Adobe Readies Photoshop for Tablets

The San Jose, Calif.-based software company demoed some of the adaptations it was making to Photoshop, including a working version the iPad and Galaxy Tab.

Adobe displayed two broad possibilities in mock-ups. The first option featured a direct editing app operated with a multi-touch user interface. The second featured a companion app that lets a tablet augment Photoshop running on an ordinary PC, similar to dual monitor setups that many professionals use.

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

The demos are just evidence of a larger strategy that finds Adobe moving into the era of mobile devices. The company is also changing its Flash Player software, reworking publishing tools to let media makers reach tablet devices and developing a Photoshop Express program for the iPhone, iPad, Android devices and cloud computing.

With Adobe adapting its apps to mobile devices like tablets, the company is gearing up to reach a new generation of creative professionals who no longer want to be shackled to their desktop PCs.

In April, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs slammed Adobe in a lengthy essay that criticized Flash as unreliable and ill-suited for mobile devices. After an antitrust inquiry into its practices, Apple agreed to loosen its restrictions on developers, opening up its market to products made with third-party tools like Adobe's Flash.

Earlier last month, Adobe announced its Adobe Air 2.5 platform, with support for smartphones, tablets and computers in addition to televisions.