ADOBE is testing a free version of Photoshop web and also plans to open up the service to everyone in order to onboard more users to the software.
The test is ongoing in Canada, where users can access Photoshop web version through a free Adobe account.
Adobe calls the new service “freemium” and some new features will be exclusive to paid subscription. Many tools will be freely available to carry out what Adobe regards as Photoshop’s main functions.
VP Digital Imaging of Adobe Maria Yap stated that the company wants to make the application more popular.
“We want to make [Photoshop] more accessible and easier for more people to try it out and experience the product”, she said.
In October Adobe first released Photoshop’s web version, offering a basic form of the app that could be used to handle simple edits.
The app’s full features were not released and Adobe framed it as a collaboration tool — a way for artists to share images with others where they can make edits and send it back.
Since then, Adobe has made some updates to the service, and also began to stretch its use beyond collaboration.
Initially, one had to share a document to the web from the desktop app, but now, any Photoshop user can log in and start a new project directly from the web.
The VP Digital Imaging said Adobe users can easily access the app and use it without having complicated devices.
“I want to see Photoshop meet users where they’re at now. You don’t need a high-end machine to come into Photoshop”, she said
Adobe has not announced when the freemium version would be launched generally.
Subsequently, the company will continue updating Photoshop for web with more features and the web version will also get mobile support for reviewing and commenting on images.
