Tech

The iPad is getting a full version of Photoshop next year

Key Points
  • Adobe says a full version of Photoshop is coming to the iPad next year. 
  • The iPad already has access to Photoshop but it doesn't offer all of the tools that are available on a full PC.
  • Adobe will need to show how users can edit accurately without a mouse, however.
Todd Haselton | CNBC

Adobe announced on Monday that it will release a full version of its Photoshop editing software for the Apple iPad next year. Photoshop is currently available for the iPad, but it doesn't offer the same functionality that it does on Mac or Windows computers.

It shows two things: that people are relying on tablets like iPads for more than ever before. It also suggests that iPads are getting powerful enough to support apps that otherwise needed expensive PCs or Macs to run properly. Adobe will need to show photo editors how they can accurately edit without a mouse pointer, however, since the iPad doesn't yet support that.

Adobe said the full version of Photoshop will let users open and edit native Photoshop (PSD) files and access all of the Photoshop editing and layers features that are currently only available on computers. A user can start editing on an iPad and pick up where he or she left off on another device, like a Mac.

Adobe suggested that the software will launch on other tablets and mobile devices later, but that the software will debut on iPad in 2019.

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