Adobe has released Lightroom as a native Apple M1 and Windows Arm app

Adobe has today released new updates for Camera Raw, Lightroom Classic and Lightroom for Windows, Mac, Android, ChromeOS, iOS and iPadOS. But as well as this, it’s also available now as a native application for both Apple’s new M1 Arm-based systems as well as Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered Windows 10 machines.

Adobe says they’ve rebuilt Lightroom for both Apple M1 and Qualcomm Snapdragon (for Windows 10 – this doesn’t affect the Android version) based systems to take advantage of the new performance and efficiency benefits of the Arm processors.

As well as offering native support for M1 and Snapdragon chipsets, there are a bunch of new updates for Camera Raw, Lightroom Classic and Lightroom on all systems, including…

• ProRAW format support. You’ll be able to import and edit images taken in the Apple ProRAW format in the December updates to Camera Raw, Lightroom Classic, or Lightroom (desktop, iOS, Android, lightroom.adobe.com). ProRAW is built using the Adobe DNG file format and specification. Please click here for more information
• New Lightroom widgets for iOS14. Quickly take photos and selfies using the Lightroom camera, explore Discover Edits and In-app tutorials from the Widgets screen. You can even drag these onto the Home screen for easier access. (Lightroom iOS only, requires iOS14 and later)
• The free Lightroom Starter plan is now available for Lightroom desktop (Mac and Win). Available only in Australia and New Zealand, new customers can start for free and use core Lightroom features, such as the Sensei-based Auto or the Light and Color editing sliders, without a subscription or trial limits. Check it out here!

Despite now dedicating efforts to keep Lightroom updated for Apple M1 and Windows Arm systems, Adobe says they haven’t given up on Intel-based machines. They say they’ll “continue to invest in and improve Lightroom” on those Mac and Windows platforms, too.

Adobe also recently released a native Apple M1 beta of Adobe Photoshop, although it has some limitations at the moment – or at least, it did as of two weeks ago, I’m assuming it still does as I don’t have an M1 to test and they haven’t made any new announcements about it. If you want to test that out, you can get it through the Creative Cloud Desktop app, but be very careful about using beta software on real clients!

Unlike Photoshop, the new versions of Camera Raw, Lightroom Classic and Lightroom aren’t betas and are also available to download and install using the Creative Cloud Desktop app.

[via Adobe]