NEWSiPad version shares the same base code as the desktop
version. This, in turns, allows iPad users to easily and
swiftly switch between desktop and mobile versions
of their projects thanks to the cloud version of Adobe’s
PSD file format. Adobe also uses this as an incentive
to start keeping your files in its cloud, which shouldn’t
be too much of a storage problem if you keep included
files limited to recent projects.
We haven’t spent a lot of time with Photoshop on
the iPad, but it’s clear the interface is familiar enough
that Photoshop veterans should have no trouble finding
their way around. The tool palette is on the left – and it
includes familiar tools like the clone stamp and healing
brush – while on the right you’ll find menus for layers
and adjustments for levels, gradients, and blends.
Unfortunately, as Adobe made clear not long after
its initial announcement, it’s also missing popular
(and arguably essential) features like the pen tool. As
Adobe explains in its blog post announcing the release,
this mobile version currently emphasizes “workflows,
compositing, masking and retouching”. To give you
an idea of just how much is missing, Adobe’s landing
page says that a coming feature is the ability to rotate
canvases. If you’re a serious artist, you’ll probably still
end up doing the majority of your work on the desktop.
But considering that you can easily switch back over
to desktop Photoshop, Photoshop on iPad still comes
off as a good option for lightweight edits on the sofa or
in coffee shops. This version even supports the Apple
Pencil, and if Adobe Photoshop for iPad gets robust
enough, some artists may even grow comfortable using
their iPads over Wacom Cintiq tablets. This arrangementNEWS
iPadversionsharesthesamebasecodeasthedesktop
version.This,inturns,allowsiPaduserstoeasilyand
swiftlyswitchbetweendesktopandmobileversions
oftheirprojectsthankstothecloudversionofAdobe’s
PSDfileformat.Adobealsousesthisasanincentive
tostartkeepingyourfilesinitscloud,whichshouldn’t
betoomuchofastorageproblemifyoukeepincluded
fileslimitedtorecentprojects.
Wehaven’tspentalotoftimewithPhotoshopon
theiPad,butit’scleartheinterfaceisfamiliarenough
thatPhotoshopveteransshouldhavenotroublefinding
theirwayaround.Thetoolpaletteisontheleft–andit
includesfamiliartoolsliketheclonestampandhealing
brush–whileontherightyou’llfindmenusforlayers
andadjustmentsforlevels,gradients,andblends.
Unfortunately,asAdobemadeclearnotlongafter
itsinitialannouncement,it’salsomissingpopular
(andarguablyessential)featureslikethepentool.As
Adobeexplainsinitsblogpostannouncingtherelease,
thismobileversioncurrentlyemphasizes“workflows,
compositing,maskingandretouching”.Togiveyou
anideaofjusthowmuchismissing,Adobe’slanding
pagesaysthatacomingfeatureistheabilitytorotate
canvases.Ifyou’reaseriousartist,you’llprobablystill
endupdoingthemajorityofyourworkonthedesktop.
Butconsideringthatyoucaneasilyswitchbackover
todesktopPhotoshop,PhotoshoponiPadstillcomes
offasagoodoptionforlightweighteditsonthesofaor
incoffeeshops.ThisversionevensupportstheApple
Pencil,andifAdobePhotoshopforiPadgetsrobust
enough,someartistsmayevengrowcomfortableusing
theiriPadsoverWacomCintiqtablets.Thisarrangement