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Adobe Brings Creative Suite-Inspired Apps to Android


Adobe Photoshop Touch on Android

Adobe has launched six new apps for the Android platform, including a new version of Photoshop optimized specifically for Android-based tablets.

The new apps, part of Adobe's Touch family of creative software for mobile devices, are all tailored for touchscreen tablets and designed to be used with both stylus- and finger-based input. The apps were all "inspired by" the existing Creative Suite family of desktop-based, professional-level digital media production applications.

The initial lineup of Touch apps includes:

  • Photoshop Touch, a mobile-optimized version of Photoshop that provides the "core" features of Photoshop CS5.5, including layers, filters, selection tools, and image adjustments ;
  • Ideas, a vector illustration program;
  • Collage, a presentation tool that allows users to create "moodboards" using mixed media and text and drawing tools;
  • Debut, a presentation tool designed to display files created with Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator files;
  • Proto, an app for wireframing and prototyping Web pages and mobile apps; and
  • Kuler, which taps into Adobe's Kuler service to help users generate color schemes.

Photoshop Touch also offers image browsing, with social media integration; interactive tutorials; a special selection tool called "Scribble" designed to make area selection easier on a touchscreen interface; integrated Google search;and the ability to use the tablet's camera to add to a layer.

It also offers future support for synchronizing files through the forthcoming Adobe Creative Cloud, to debut in the first half of next year. Adobe said the new apps will be an essential part of the service. The company described Adobe Creative Cloud as a "worldwide hub for creativity, with membership options that will enable users to access desktop and tablet applications, find essential creative services and share their best work. With the creative file capabilities of Adobe Creative Cloud launched today, files created via Adobe Touch Apps will be able to be shared, viewed across devices or transferred into Adobe Creative Suite software for further refinement--all key features of Adobe’s vision for the Creative Cloud."

All of the new Touch apps are available now through the Android Market. They require Android 3.1 or higher to run. The new apps run $9.99 each. An iOS version of Adobe Ideas already exists; the company said it will release iOS versions of the rest of the apps in early 2012. Additional details can be found on Adobe's site.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


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