cards, t-shirt, styles, mascots, etc.) and manage online stores, I use Photoshop a LOT.  I'm not happy that my next upgrade will have to be to something that they can prevent me from using whenever I want.

As I understand it, PS-CS6 is the last non-subscription version Photoshop.
It's still for sale, but it's just being updated for new cameras and lenses, not new features. 
New features will only be in the CC version.
 
But then again, you own your copy of PS (a pro), and I only rent mine (a con) and will have to for the foreseeable future.
And if I stop the subscription, I'll have nothing except fond memories (a worse con).
But the CC version will have the most current version/features (a pro)