Adobe will offer Photoshop for free to all Internet users. The web version will allow using the basic features of the software without a license.
Adobe Photoshop, the famous image editing software launched in 1990, will soon be available free of charge to all Internet users. In order to attract more users, the American firm plans to open the Web version to all holders of an Adobe account. Note that opening an account is free and only takes a few minutes.
“We want to make Photoshop more accessible and easier for more people to try and experience the product,” said Maria Yap, vice president of digital imaging at Adobe. She adds, “I want to see Photoshop meet users where they are now. You don’t need a high-end machine to run Photoshop”.
A “freemium” strategy
Unsurprisingly, not all features of the desktop versions of Photoshop will be available on the free version. The software publisher, however, ensures that the basic features of Photoshop will be available free of charge. Adobe explains that it relies on a “freemium” strategy. As part of this approach, users of the free version will have access to some of the features of the software. On the other hand, some more sophisticated options will be chargeable. To take advantage of this, users will be asked to invest in a license.
For the record, the publisher has launched the web version of Photoshop in October 2021. This release initially focused on online collaboration. In particular, it was possible to share creations through a simple link. To perform retouching, it was necessary to start working on the desktop version before exporting it. It is not the case anymore. It is possible to make compositions from A to Z if you have an Adobe license.
Why the web version of Photoshop will soon be free
With this strategy, Adobe hopes attract new users. By offering some of Photoshop’s options on the Web, the publisher wants to show an overview of the software’s possibilities. Adobe hopes that Internet users who have enjoyed the Web version will decide to invest in a license, which will give fuller access to Photoshop. In the same vein, the firm has launched an iPad version, and versions on smartphones, such as Photoshop Express.
With this change in strategy, the publisher responds to the emergence of free alternatives from Photoshop. In recent years, these solutions have indeed multiplied on the web. These include Canva, Gimp and Pixlr.
Adobe is currently testing the free web version of Photoshop at Canada. To edit and compose online, just go to a browser and sign in with an Adobe account. At this time, it is unknown when the free version of Photoshop will be offered in the rest of the world.
Source :
The Verge