Photoshop Streaming brings powerful image editing to low-end computers

Adobe is providing a version of Photoshop as a streaming application for Chromebooks, low powered computers, rarely used for digital imaging work. Adobe’s creative tools currently require powerful computers with advanced processors and additional memory. Because the streaming version of Photoshop will have all the processing work done in the cloud, lower powered Chromebooks will be able to access and use Photoshop. In addition to providing access to this advanced image editing tool for a wider audience, Adobe is also revealing the future direction for their Creative Cloud tools.

This announcement from Adobe is a major shift in the way Photoshop or any of the Adobe Creative Cloud tools are used. The current version of the Creative Cloud still requires that applications such as Photoshop be downloaded entirely onto a computer before they are used. Ever since its inception, Photoshop required the images being edited to sit locally on the computer where Photoshop is being used.

The streaming version of Photoshop will also connect with Google Drive, allowing access to images that are stored on Google’s cloud. This allows for users to work with Photoshop entirely in the cloud, accessing Photoshop’s tools and images for editing without ever downloading them to a computer. This will be the first true cloud integration for any of the Adobe Creative Cloud applications. When Adobe announced the Creative Cloud they primarily changed the way users license the applications on a monthly or annual basis, rather than owning the apps. Most users never see or use any of the supplemental cloud services, which were added in a more patchwork fashion. This adds a new value to the cloud.

Initially the Photoshop Streaming project will be available to education customers who have a current Creative Cloud subscription. Adobe will not want to undercut its current licensing revenue, and it is expected that Photoshop Streaming will likely be available as an added benefit to existing Creative Cloud subscribers.

If streaming of Photoshop is successful, this opens Photoshop to being used on a much wider range of devices. The full range of Photoshop tools could be made available for use on tablet devices, not just on Chromebooks. Expect that additional Creative Cloud tools could also be made available as streaming versions, such as using a streaming version of InDesign to create publications. We could also expect to see integration into other cloud storage, such as Microsoft’s OneDrive or Box. Regardless of the device you use, the Photoshop training classes at American Graphics Institute are a great way to expand your skills with Adobe’s creative cloud tools, and are part of a broad range of Adobe training options provided at AGI.