Adobe is working on extending its Photoshop franchise to smartphones, iPads, and other new-era mobile computing devices. Here's a look at what it envisions.
Stephen Shankland
Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
At its Max show, Adobe CTO Kevin Lynch showed Photoshop's content-aware fill technology running live on a Samsung Galaxy Tab, an Android-based tablet. The grouse in the lower center of the image vanished after Lynch painted over it with his finger, replaced by a patch of green grass.
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iPad paint mixer for Photoshop
Palettes, before the computing industry adopted the term, meant a board where painters could mix colors. This virtual palette, shown on an iPad during a demonstration by Adobe CTO Kevin Lynch, could be used to mix, select, and paint colors on using an attached computer running Photoshop.
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iPad and Photoshop
In one idea, Adobe envisions a Photoshop companion application that would extend the abilities of Photoshop running on a conventional computer. "What we're working on is connecting your mobile devices to your personal computer over a network so that they can work in conjunction with each other," said CTO Kevin Lynch.
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Photoshop companion tutorial mode
In this mockup, an iPhone is used to select and show a step-by-step tutorial that doesn't have to clutter up the Photoshop display on the computer it's synchronized with.
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Photoshop distortion tool on iPad
A gesture on an iPad can provide a multitouch control to image distortion in Photoshop. This is just a mockup of what Adobe has in mind, though.
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Multitouch paintbrush on Photoshop for iPad concept
Adobe also is considering how a multitouch paintbrush could be used in Photoshop on an iPad companion application.
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More multitouch iPad painting
Another configuration option for multitouch painting with Photoshop on an iPad companion application.
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Preset panels for Photoshop companion app
A smartphone companion app could show a variety of preset and customizable control panels.
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Configuring Photoshop with an iPhone
In this mockup, the companion application is used to select Photoshop's brush tool.
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Synchronized settings
This mockup shows the Photoshop brush tool being adjusted with the desired settings.
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Adjusting opacity
Brush settings such as opacity adjusted on an iPhone synchronize with Photoshop on the computer in this mockup.
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Photoshop Mobile?
There's no product name yet, but Photoshop Mobile sounds plausible for some applications.
