Adobe’s Online Image Editor Previewed
by Michael Arrington on September 7, 2007

Right on schedule, Adobe previews an online version of its ubiquitous Photoshop tool, to be called Photoshop Express.

Adobe isn’t saying much, other than to point out that it is not a Photoshop replacement but rather “a new member of the Photoshop family that’s meant to make Adobe imaging technology immediately accessible way to large numbers of people.”

Either way, a number of startups are not going to be having such a good weekend.

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  • Nah… I don’t use Photoshop products. I use GIMP…. hmmmmmmmmmmm….
    What if Microsoft, Google, Yahoo make another online photoshop clone?

  • If they get traction on this, its going to knock out a lot of current and potential competitors.

    If its fast enough, contains the features that 80% of photoshops users actually use (maybe 10%?), and gets in the face of the crowd who is still (for no good reason) tied to the desktop, then I say it will be huge.

  • adobe is synonymous with being the de facto standard for photo image editing…when adobe let’s this beast out – it’ll wipe the no-names to kingdom come. specially with their clout they possess already.

  • I remember back in the Fotoflexor thread someone stated Adobe would ‘never’ release an online application due to a number of factors (Something to do with ads and diluting their offline market). It was obvious to me they’d produce some online variant to COMPLIMENT not compete with Photoshop

    You just know it’ll be good. They have the knowledge and the money to wipe out all competition.

  • http://blogosco...rum/107876.html

    Compare this detailed Photoshop screenshot – to Fauxto;
    just look at the differences in features.

    Hopefully, Adobe will do far better than this preview indicates.

    For creating or tweaking low res Web graphics, an online Photoshop would be ideal.

  • Adobe could be canabolizing its own product by releasing this free online. They should not cripple photoshop into a diluted online version, they should make a version just as good with an inexpensive subscription model. this way they can recoup some the loss of all those unlicenced copies of photoshop out there.

  • There’s some interesting tools out there, hoping to, or already occupying the same space.

    We’ve all seen what Adobe can do with image editing et cetera, but what can they do about making their web applications into Social Media venues?

    Let’s face it, if people are going to be doing stuff with Adobe’s applications, they’re probably going to want to share it…

  • I’m sure what Adobe has in mind is to gradually progress towards pure web-based applications, so it won’t jump to replace its desktop/server-based software products anytime soon.

  • Sweet. I think this will be a great tool. I hate going to other computers and not having my precious Photoshop tools. I wonder if the image you are working on is store at the local computer’s browser or on Adobe’s server?

  • What Adobe _should_ do, but won’t, is release an API for this sucker after it goes live. Imagine being able to create Photoshop actions and send/receive photographic data to/from it via an API.

  • I use Photoshop CS, not because Photoshop is the “best” graphics editor, but simply because the broadest array of 3rd party tools that I find useful for digital photography are written for it.

    This probably will clobber much of the competition even if it’s not better, just because people will see the name Photoshop and assume it’s better. Because the general public isn’t very discerning. (Any weekly Top 40 music chart demonstrates that).

  • I use photoshop on a day to day level for design work with websites. I think this is an interesting idea… for professionals…. as long as companies are willing to pay for the upgrade. For consumers? I don’t think if the price will be right enought for enough people to buy it.

    One thing that no one here is bringing up. I wager this is an attempt to stop people from using pirated versions of the software.

    Anyway, I an willing to see what they do with this, once the bugs are worked out.

  • Bad for those that were hoping to be bought out by Adobe.

  • Here’s a link to a bigger screenshot so you can see the features better. This really does seem like a stripped down version of PS to me. It’s compariable to the other image editors already out there, not to the full fledged photoshop.

  • Great.. Beware google. :) But even with ultrahigh speed broadband connection , i don’t feel comfortable with online office suites and apps.

    —————
    http://www.techtalkz.com

  • There are more needs than any one group can supply. Context already existed here:
    http://weblogs....oshop_expre.cfm

    jd/adobe

  • Bland looking features. Doesn’t Adobe see how this will play-out strategically? The other Flex-based image editors like Picnik and FotoFlexer will continue to innovate and add new functionality. Eventually Adobe will cry uncle b/c they’re eating into their other revenue generating products. This site will be bland at best. If Adobe thinks the website they’ve previewed is a money-maker, then they’re spending too much time at Club 4:20.

  • ick. it’s sad to say that the only interesting element on the screen-shot is the photo of the wedding cake.

    • This is a joke; I signed up hoping to get some kind of photoshop functionality cause I’m having to edit in public (very restricted) computers. Splashup and Pixlr blow this away. Sumo Paint and Pheonix are unstable pains in the ass.

  • How does any company make money from this? The up-sell is clearly in adobe’s realm. People that really need a quality photo editor already use PS CSIII, and novice folks will probably use an app from a name they recognize, no matter how cute the other companies’ names are. Do these other companies have stores to help their users sell their photos?

  • LOL…yes the up-sell is clear. To pirated copies of Photoshop! Too funny :)

  • Hmmm…looks pretty ho hum to me.

  • Wesley,

    I would not be surprised if Adobe DOES offer an API with Photoshop Express. This product will tie in to other future Adobe online products via the API.

    The key question though will still be how will Adobe (or any company for that matter) monetize this type of tool.

  • lol I was reading all the replies going I used to design websites with Photo Shop, Front Page, thumbnailer, ect. and I think the pictures is just the half of this but it may be a great thing for them to do!
    I will be watching out for it if nothing else as I love to keep up with Photoshop, although I used the older not newest version of it!
    So when I read #12. Kyle I had to say okay someone who knows what I was thinking!

  • Like I said, the Adobe stuff is weak, MS Paint rules! Yaeh baby!

    http://fakestev...er.blogspot.com

  • “Photoshop replacement” – No way… Photoshop has got loads of powers…. but would surely love to get my hands on it…

  • I was just using FotoFlexer on Facebook — it’s the most widely-used online image editor there. While using FotoFlexer, I noticed a banner ad for Adobe Photo Suite, retail price of $1,799. Haha, let’s see, either use FotoFlexer for free and get many of the most common features of PhotoShop, or pay for desktop software. Hmmmmm………….

  • wHo like to dRinK bEer????

  • mY coMpuTer cOsT $100,000.00……………..

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