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Adobe, long considered the industry standard for design and publishing tools, is facing headwinds in one of its core segments: Print and Publishing. Once dominated by tools like InDesign, Illustrator, and Acrobat Pro, the segment is seeing declining engagement and revenue. But what’s behind the shift?
For one, subscription fatigue is taking its toll. Many users, especially freelancers and small studios, are tired of Adobe’s Creative Cloud pricing model—paying monthly for tools they used to own outright. Some are turning to one-time purchase alternatives like Affinity Publisher or leveraging browser-based platforms like Canva for simpler projects.
Second, performance issues haven’t helped Adobe’s case. Designers on forums like Reddit and Adobe’s own community pages have called out InDesign 2025 for being “sluggish,” buggy, or unstable—particularly on complex layouts and high-res print jobs.
Meanwhile, the broader print industry is shrinking. As marketing budgets shift to digital and AI-generated content, traditional print publishing sees fewer dollars. Adobe is feeling the squeeze as its tools become less essential in modern publishing workflows.
Add to this the rise of AI-powered design tools, and Adobe faces both a loyalty crisis and fierce new competition. Its dominance is no longer guaranteed—and creatives are exploring faster, cheaper, and more responsive alternatives.
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