Adobe’s Photoshop Touch apps for iPad are now available

By Adam Rosenberg May 10, 2011

adobe-eazel — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Adobe announced last month that it would be bringing a new set of of Photoshop-connected apps to the iPad App Store, and those apps are now here. Previously, there was only Photoshop Express, a features-light (very light) image editing app that is outclassed by just about every other similar app out there. The new PS apps all offer something a little bit different, but they at least represent a first step toward a properly full-featured tablet treatment of Adobe Photoshop.

There are three apps in this new crop: Adobe Eazel, Adobe Color Lava and Adobe Nav, which sell for $4.99, $2.99 and $1.99, respectively. There’s no package deal for buying the set or trial versions, but each app serves a very specific purpose.

Eazel is probably the most “play”-oriented of the three, as it is essentially a finger-painting app. The physics of real-life painting are applied to your creations, with “wet” and “dry” mixtures possible. All three of the new apps are able to connect with Photoshop CS5 in different ways; in the case of Eazel, users can send creations directly to the desktop application and even have them re-rendered at a higher resolution. Color Lava is similarly finger-painting oriented, turning your tablet into a virtual painter’s palette and allowing you to mix different colors to create new ones. Those colors can then be accessed directly within Photoshop CS5.

Nav is the odd app out, as it is designed more to streamline processes and doesn’t serve any purpose if not linked up with Photoshop CS5. The app is best described as a touch-based remote control for the desktop software. Fire up Nav to access a customizable CS5 toolbar and manage open documents (up to 200) on the desktop side. You’ll need to use the mouse and keyboard to do any actual editing, but the app can handle the rest. To connect Nav, or any of the three new apps, with CS5, both the iPad and your computer will need to be on the same network. Connectivity with Photoshop versions CS4 and earlier is not supported.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…

Mobile

Two popular iPad models just got pretty steep price cuts — from $250

A YouTube video playing on the iPad (2022).

The current and previous model of the entry-level Apple iPad have both received significant price cuts from Best Buy, so if you're on the hunt for cheap iPad deals, these are the offers that you wouldn't want to miss. The Wi-Fi, 64GB model of the ninth-generation Apple iPad is down to $250 from $330 for savings of $80, while the Wi-Fi, 64GB model of the 10th-generation Apple iPad is on sale for $349 following a $100 discount on its original price of $449. We're not sure how long stocks will last for these tablets, so if you're interested in taking advantage of either of these offers, you need to hurry with your purchase. If you don't act fast, you may miss out on the savings.
Apple iPad 9th Gen (Wi-Fi, 64GB) -- $250, was $330

The ninth-generation Apple iPad was released in 2021, but it maintains a spot in our list of the best iPads as the best iPad on a budget. It's still a very reliable and solid choice if you want an Apple tablet, with a 10.2-inch Retina display that's bright and beautiful, and smooth performance despite the relatively old A13 Bionic chip that was introduced in the iPhone 11 because it can be upgraded to the latest iPadOS 17. The device also features an 8MP Wide back camera, a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage technology, the Touch ID fingerprint recognition system for security, and battery life of up to 10 hours on a single charge.

Mobile

Hurry! This iPad just crashed back to its Black Friday price

The iPad on a tablet displaying web content.

If you've always wanted to buy an iPad but the latest releases are beyond your budget, you may want to consider going for a previous-generation model like the 2021 Apple iPad. The tablet's Wi-Fi, 64GB model, which is already relatively affordable at $330, is currently even cheaper from Best Buy, as an $80 discount pulls its price down to $250. That's what the device was going for during the iPad deals of Black Friday 2023, so if you missed the chance to take advantage of that bargain, proceed with your purchase immediately to make sure this opportunity doesn't slip away.

Why you should buy the 2021 Apple iPad
The ninth-generation Apple iPad, which was released in 2021, will be three years old in several months. However, it's still listed in our roundup of the best iPads as the best iPad on a budget, as it still offers great performance by today's standards with Apple's A13 Bionic chip that also powered the iPhone 11 series. The tablet also features a 10.2-inch Retina display with 2160 x 1620 resolution, for sharp details and vivid colors when you're browsing the internet, watching streaming shows, and playing mobile games.

Mobile

Apple’s new iPad Pro and iPad Air just got delayed

Someone holding an iPad Air against a wooden floor.

It seems like the countdown to the next iPad reveal has been stretched out a bit more, though not by an earth-shattering amount of time. So far, we’ve heard rumors of a late March or early April reveal, but that likely won’t happen, according to a new report from Apple insider Mark Gurman.

In his latest Bloomberg report, Gurman says the next Apple tablets should arrive in early May, and he cited the speeding up of production at Apple’s suppliers. Interestingly, production-related challenges apparently pushed back the launch of the new slates across the Pro and Air lineups.