After Raising $235K, Abode Remains Committed to Taking on Adobe

TL;DR:

Semple, a multi-disciplinary British artist, promised to build “a brand new suite of world-class design and photography tools, with an uncanny similarity to the tools you’ve been indoctrinated in.”

“There’s a really urgent need for a suite of creative tools for creators that they actually own rather than rent. In a way, this first started when Adobe and Pantone decided to paywall the Pantone colors and I created Freetone — which was a free color plugin so creators could continue to access their palette,” he says.

“I have lawyers, and I’ve taken advice. We have solid plans in place. I would also point out that nobody has seen the final branding and no software that infringes on any of Adobe’s trademarks has been produced,”

“I have successfully challenged IP owned by Tiffany and Co, Pantone, Mattel, and others over the years. I feel we have a good and thorough understanding of where the legal line is and an ability to get as close to that as possible without overstepping it.”

ddnomad,
@ddnomad@infosec.pub avatar

I’m highly sceptical of this shipping in a state that can compete with Adobe at the end of it all. The branding itself is asking for trouble, which is just plain stupid if you are serious about long-term and sustainable development of the whole suite, and 180k is not enough to even put together a competent alternative to Illustrator, not to mention Photoshop and InDesign.

And before people start claiming that you can fund this by outsourcing to Eastern Europe / India etc, please bear in mind that you usually get what you pay for. A competent developer with enough experience to actually make this happen won’t come cheap, and opportunistic juniors with big ambitions won’t deliver.

I wish this project all the luck it can get, but I’m personally banking on Graphite and Inkscape from the FOSS world and Affinity suite from (as of yet) less corpo commercial offerings.

donut4ever,

I was gonna get mad you at first, but then you provided some sweet links. 😂 Thank you. And also good luck to abode. The more competition the better.

djquadratic,
djquadratic avatar

Case in point. I’m still waking up and thought that said adobe is taking on adobe

ddnomad,
@ddnomad@infosec.pub avatar

Same, actually! And that happened even after I had my morning coffee too.

I especially like how “legal issues” is not even in “Risks and challenges” section on Kickstarter.

What can possibly go wrong?

CaptainAniki,

Now you guys know what it’s like to be dyslexic!

aeternum,

I'm still not sure that's not what it says

Zagorath,
@Zagorath@aussie.zone avatar

It took until reading your comment and then going back to check the title again for me to realise it didn’t say Adobe twice.

ItsGhost,
@ItsGhost@sh.itjust.works avatar

Took 4 takes for me to finally work out what it said

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

Just not Canva. We have customers that use Canva and, unless they use presets, the results are universally awful.

hardypart,

and opportunistic juniors with big ambitions won’t deliver.

Have you ever heard about photopea.com? Made by ONE guy.

ddnomad,
@ddnomad@infosec.pub avatar

I’ve never heard of that project, looks pretty cool! To be clear, I do not say that “one guy” cannot possibly make great software. Passion projects are a thing. What differentiates them from the Abode situation, in my opinion, is that passion projects rarely have strict deadlines and paying backers who expect software that is Adobe-level in terms of quality and polish in a roughly 1 year.

hardypart,

Fair point.

MonkCanatella,

Just fyi engineers in every other part of the world are as good or better than Americans or whatever you may consider “developed” countries. I’m not in love with outsourcing considering I’ve lost my job to it a couple times. But it’s not because the devs across the world aren’t fantastic amazing people.

Silentiea,

The root commenter wasn’t claiming that foreign engineers can’t be good, but rather that good foreign engineers are already charging competitive rates because they can, so there’s not a huge amount of savings to be had there.

OrangeCorvus, (edited )
@OrangeCorvus@lemmy.world avatar

To be honest if this was released on 1st of April, it would have been a perfect prank. I don’t think it’s realistic the buy once, own forever approach if you don’t have any other source of income. Like Blackmagic has with their hardware so they can afford to do a buy once type of deal with Davinci Resolve.

A more realistic approach would be like Affinity where you buy every major release, every 3-4-5 years.

Even if I agree with him 100% and I switched to Davinci/Affinity, the whole branding and naming feels like a well made shitpost and I cannot take it seriously.

Bootheal0179,

I get where you’re coming from, but for me, I HATE the Adobe corporation, so the shitpost feeling of Abode truly abides.

pglpm,
@pglpm@lemmy.ca avatar

Had never heard about Graphite, thank you! I’ll try to stay updated about it. But please feel free to post important news about it in this community, whenever there’ll be steps forward.

deong,

Yeah, that this is a name and logo that they even entertained for half a second is pretty strong evidence that they’re not up to this challenge. This is like starting a law firm and calling it “Buttfuckers”. No one is going to take you seriously, and you not seeing the problem means they shouldn’t.

ddnomad,
@ddnomad@infosec.pub avatar

“Buttfuckers & Sons” 😅

WarmSoda,

If you read the words under the title you’ll know it’s not going to be the name for the tools.

MyNameIsIgglePiggle,

Just to add in here, a few years back I decided to make a project to cut adobe out of my life.

I wanted to start by giving all the FOSS tools a go first.

In the end, I decided none of them were up to scratch. Inkscape is clunky AF, gimp is a PITA, darktable was pretty clunky but usable.

In any case I landed on the affinity suite for a PS, Illustrator, and InDesign alternative, and I got very cheap / free versions of Skylum Luminar for Lightroom although that’s going to shit with every release.

DaVinchi for video editing. Not yet found a competent replacement for AE.

someguy3,

How did photopea rank?

6xpipe_,
@6xpipe_@lemmy.world avatar

I actually really like Darktable. It took some time to get used to, but I bounced from Lightroom to Apple Photos to Darktable as Image editors. Unlike the others, I feel no need to leave Darktable now that I’m used to it.

linuxisfun,

I think darktable is one of the better alternatives for Adobe software.

A couple of years ago, I took a Lightroom workshop and did all the tasks with darktable. I was amazed at how similar it actually is and I managed to keep up with the workshop, even though I didn’t use darktable nor Lightroom before.

fmstrat,

ShotCut works pretty good for basic video editing.

OrangeCorvus,
@OrangeCorvus@lemmy.world avatar

Next to the edit tab is the Fusion tab in Davinci :), that’s your AE replacement.

linuxisfun, (edited )

I actually prefer Krita over GIMP, even for photo editing. I can’t stand how bad stylus support with GIMP is and I much prefer Krita’s UI. I wish Krita would focus on areas beyond drawing more, as Krita is quite close to being a good program for editing photos in my opinion.

I have never used Adobe’s or Affinity’s products though, as they aren’t available for Linux and are therefore not an option for me. I would probably consider them, but those companies apparently decided that I am not worth their business.

Kiana,

In my opinion Paint.net is a lot better than Gimp. Tried both and the former has given me a much more pleasant time.

ares35,
ares35 avatar

gimp has more features, and with that, a steeper learning curve.

a 20+ year old version of paint shop pro beats paint.net

Zagorath,
@Zagorath@aussie.zone avatar

The only open source replacement for Adobe that really works for me is Audacity. And that’s probably more because I’m not a very advanced audio editor compared to my demands when it comes to photo and video editing tools, rather than an actual statement on the quality of the tool itself.

proton_lynx,

What about Akira? Is it still being developed?

Vastris31,

While your skepticism is valid, it’s important to consider that competition doesn’t solely rely on branding but also on innovation, user experience, and pricing. The concerns about funding and developer quality are legitimate, but success can be achieved by striking the right balance. While alternatives like Graphite, Inkscape, and Affinity have their merits, it’s worth keeping an eye on emerging projects as well. For a broader perspective on outsourcing development, this article on IT outsourcing in Europe (www.cleveroad.com/blog/it-outsourcing-europe/) can provide insights into potential options and considerations for ensuring competent and successful development, addressing some of the concerns raised.

artsemlaz, (edited )

TL;DR:

Semple, a multi-disciplinary British artist, promised to build “a brand new suite of world-class design and photography tools, with an uncanny similarity to the tools you’ve been indoctrinated in.”

“There’s a really urgent need for a suite of creative tools for creators that they actually own rather than rent. In a way, this first started when Adobe and Pantone decided to paywall the Pantone colors and I created Freetone — which was a free color plugin so creators could continue to access their palette,” he says.

“I have lawyers, and I’ve taken advice. We have solid plans in place. I would also point out that nobody has seen the final branding and no software that infringes on any of Adobe’s trademarks has been produced,”

“I have successfully challenged IP owned by Tiffany and Co, Pantone, Mattel, and others over the years. I feel we have a good and thorough understanding of where the legal line is and an ability to get as close to that as possible without overstepping it.”

Creating a new design is always an arduous task. I like how you discussed a British artist Semple. His aim is to create new design and photography tools in competition with Adobe. I think that the competition in the startup area is so high that you can’t relax even for a minute. Plus I liked how you addressed concerns with regard to legal issues and the importance of innovation and competition in tech startup ideas. As we talk about startups and raising capital I advise you to look at this article about tech startup ideas. The most popular niches for growing startups for now are Artificial Intelligence, Telehealth and Virtual Medical Services, and Remote Working. EdTech Startup, Biotech Startups, and IoT startups.

punkskunk,

deleted_by_author

    •
    tomthegeek,

    They have managed to build software suites that have been stable, consistent, and near the cutting edge of their industry for decades while avoid significant bloat and legacy hangover.

    Are we talking about the same Adobe here? Adobe software generally does work but avoiding bloat? Have you installed Reader lately? They have their share of instability as well.

    TrickDacy,

    Yeah I had the same reaction. Adobe software is pretty great, but that’s in spite of running slow. If I had to pick 5 words to describe adobe products, I might pick bloat as one of them.

    NotAPenguin,

    Affinity is a great Adobe alternative.

    elucubra,

    Affinity is awesome. I've used Serif products over the years and they've always provided exceptional value

    agede,

    That name really sucks tbh. I suppose they should change the name. Adobe’s current updates really bottlenecks my max spec PC, that’s why I switched from Premiere to Davinci Resolve. Biggest switch in my career, but so far I’m currently loving it!

    kthxbye_reddit,

    I‘m not yet convinced. Not enough to see what this is going to look like. And I don‘t find the copycat-name very serious. I hear already the lawyers knocking on their doors.

    For alternatives to Adobe I can recommend Affinity software, which is a non-subscription alternative and Photopea as a free browser alternative for PS.

    nomadjoanne, (edited )

    I kind of wish he’d just raise money for or contribute to existing FOSS Adobe alternatives that are still feature-lacking.

    LUHG_HANI,
    @LUHG_HANI@lemmy.world avatar

    Unfortunately I think the name is kinda poor. I get why they named it but the SEO is always going to be bad against Adobe.

    joel_feila,
    @joel_feila@lemmy.world avatar

    how about working with already existing adobe alternatives and help get them better

    WhataburgerSr,

    After the Pantone fallout last year, I cancelled my Adobe subscription and bought Serif Affinity’s apps and haven’t looked back. Yes, there are a few work arounds and even almost a year in, I’m still looking up the occasional tool/feature that is comparable but I have saved $55/month. The ONLY features I miss are GREP and Scripts in InDesign but I have lived without them.

    joel_feila,
    @joel_feila@lemmy.world avatar

    as a dyslexic person I had to read that 6 times to see the difference.

    PunnyName,

    I’m not dyslexix, and I didn’t realize the issue until I saw your comment.

    narc0tic_bird,

    How can you even take them serious when their name is literally “Abode”?

    Techmaster,

    Because the dude abodes.

    totallynotarobot,

    That’s just, like, your opinion, man

    Dozzi92,
    @Dozzi92@lemmy.world avatar

    Poor timing in light of the recent Supreme Court Ruling. Stupid name, stupid decision, all of that Kickstarter money essentially gone.

    MooseBoys,

    That’s nuts - if it was a bottle of alcohol meant to parody the brand that’d be one thing, but it’s a fucking dog chew toy.

    Waraugh,

    Wether I agree with how trademarks are legislated or not, I don’t understand why anyone would expect that they could use another company’s trademark on a sold product, regardless of the industry they are operating in. It’s not hard to imagine people would be confused that Jack Daniel’s in this case, decided to release a funny dog chew toy, and regardless of the #2 wording being acceptable or not, Jack Daniel’s would have no way to ensure product quality to protect their trademarked brand that’s printed right on the damn thing. Supreme Court got this right in my opinion.

    Orionza,

    Does anyone else think this will go to court over copyright infringement? Purposefully similar name and same industry.

    Hildegarde,

    Its trademark, not copyright. And it is deliberate. A lawsuit is likely to generate more value in publicity and news coverage than the case will cost.

    That’s why they deliberately chose an infringing mark.

    Methylman,

    I’m not sure its a sure thing for adobe (the established company) that this newer company is infringing per se. You need to do business with the trademark to ‘use’ the mark - the caption makes it sound like they will change their mark before doing any business? On the other hand, advertising counts as doing business where the mark is associated but that can get a bit tricky…

    If we assume this is not an advertisement, then it’s just like anyone else scribbling down the logo of another company on a sheet of paper and saying I made a thing

    JustZ, (edited )

    Copyright? Only if the code is the nearly the same.

    Are Adobes patents still valid?

    The trademark will end up in court, where the standard is “likelihood of confusion.”

    pastermil,

    “Abode” will absolutely get destroyed thru the legal process even if they don’t lose the lawsuit.

    ares35,
    ares35 avatar

    mike rowe couldn't keep mikerowesoft.com. it's his actual name, too. no way abode is allowed to exist in any space remotely adjacent to documents, software, or media/arts.

    Buddahriffic,

    Yeah, I do think that they should pick a different name as theirs is very easy to mistake for Adobe. I had to read the headline twice because the first time it sounded like Adobe was taking on itself. I understand the desire to give them a “fuck you”, but that name will just cause confusion that will likely hurt both brands.

    I hope that “final branding” that no one has seen yet involves an entirely new name and that this one was just used in the meantime to generate publicity.

    Dozzi92,
    @Dozzi92@lemmy.world avatar

    I read it as Adobe battling Adobe as if there was some inner strife. And I’m a pretty good reader, if I do say so myself.

    This is so obviously stupid, because that $235k they raised will end up going straight to Adobe all because they wanted to be edgy?

    TenderfootGungi,

    Affinity is available today. The products are great, the pricing is reasonable, and it is not subscription based.

    GonzoVeritas,
    @GonzoVeritas@lemmy.world avatar

    I’ve used Affinity for many years, I really like it, and for the low one-time price, it’s been a spectacular value. That said, it can no longer even compare to Photoshop given their incredible AI capabilities and some of their other integrated features. In my case, I’ll stick with Affinity because I’m more of a hobbyist, but if I was a graphics professional, I’d most certainly have to use Photoshop.

    Prandom_returns,

    High-end professionals avoid Adobe like the plague. Photoshop still doesn’t have decent EXR support or 32-bit support.

    It’s great for 5-person design studios, maybe.

    agent_flounder,
    @agent_flounder@lemmy.world avatar

    Didn’t know that. What do the high end pros use?

    Rheus,

    High end pro’s use any tool that is better suited for a job, including Photoshop.

    jfx,

    Affinity is just great and reasonably compatible with Adobe files. It’s been my way out of the Adobe hegemony, after trying for Corel or Opensource tools for years. Without the creative cloud client crashing life has been so much more enjoyable !

    alansuspect,

    It’s not FOSS but I’ve been using Photopea since I ditched Adobe years ago, it’s a decent alternative.

    mtchristo,

    Color me skeptical

    The Foss community already tried for years. And the gap is widening even more thanks to AI.

    p03locke,
    @p03locke@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

    Speak for yourself. GIMP rules, and DaVinci Resolve (not OSS, but still free) does just fine.

    Fuck Adobe.

    housepanther,

    GIMP does rule!

    gnuplusmatt,

    Really wish davinci had a flatpak or appimage

    Prandom_returns,

    GIMP is for hobbyists. Ir has a broken core that needs a rewrite to fix.

    Way better alternative is Affinity Photo.

    pineapplelover,

    Openshot, kdenlive, handbrake, we got a bunch of options.

    proton_lynx,

    Even as a FOSS lover, those softwares are unfortunately light years behind professional solutions like Premiere, DaVinci, Photoshop, etc. But I wish he would open source all those Abode projects.

    pineapplelover,

    I agree, these solutions are more of light and hobbyist solutions. Adobe has always been the leader of the creative tools and it’s unfortunate.

    OtakuAltair,

    Davinci is straight up way better than premiere lol

    MetaStatistical,

    DaVinci has its quirks and one or two things I wished it had. But, it is far more feature-rich than 95% of the population needs. And for the other 5%, there’s plenty of plugins.

    Imgonnatrythis,

    What about Acrodat? I really hope they make Acrodat.

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