The app that rules the graphic design industry with absolute majority is Adobe’s Photoshop. Despite the presence of several capable design tools, Adobe’s power packed and versatile app is used by millions of users for works pertaining to web design, print media and image editing.
Adobe has released several incarnations and stripped down versions of the main package for various types of users. For example, Photoshop Elements is meant for beginners who do not need the extensive feature list of Photoshop CS5, while Photoshop Lightroom is targeted at professional photographers.
However, the company has woken up to the growing popularity of the tablet and mobile devices. The Smartphone and tablets have become really popular with people worldwide and they are using them for various kinds of work. That explains why Adobe has released a tablet and Smartphone specific version of Photoshop.
Photoshop Express
Apple iPad and iPhone users can now use Photoshop Express, a free and intuitive app for mobile graphic design. It is also available for Android devices. Although Photoshop Express for iPad cannot be used for hardcore graphic design, which its PC counterpart excels at, it may fulfil the need of those designers who use iPad and want a design tool that allows them to put their artistic skills to good use on the move. Version 2.0 of Photoshop Express comes with some useful image editing and retouching features. The interface is easy to use and the first time users will master it pretty fast.
To reap the benefits of new features of version 2.0, designers need to purchase the Adobe Camera Pack. Photoshop Express has a blue and black interface which looks cool. Users can sign into the app with either Facebook or Adobe IDs.
There are 3 icons in the lower part of the screen, namely, Online, Edit, Share. The images can be cropped, rotated and flipped using finger gestures on iPad. It is also possible to add borders, and some special effects. The edited photos can be uploaded to Facebook, Twitter and Adobe Photoshop Express library.
However, the app has some drawbacks – it still does not allow copy or paste and change color balance. It is quite disappointing that the app cannot utilise iPad’s amazing pinch-and-zoom feature. The changes can only be viewed in the preview window before applying.
The Adobe Camera Pack that can be bought for $3.99, opens some more possibilities for the users. This is compatible with iPhone 3GS onwards and two versions of iPad. The “Noise Reduce” feature is useful for improving the quality of images snapped in poor lighting conditions.
The designers who own either an iPhone or iPad can use this app for supplementing their work requirements. This app is not suited for adding final touches to an artwork, but offers a better alternative for editing images on the fly without carrying a laptop. It also makes uploading high quality images to web easy for the users. The app supports a lot of export options too.