After nearly two years since introducing its beta version, Adobe’s Photoshop web service is now available to the general public. This streamlined online variant of the company’s renowned desktop photo editing software promises a new wave of features and accessibility.
According to details shared by Adobe with The Verge, the web version of Photoshop is being launched with the recently released tools, Geneativefill and Generative Expand. Supported by Adobe’s generative AI model, Firefly, these features, optimized for commercial usage, allow users to quickly add, remove, or expand images using textual descriptions in over 100 languages. Impressively, all of these adjustments seamlessly match the original image’s lighting and perspective.
Furthermore, the web-based Photoshop offers many of the frequently used tools found in the desktop version, but with a redesigned layout, ensuring a smoother user experience for newcomers. This includes the contextual taskbar feature, which suggests relevant steps in one’s workflow – a feature that was added to the desktop application earlier this year.
For a more intuitive experience, tools used for similar workflows—like object selection and image refinement—are grouped together in the toolbar. For seasoned designers who prefer the traditional desktop version look, this viewing mode can be disabled. Adobe also mentions that key desktop features such as the patch tool, pen tool, smart objects support, and many others will be added soon.
Collaboration gets a nod too, as Photoshop on the web lets users invite others to collaborate on projects, allowing even those without an active Photoshop subscription to view and comment on files.
This web-based Photoshop service is included in all paid Photoshop plans, starting at $9.99 per month and won’t be available for free upon launch. Adobe had previously tested a “freemium” version of the web-based Photoshop in June, following the initial beta launch in 2021. The company once hoped to provide a free version, but Ashley Steel, Adobe’s Senior VP for Digital Media, informed The Verge that there are no immediate plans for such a version. Instead, newcomers can explore the web-based Photoshop via “free interactive demos” and in-app tutorials on Adobe’s website before committing to a subscription.
Adobe’s expansion of its tools to web-based platforms represents a significant shift in the tech industry, aiming for broader accessibility and more collaborative features. In the age of cloud computing and digital collaboration, software giants like Adobe are recognizing the need to diversify their offerings. This move is not just about bringing powerful tools to a larger audience but also about staying competitive in a digital age where flexibility, real-time collaboration, and platform-agnostic tools become increasingly crucial for professionals and hobbyists alike.
