Adobe Photoshop for iPad Demoed

Adobe has demoed a version of its full-fledged Photoshop program for the iPad at Photoshop World 2011, though specific details and a release date remain unknown.

What is known is that Photoshop for iPad will be a more advanced editing tool than the simplistic Photoshop Express and Photoshop Elements applications released so far.

Currently, Photoshop-software for the iOS has limited functionality, but Adobe hopes to change all that soon, with the introduction of a powerful, feature-packed Photoshop application for tablets.

Although not boasting the full feature-set of the desktop solution, Photoshop for iPad will bring some of the PC experience to the tablet.

John Nack, Adobe Systems program manager, presented two modules of the forthcoming app in a presentation that also featured mock-ups, as the UI and functionality are still in their early development stages.

First and foremost, the tablet app is envisioned as a direct editing application designed to be operated via Multi Touch, according to Cnet.

A second ‘embodiment’ makes it a companion app allowing artists to use it side by side with Photoshop on a computer.

"We're trying some different design directions, making stand-alone imaging tools for tablets, as well as companions to Creative Suite apps" such as Photoshop, Nack said.

Kevin Lynch, Adobe chief technology officer, also demonstrated some Photoshop tablet magic at the Flash maker’s Max conference last week.

"Back in the old days, people used to mix colors on a palette--a physical palette. We're looking at whether we can bring that same type of experience to a tablet environment," Lynch said.

Using a Samsung Galaxy Tab and an Apple iPad, he showed how users of a touch-centric Photoshop will be able to easily remove undesired objects from an image via “witchcraft,” or how the companion module can help professional Photoshop users mix colors manually to get just the right flavor.

"What we're working on is connecting your mobile devices to your personal computer over a network so that they can work in conjunction with each other," Lynch added.