Feedback, please: PSD viewing on iPads?

As you may have read, I’m switching my focus from Photoshop to the development of tablet apps. I periodically hear requests for the ability to view Photoshop PSD files on devices like the iPad (for example, browsing files that one has synced via Dropbox).

I’d like to hear your thoughts on whether such a capability would be relevant to you. Some questions offhand:

  • What would you hope to accomplish? For example:
    • Would you be bringing your portfolio on the road?
    • Would you be taking the files somewhere to print them?
  • Would viewing just a flat representation of the files be sufficient, or would you want to interact with layers (for example, to switch among layer comps in order to show design iterations)?
  • Would you pay for such a capability? If so, how much?

This is obviously a capability that Adobe could build. The question of course is whether we should build it (as opposed, say, to building something else).

235 thoughts on “Feedback, please: PSD viewing on iPads?

  1. Kinda related…
    I would love to see a mini Lightroom, but with the capability to shoot tethered from a Canon (Nikon) DSLR. That would be a killer app!

    1. How com on my iPad I can’t video or take pictures when there’s a webcam at the top and on the packets in the box said I can take videos and pictures so why won’t it let me video or take pictures
      [It doesn’t include a camera. –J.]

  2. I think this would be a GREAT app. I think I would use this for basic viewing, similar to the way preview works in osx. I would pay for this if it previewed AI, EPS, PSD, and PDFs (I know there are already viewers out there for this). It would be great for reviewing work on the road.

  3. My initial reaction to the headline was “most of my PSDs are going to be bigger than the 256MB RAM of the iPad anyway).
    To answer the questions:
    – I wouldn’t use it for a portfolio or printing, I’m a photographer and JPEGs are all that’s required.
    – However, the idea of being able to interact with layers is *brilliant*, even just to turn them off and on to show a design concept.
    If an iPad app supported the major Adobe formats, inc. psd, ai, indd, aimed at this sole purpose of reviewing design concepts, I think it could be priced around the $20 mark and do well. Maybe a free viewer without the ability to toggle layers?
    And yes, I definitely second Rene’s remark above. If we had a mini-Lightroom that could do basic edits to RAWs downloaded via the camera connector, I would probably pay up to $50. Rene, tethering would probably require support from Apple, and I doubt it’ll happen anytime soon.

  4. Build something else. I deal with PSD’s that bog down my 8-core Mac Pro. My iPad would spontaneously combust with 200+ layer files I create. Invest your time somewhere else… 🙂

  5. I think a mobile viewer app as companion to CS5 would be excellent. It’d be really nice if it did work with PSDs, AIs, PDFs, and INDDs
    Throw in the ability to interact with Layers/Layer Comps
    And Dropbox access
    And you have a killer iPhone app.
    I’d pay $5 – $10 for it (keep in mind we’re already paying $$$$$$ for CS5, since most users would likely be using the Creative Suite as well)

  6. i would expect to see them, if saved in compatibility mode. But the rest is (not yet) interesting for me. But a very light Lightroom would be fascinating for me. Viewing raw on a light and mobile screen with good battery live, this would be a dream 🙂

  7. Oops. Forgot to add one last important feature:
    Being able to add notes/annotations to each document so I could interact with a PSD (for example) and jot down right there what edits/changes are needed. This one would be harder to implement with AIs as there’s no way in illustrator to add “notes” (as far as I know), unlike with Photoshop and InDesign

  8. Such an ability would be valuable to me.
    I keep all of my working docs in a Dropbox sync’d folder, and often have reason to reference them on my iPhone.
    Sometimes I need to bring something up for a client and sometimes just to ponder. I’m sure I’d want to do so even more often on a larger device like an iPad.
    Viewing the file flat would be sufficient for me, especially if it kept the app small and fast.
    Obviously a PSD editor would be GREAT, but even on an iPad I imagine it would be either slow or quite crippled.

  9. The simple ability to be able to interact with an image, zoom in and zoom out and apply layers would be fantastic. I’d have to say that being able to navigate layers is critical. Not having that would be a deal breaker.
    Would not use it for printing, but rather to show individuals image data or project it.
    The hard part would be figuring out how to deal with the limited amount of RAM… perhaps its time for a new, flat file format like Valerios: http://www.pascucci.org/
    I’d certainly be willing to pay $10-40 for an iPad app that would allow me to do these things.

  10. Rene’s mini-Lightroom idea is pretty cool.
    I’d want to use layer comps as I do now in client meetings.
    If the app were a “Preview” type, that could show all Adobe file types mentioned above, with the ability to manip the layers, I’d be willing to pay. How much? I’m not sure yet. But I’d seriously consider it.

  11. Being able to turn layers on and off would be cool, but I’m still much more likely to export and view flat files that take up less space.
    What I really want is to be able to plug in a camera or a card and directly edit in Camera Raw, saving a sidecar file back to the card.

  12. Not being an iPad owner, I am not sure how useful my thoughts are here, but having said that:
    #1 – I would imagine the ability to view various iterations (read, layers)for clients would be the most beneficial…reduces footprint to take with you on site.
    #2 – Printing, not really, as that has pretty much moved to the cloud is my guess…
    #3 – Yeah, but given the cost of the iPad and the investment in CS to create the PSD in the first place, can’t imagine a justifiable cost in excess of perhaps $10-$15

  13. A strong yes to the ability to view .psd files on the iPad. Some of my work-for example, collages, never gets converted to any other format.
    And yes, I definitely would want to retain layers of all types, as well as layer comps. It would be great to be able to cycle through layer comps for teaching and design purposes.
    I would pay for an iPad app with these capabilities, although I’d suggest keeping the price as low as possible to encourage as many folks as you can to use the app.

  14. I’ve always identified .psd as a file format for “creating” or “editing”, not simply “viewing”.
    Flattened viewing would be certainly convenient over generating JPGs or PNGs.
    However, personally, I’d prefer this functionality associated with an application that allows editing/creation for the aforementioned reason (revive ImageReady as a standalone?).
    A tablet interface optimized app that allows on the go editing and retains full compatibility of the file with it’s desktop counterpart is something I’d pay for eagerly and willingly.

  15. Probably not what you’re asking, but I would absolutely love a Photoshop Elements Lite-style iPad app. Just enough basic tools, layer support, selections, to be able to quickly put together web graphics.
    There’s apps now for HTML and FTP, so I’d be able to quickly tweak stuff on my site(s) on the go, but the ability to have some form of basic Photoshop functionality would effectively negate my need for a laptop.
    So your actual question, a VIEWER for these files doesn’t mean much to me. If I’m going to access a PSD, I’d want to edit it, move things, add a mask, whatever.
    A viewer would be handy (moreso for others, not me), though I couldn’t see it commanding too high a price. The “Photoshop Lite” idea, I would pay dearly for. Not CS5 price, but closer to Elements, if it had enough function.

  16. Lightroom Lightroom Lightroom.
    [I know I know I know. 🙂 But I’m asking about something here. –J.]

  17. I think that we really want, for the comments here, is not a mini LightRoom, but a stand alone Bridge, with more capabilities like turning ON and OFF some layers. That would be great, and will add the capability of print thumbnails directly from there without having to make a PDF, just like ACDSee prints, or printed, I don’t use it anymore but miss this one thing and it would be killer for me in Bridge.
    Thanks for asking.

  18. Still want Lightroom. If it needs to be on an Android tablet, then so be it.
    But Bridge+CameraRaw would be enough (that is almost the same thing as Lightroom, though)
    Photoshop on an iPad would only be useful if there was a pen that worked well — in other words a mobile Cintiq. Otherwise I don’t see the point.

  19. As you wrote, “In many ways, the iPad is the computer I’ve been waiting for my whole life.” I agree. It’s kinda like the 128k Mac so many of us bought way back when — so fun to use and so full of promise (and its progeny did eventually change the way we made a buck with our artwork).
    But unlike those innocent days (if the 80s can be considered innocent in any way, shape, or form), we can easily begin to imagine what the iPad (and tablets in general) might become once multitasking, adequate storage, and significantly more powerful processors arrive. Seriously, how long until mice and keyboards are relegated to back-in-the-day novelties?
    Sounds like you’re in a great position to shape the soon-to-be dominate apps of the forthcoming computing paradigm shift, John. Photoshop-like apps seem an iPad rev away but what do I know? If I were still in the biz rather than in the classroom, I’d want to show layer comps (as others have said) rather than an array of JPGs. Presentation counts. An ability to edit on the fly would be nice but dang, how much can you expect this little iPad to be able to handle?
    As someone once said, interesting stuff/times, eh? 😉

  20. Unless you plan to build a Photoshop lite for tablet devices that would allow the editing of PSD files then I don’t see the point of just letting the device view the file.
    A better solution would be to have an PDF in the PSD.
    The use case is showing off your work on an iPad with a client. Anyone who plans to do this will have hopefully thought ahead and created a flattened version to display. But in the case that they are not prepared the embedded PDF version would cover them.
    I wouldn’t pay anything to to be able to view a PSD file. Just like we don’t pay to view a Word document. But I would pay for an app that would let me create and edit PSD’s. I think you could charge $30-50. Just look at OmniGraffle for iPad.
    If Adobe doesn’t make an app for this you know a 3rd party developer like Pixelmator will fill that void.

  21. I would like to see something like Bridge. An app to catalog, stack,group,label,exif, batch rename my files. + camera Raw + panorama sticher+ connection to acrobat.com

  22. Forget a viewer app, give us a usable version of Photoshop for iPad.
    I’d pay $100 for a solid app that I could create originals images on if I’m away from my computer. Layers, Free Transform, robust color correction, filters.
    GIMME GIMME GIMME!!

  23. Would LOVE to run Photoshop on my iPad! Full app support (or as much as possible). Great idea!
    [Do you really mean that, though? I mean, why would you choose to run Photoshop on a tiny screen that features far less computational power? Why wouldn’t you use your regular computer?
    I strongly suspect that people don’t need or want Photoshop per se on these devices. They want a simple, fast, and pleasurable way to create and work with images, and they want it tailor made for the unique tablet environment. –J.]

  24. How about starting with Acrobat Pro first.
    Please.
    Full on, with commenting.
    Thanks, John (great blog btw)

  25. John:
    And what makes you think that Apple wouldn’t block the application as soon as Adobe finished writing it?
    [Well, I did get a message from Steve saying they wouldn’t. 🙂 –J.]

  26. John,
    Let me speak for the rest of the world not being the USA.
    We haven’t even been able to buy one yet, remember?

  27. Filter this through a non-iPad-weilding Mac guy…
    I’m not so sure I’d like to be able to manipulate layers in a PSD file so much as I’d like to see comps. As others have stated, many of my PSDs would simply be too large to handle nicely, and I don’t really like the idea of pushing full PSDs to the cloud (i.e., Dropbox).
    However, I would probably put an iPad on my list if I could have some function in PS that would let me export layer comps to save space. And for that matter, I’d like to see a stand-alone version of ACR (smaller/lighter than LR), but I digress.
    Given CS Review, I could see pushing a set of bundled comps to Review, then bring those down to an iPad for more capability than Review currently offers.

  28. No, there is absolutely no need at this juncture for Adobe to spend time allowing us to view .psd files on an iPad.
    Adobe does not even have a half decent image gallery solution. The iPad (or insert comparable Android device) is not yet a content creation/manipulation device, Adobe needs to be working on that future – when we can manipulate and make .psd files then we expect this functionality.
    Until then your responsibility (and our desire) is for Adobe to redefine the future of:
    1. Online and mobile gallery/review tools for professional photographers.
    2. Touch based (+mobile) drawing/sketching tools.
    3. Touch based (+mobile) layout & design tools.
    Mobile tools that sync up with server hosted assets and offer Lightroom/Bridge image sorting, review, etc… would be quite welcome.
    Adobe should just buy Dropbox and use it as the cloud based storage solution at the heart of all future applications.
    [And hello John]

  29. And what makes you think that Apple wouldn’t block the application as soon as Adobe finished writing it?
    Looking back on it, don’t you think that comment is rather childish?

  30. CS5 file viewer, like Apple’s QuickView with Sneak Peak Pro plug-in to view plates, layer comps, fonts, etc. etc.
    Lightroom would be awesome. Not for RAW processing, but perhaps with a preview synchronization feature like dropbox.

  31. You can import PSDs with transparency into Keynote so an app that allowed you to preview them with some limited editing capabilities like layer toggling, would definitely come handy for on the road presentation building.

  32. John,
    From gleaning responses to this post; putting on my x-ray 3D viewer, I can see a romance code between Abobe and lets say HP, building a hardware device devoted to photoshop aficionados as the painting features are enthroned in design apps.
    The revolution of Adobe begins anew.
    Smart move and wise.
    Ken in KY

  33. I would love to see the iPad as a soft proofing tool. To be able to send and receive adobe files to view iterations and layers. Since we can’t change the colours on the iPad, it might even be possible to create a colour profile to make color appear more accurate on the iPad.

  34. I would like to see layer comps and maybe some way to wire them together with simple functionality to ‘navigate’ a site comp.
    ie: You see each page from a site as a comp and can click a link on the comp/page to go to the next comp/page
    There you have site demos and most of my sites get made in 1 PSD with comps anyway.

  35. I would like to see Lightroom LITE for the iPad. Especially if it could use the same raw engine as Lightroom, ACR, etc.
    Otherwise honestly I don’t know what I would do with a PSD viewer. So far the need to view PSD files hasn’t come up and I don’t think will. Given that at most I have 64GB of space in my iPad 3G I can’t see myself using a lot of that space for a couple of layered PSD files.
    However, others may have more of a use. It would be cool if you could interact with the layers turn the on and off, reorder them, things like that.
    Robert

  36. A Lightroom applet that would allow for export of a slide-show, and/or preview files (not RAW,PSD,or TIFF) in a manner that it would follow the LR library module and allow you to put together a quick custom slide show depending on audience.

  37. I would love to see an extention of PS that does something that touch tecnology excels in — allow you to draw and paint in your comps. Since the processor is relatively weak — vector brushstrokes (like in AE) that could later be scaled up to any resolution while maintaining relative width and spacing would be great.
    Considering the face that a wacom with an integrated screen costs $2,700, I wouldn’t mind paying $19.99.

  38. I’m reading this blog on my new iPad. I’ve been learning all about file importing, management, etc., this past week. And I can’t think of one single reason I’d need my iPad to read PSD files (beyond maybe thumbnails).
    However, I’d love to see Configurator 2 run on my iPad. There’s already a Photoshop controller app in the app store, so I know it’s possible.

  39. Yes, yes, er…yes!. I would love to see presentation capabilites now for CS. Maybe not the layers manipulations for now. As much of Lightroom as humanly possible. Would love to use this as my backup with previlges.

  40. I guess just opening PSDs on the go (with ability to set pixel-perfect 100% zoom) is great and should be free. A version with a support for Layer comps switching (by flicking, I guess) could cost a couple of bucks.
    No printing needed for me, just to show stuff to people.

  41. I’d go for seeing PSD’s Ai, and INDD’s swithing layer comps and being able to annotate.
    I think a possibility would be a client style interface (option) so they could see layer comp and ideas (not giving them layer options just layer comps).
    A full screen option so if its iPad design stuff they could see it as it would be on the machine would be worth a lot – $50
    I get the lightroom bit but wonder is the device has enough juice, I think quick review on a decent screen and application of present curves so you see what you RAW would be like roughly would do me.

  42. I second Enrique’s suggestion: a CS (5) File Viewer, to quicklook not only Phtoshop files, but also Illustrator and InDesign files. In Bridge CS5 you now can preview more than one page of InDesign CS5 files (according to the preference sttings in InDesign). This is very useful, even if it’s just a jpeg thumbnail (well, a 1024px thumbnail, so that’s fullscreen for the iPad ;)). A flat thumbnail would be enough for me for Photoshop files as well. However, the ability to switch between layer comps would be very useful – it’s like layer comps were made for this 🙂
    Bottom line: Yes, I’d use a file viewer, but would very much appreciate if it wasn’t Photoshop-only. For a viewer, that let’s me preview psd (and other pic formats), ai/eps/pdf and indd, that also summarizes some key metadata (color swatches…) and integrates well with dropbox I’d happily pay! This would turn the iPad (even more) into an excellent presentation device.

  43. The ability to view flat representations of PSDs, possibly shrunk down server-side, would be a great boon.
    I produce comics with a team of artists, using Dropbox to exchange files. When they upload a new version of a 500-MB page, I use the Dropbox web page on my iPhone to copy it to another folder in my Dropbox which, on my Mac at home, is being watched by Hazel. Once the copied file is synced there, an Automator script is run that shrinks the PSD down, converts it to JPEG, and e-mails it to me…
    So, yeah, I’d like to be able to view flat representations of PSD files easily! I assume it’d need some manner of server-side manipulation to make it feasible, though.
    Interacting with layers would be cool, but considering the iPad’s RAM limitations I wonder how feasible it is. Further, even on tablet devices with -way- more RAM, there’s still the issue of loading the file. Even on a solid-state device, loading a huge PSD fils might take up to a minute, and might fail due to a lack of RAM. I know this is going to make my Kool-Aid mustache a little obvious, but isn’t this the antithesis of the new mobile and tablet paradigm that’s clearly captured the public’s mind?
    Large, intensive, cumbersome and slow operations are for the desktop or laptop, when you have time and energy to spend on managing the machine. The tablet paradigm is instant-on, always-interruptable-and-restorable, quick and intuitive tasks.
    While I would love to be able to open large, multilayered PSDs, change layer transparencies, move layers, add nondestructive adjustments and drill into Smart Objects, these features shouldn’t compromise the core values of the new mobile paradigm:
    – The app should load instantly, remembering its last state
    – Any file open operation should take less than ten seconds
    – Scrolling and zooming should always be smooth
    One model that might actually make it possible to access large-format PSDs, come to think of it, is something akin to the Google Maps model, where resolution-specific tiles are generated server-side (possibly via a companion app on the desktop?)and fed to the device via wireless.
    Lightroom itself is already a very attractive application that invites a companion app on a tablet device. The killer functionality would be synchronization; using smaller, lighter proxies on the tablet and applying edits to it up to and including redeye and blemish removal, and then seeing those changes synced back to the high-res files on my desktop… heavenly 🙂
    As for usage models: fundamentally, I’d like to be able to quickly visualise the current condition of my files, and also to be able to use ‘dead time’ while in transit to perform any menial labor that those files require, which would be just as easy (if not easier) to do on my tablet as on my desktop.
    Being able to zoom in on a file on the train and smudge out blemishes, or refine a rough mask, would be magnificent.
    For what it’s worth, I’m ecstatic that your interest is shifting to tablets, and I hope iPad can remain a relevant platform for you and Adobe. It’s the computer I’ve been waiting for all my life, too, and it’s enormously exciting to see someone like yourself dedicate his brain to what post-PC creative software can do!

  44. If you have the spare time then yeah. As a mag designer I use PSD’s all the time. I agree that I’m not sure when I would use it but I won’t know until i need it! I do connect to my little buffalo NAS at home and the ability to view PSD’s in my stock archive of images would be useful. As with Eps images. Being when I see a client I can remote log on at the moment and show them pdf’s of previous jobs via ipad. This would be useful if i need to show them a certain image that ‘could’ be used.
    thats my 2 cents

  45. I don’t need PSD on iPad. I think layered TIFFs are a good alternative and often a bit smaller, if you use JPEG compression for the composite preview image.
    I’d prefer Adobe to do something else instead 🙂

  46. An on the road reviewing system like say on an iPad for PSD files would be very useful actually. It would be great to show my clients different versions of their products (i’m a photographer) without having to drag along my MacbookPro all day long =)

  47. Come to think of it, layered PDFs provide another alternative to PSDs. Is there anything that actually makes PSD more attractive than TIFF or PDF?
    [Unfortunately the layer blending model in PDF doesn’t match the one in Photoshop, so you can’t turn your PSD layers into PDF layers and retain their appearance in all cases. –J.]

  48. All I need would be a program to look at the images and tag them while out in the field (RAW of course). Each Import will be its own event so I can keep some sort of order.
    Would be good if the client could choose (rate) already on the iPad which picture they liked. Would speed up the sale a lot I guess.
    Back home from the iPad to Aperture, Lightroom or whatever program!
    I would love to pay for such an app. Guess up to 30$

  49. I’m not sure if the benefits to displaying a PSD on the iPad outweigh the notion that a laptop already
    – has a viewable/projectable screen for client presentation
    – has the ability to run photoshop offering full manipulation.
    – has accurate color representation.
    I’m genuinely curious why some people see the iPad as a better client presentation device given the ability to edit on the fly is currently constrained. Are you then limited to note taking the clients comment.
    Its also quite a smudgetastic device so are we happy to let clients poke at our screens again? 😉

  50. John,
    I find the iPad interesting, but am waiting for apps that meet MY use cases.
    I photograph world leaders and others at international negotiations, do a little photo editing in PS, some desktop publishing in ID, and build web pages in Panic Coda.
    I would pay good money for light/simplified iPad versions of core Creative Suite apps, especially PS and ID. Merely being able to display PSD images, without other features, would be of questionable value (if any) to me.

  51. It would be awesome.
    A portfolio to take on the road that supports at least the function of viewing quite any Adobe file – psd, ai, png, etc.
    An interaction would be obviously even better.
    I would pay from 5$ to 20$, in relation of the functions.

  52. yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssss! I neeeeeeeeeeed your software on my ipaaaaaaaaaaaaaadddddddd. please please just do it

  53. This would be bloody brilliant. The ability to view PSD’s AND individual layers would be invaluable for designers out in the field. If I could take my ideas with me on the road and be able to show my thought process and design concept stages through toggling layers on and off is something I and A LOT of people would definitely pay for. I think the price should be under $20… I think $10 would be perfect but I’m sure most would pay up to $20

  54. Notice the comments that mention AI and INDD files as well as PSD? Please, please! I don’t think it needs to be a whole Photoshop on a tablet app, but something that works in conjunction with Creative Suite on the desktop. Actually, I’ve been holding off on getting an iPad till something like that comes along from Adobe.

  55. flat psd should be enabled on ipads as a default readable format.
    a free viewer with layer on/off is ok. i will not pay only for this function.
    a mini lightroom, just to view raw images, should be free.
    edit in any way should be priced 4,99$ max, considering we already pay a lot of money for standard adobe apps.

  56. I dont want a separate application. I would like this as an added function in Dropbox/Airsharing etc. Ideally done by providing an API.
    I wouldn’t download a separate app just to read a closed format.

  57. PSD support would be great but would really like a lightroom light.
    Camera Raw editing would be Ideal!

  58. Lightroom on the iPad rather than PSD’s would be more versatile. Memory issues would seem to complicate the layered images.

  59. Yeah, it would be a great option. I envision using it while traveling/on the go and need to proof/review work being done by folks in the office or at another location.

  60. Better still, harken back to the days when PS wasn’t so beefy and could actually run and do a lot on a 1GHz CPU. Give us a junior version that lets us not only view PSD’s, but work with layers and save/create PSD’s on a mobile device.

  61. just tried to do this yesterday with dropbox.
    layer comps FTW and maybe add some annotations for later usage

  62. iPhoto can read PSD’s. I haven’t tested it on the iPad’s version, but I can view layered PSD’s in iPhoto, s a PSD viewer already exists.
    [Thanks for the heads-up. I assume it handles only PSDs for which one has chosen “maximize compatibility” when saving (same as Finder), and one can’t interact with the layers. –J.]
    What I’d like is a full DAM editor (better than Bridge). I can see sitting on a plane tagging or organizing metadata for photos, PSDs, AI’s etc.

  63. Yeah, the same here : the ability to display PSD and toggle layers to show designs variants would be really useful.
    And add notes on it (like in Acrobat) for later changes.
    20 $ max, maybe more if able to display other formats and do the same (AI, Ind)…

  64. As others have said, yes. And add AI and INDD. With Dropbox support (and other similar things, such as MobileMe). Oh, and it has to support video out. Commenting would be nice, but not necessary in v1.
    But it appears you (and others) are not fully understanding the iPad’s (or smartphones’) primary utility. The monolithic large app isn’t as interesting to me on the iPad as it is on, say, my Macbook Pro. I’ve got a few monolithic apps on my iPad (Pages, Keynote, Numbers, OmniGraffle, etc.), but what I find is that I’m much less inclined to create “big tasks” on the iPad than I am to do tweak/show/distribute tasks. The app you propose fits that to a T.
    For instance, Keynote wasn’t spec’d right, in my opinion. Too much emphasis on creation (which is still crippled), not enough on tweak/show (no presenter notes during play?).
    But more to the point, I could see Adobe doing many “helper” apps rather than one or two monolithic apps. This fits another aspect of the iPad: everyone is using it a bit differently, and will continue to, I think. Thus, finding an app that 50% of the users will all want is going to be tough. Finding multiple apps that 5% of the users will find useful is going to be much easier. What’s funny is that the Big Media hasn’t figured that out. I’d pay for just the NYT Business and Technology sections, but I don’t need and wouldn’t pay for most of the other parts of the paper. Media, too, is thinking monolithically, and I think that’s wrong on these smaller, portable devices that go everywhere with you BUT ARE NOT your main computer. You can always consolidate mini-apps/media into bigger things later if the pads get more memory and processing power, but for now, thin is in.

  65. I think psd support is must have for anyone who reviews photoshop files or does any creative collaboration like web development.

  66. PSDs (and AI, INDD, etc) would be fantastic for the iPad. I have already won jobs using the iPad as my portfolio and sketchbook.
    – Design review (annotations, mark-ups
    – show layer comps
    – build video out to show on a projector
    – Camera RAW adjustments/basic image adjustments (levels, curves, hue/saturation), show client what a test shot could look like
    – don’t need to print.
    – email jpg/png version to client/transfer to Photoshop.com
    Depending on the functionality, I would pay $20, maybe $50 if the functionality warranted it.

  67. Yes, that would be amazing! Interacting with layers would be huge but even a simple viewer would be great.

  68. I would most probably use such an application, particularly if it provided a mean to turn layers on and off and if it did not call for an inordinate amount of RAM.
    Yes, I would pay, but not a large amount, say $10, maybe less.

  69. +1 for this feature! It would be great to be able to view mockups on the iPhone/iPad without having to save them as JPEGs!

  70. Just to add my voice:
    For me personally, this would be of no use.
    I would pay no money for this.
    I would rather see development of something else.

  71. Obviously it’d be great but I can’t see anyone paying for it. After all, Apple’s ‘Preview’ can already view PSD files in OS X so if you guys don’t build it, Apple might just take the initiative themselves. They’re good at that.

  72. I would just like slim apps (like Thom said) to do menial tasks and tweaking. Metadata and keywording tasks immediately spring to mind! I’m not sure how much PS on the tiny, limited power device I would bother with. I’ll be getting an ipad next month and it will be to replace lugging around a laptop. I don’t see the benefit really of viewing .psd files–“File>Scripts>Layer Comps to Files” for the Win!
    As others have stated, I would LOVE some slimmed down Lightroom app. “Lightroom Library” perhaps? Sorting, grouping, renaming, keywording, slideshows is all I need, really. I would certainly pay for that ($30?)
    Keep up the great work John

  73. This would be very beneficial, been waiting for something like this to come up. I would edit, create, and manipulate all my projects, anywhere.
    I would want to print, but more importantly I would like to have full control of layers and also have design capabilities to design graphics solely… I.e. Website graphics
    I would pay for this, I think the most I would pay is 29.99… Although it does depend on what the app offers

  74. In my job as a designer, it’s unlikely I’d use the PSD abilities you described. Like many have said, the files I work with are probably too large to have good performance, and I have an action that exports layers out of photoshop into a down-rez’d PDF if I need the functionality.
    As an amateur photographer however, I love the idea of a lightroom-type app on my iPad! Tethered shooting and import are a must and the ability to make rough adjustments that import into my desktop lightroom/camera raw environment would be an app I’d easily pay $30.

  75. In a modern computing device, it’s insane to me that support for every image format you can think of would not be included. Yes, .psd should absolutely be one of them. I work in journalism and routinely email content in .psd. For my iPad to even be an option as a work machine, I would need .psd support.

  76. I could definitely put a PSD reader to use immediately.
    What would be necessary:
    • Ability to add a layer and sketch rudimentary notes.
    • Ability to annotate using text (like the stickies in PS)
    What would be nice:
    • Viewing both RGB and CMYK in all bit depths.
    • Ability to hide layers.
    • Ability to change blending modes.
    The iPad has changed the way I create content, something like this would be an excellent addition.

  77. If it’s accessible via Dropbox (or similar) as a preview then that’s more than sufficient for my needs to share work or portfolio with people.
    I probably wouldn’t pay for this because converting a PSD to PDF is very easy. I usually have to do it anyway to share with clients.
    Lightroom on iPad would be awesome, but would like to know how it will integrate with the metadata database on my MBP. If it doesn’t then please do make it.

  78. Most definitely an app that could toggle layers. Be able to show different versions of a concept with minor variation without having to scroll from photo to photo. I would love it. I would pay $9.99 for it.

  79. Yes, I would love a PSD reader for iPad. However, I also want to be able to create and save simple content in addition to reading. I would love to have layer control, basic brushes, gradients, selection tools, blending options, RGB & CMYK options, and of course history.
    I’d pay between $10 and $20 for this kind of functionality.

  80. I just want to add to the vote that Lightroom version for the iPad, capable of native tethered shooting would really be awesome. I will buy that as soon as it is available,

  81. I can’t see needing to see psd’s on an iPad. I would not pay for it.
    Tethered shooting and viewing of RAW files? That could be useful. But first there has to be a way to calibrate the screen. Without proper calibration all “real” imaging apps are nearly useless for the professional.

  82. I must be a luddite – i just don’t get it. I want a gorgeous perfectly calibrated display, a screen that doesn’t smudge easily, a wonderful accurate pointing device and terrific powerful apps – that will display my tiffs – oh gee that’s my laptop !

  83. Yes, I would use definitely. Maybe not full editing, but utilitarian—layers off on effects off/on…would it be a compacted .psd format? (ram limits)
    $15-20
    NOT a subscription, tho.
    .02

  84. Make it for Android, not for silly closed source systems. It’s the future 🙂
    [Well, I did say “devices like the iPad.” –J.]

  85. PSD viewing on iPads?
    NO
    WHY?
    Not a good enough monitor.
    To me the iPad is a convenience device, what I see missing right now is an easy way to get files off of and on to the iPad itself, If I have to go thru to many gates to get it done I will use my Mac Air, about the same size and easier to deal with. I see a need for an easy way to load and unload files (CR2 convert to DNG, Bridge to ACR would be nice, add content aware fill, folder system to file results)
    Sounds like a fun project, customer requirements and pricing are going to be a challenge. Whatever the cost sign me up.
    Bill

  86. I’m excited about the possibilities of using an iPad tethered to a camera (wired or wireless) for image review and manipulation while shooting. I don’t need the full range of editing tools in Photoshop or Lightroom, just few basic tools, such as:
    1. zoom, scaling and pixel preview
    2. cropping preview
    3. camera remote controls
    4. histogram, image info, tagging, etc.
    5. ACR development preview
    6. HDR controls for multishot preview
    7. Pano stitching preview
    8. Camera calibration preview
    9. Lens correction preview
    10. Capture presentation mode (for ADs and clients)
    You get the general idea: no creative editing fluff, just the things that help with the capture and evaluation of images in the field. I’d call it something like “Photoshop Capture.”
    There’s no software like this for the iPad (or other tablets) that I’m aware of, but that’s an opportunity for Adobe to enter the field with a leading application, as they did with Lightroom. I’d gladly pay an equivalent amount as LR for this application on my iPad.
    Hardware integration through an iPad/camera USB connection would likely be necessary, either wired or wireless, so Adobe might need to partner with another OEM, but that sort of partnership should still be very doable for Adobe.
    Best wishes, and good luck.

  87. What I’ve been hoping to see is some way to use the ipad as a drawing/photo editing tablet. It synchs to your computer running the full version of photoshop or illustrator via bluetooth or wifi or whatever. You then are able to draw directly onto the screen with your fingers or perhaps some type of stylus made to register on the ipad screen. I’ve seen some blog posts where people have been using styluses as ipad input devices in drawing programs, and it looks pretty interesting. I frequently use a wacom tablet when editing photos—their solution (the cintiq) looks great but is prohibitively expensive. I would pay for an app like this if it worked well. $50-100?

  88. I could have used this yesterday. I made a client presentation of a website design on an iPad, where I had saved out the various combos of layers as JPGs.
    Would have been slick to just turn on and off layers, or even better, layer groups, in a PSD viewer. An enhanced Bridge viewer would be really nice, but that might be feature creep…

  89. Yes.
    $5 for psd viewer app.
    $25 for photoshop lite app. (more features than the current iPhone app)

  90. yes…
    would love to be able to have PSD files on my ipad.
    Never thought about having the ability to show different layers. Would be nice.
    If you had a nice way to make it a portfolio program. logo on the top of each page, swip to move. or run as slideshow. $9.99

  91. I would love to see a tethering APP that would drop camera images from Canons and Nikons into a mini-Lightroom, as Rene Hernandez suggested at the top of this thread. The ability to adjust RAWimages and save them as RAW or JPEGs would be required. It would be especially cool to use WiFi to receive the images in a hot folder.
    A mini-Photoshop would be outstanding, but only if you rework the interface for multi-touch retouching.
    I think between $49 and $69 would be right, depending upon features and performance. CS apps are so pricey now, many of us only upgrade every other version, so you need to be careful not to price these apps out of the market.
    Apple has made it very difficult to manage files on this device, so any way to move files in and out and print via the network would be appreciated.

  92. You’re thinking small. A viewer for PSD is a no brainer. Why not a scaled-down Photoshop (or Elements) for the iPad? Come on, you’re talking about Adobe! Think big! Create an image-editing application that can work natively with PSD files! Think about it from the ground up the way Apple did with the iPad.
    [It’s not that we’re not thinking big, it’s that I was asking a very specific question here. –J.]

  93. I would like to use my iPad with photoshop file, even more so to create them. Perhaps a PS lite that could perform the basic functions and allow for a more mobile creative app.
    Website creation is also a needed feature for tablets and the iPad.

  94. This is a great idea! It’s the number one reason I bought the iPad for. Having the oppertunity to take my portfolio with me on the road and being able to adjust my documents (psd, ai, etc) would be awesome! I’m a webdesigner from The Netherlands by the way.

  95. allora esco dal tema principale per suggerire alla Adobe cosa deve mettersi in testa di fare il prima possibile e senza distrarsi (se poi la Adobe vorrà contattarmi e magari pagarmi per la consulenza … resto disponibile!): lasciate stare la Apple, non potete continuare a perdere tempo su dispositivi in cui non vi vogliono!!!! basta! concentratevi su air! concentratevi su android! concentratevi su chi produrrà dispositivi simili all’ipad (con gps integrato, rete telefonica, webcam, microfono), fate girare air su questi dispositivi! fate in modo che sia possibile usare i dati del gps e della webcam, lanciare chiamate da air! subito! oggi! non tra un anno! Se lo farete allora avrete vinto Apple, allora Apple dovrà ricredersi e tornare sui suoi passi e aprire le porte ai suoi dispositivi… e tutti noi potremmo sviluppare realmente nuove e interessanti applicazioni sfruttando quello che a mio avviso accontenta tutti: sviluppare un’applicazione e poterla far girare su ogni sistema operativo o dispositivo senza doverla riscrivere! permettere al cliente di poter comprare oggi windows, domani mac, dopo domani linux… tanto il suo programma girerà comunque!!! fatelo e sarò anch’io più contento di aver seguito Adobe fino ad oggi! se non lo farete… la vedo male! Cordiali saluti

  96. as long as the ipad does not support flash (swf) i wont be using Ipad for my portfolio on the road, even if it displays psd files, i would like to show my customers their website in my particular case and that’s not an option because the lack of the ability to display SWF files.

  97. I have no interest in this for iPad. As others have said, it would be better to simply embed a standard preview image (PNG?) in all PSDs that could be displayed by any browser.

  98. I think that Being able to view all native CS files and turn layers on and off would be perfect.
    The notes concept would also make it much more valuable.
    What I would really love though, is a well thought out remote control app for the whole creative suite. Basically something that could replace or work with my Wacom tablet as a input device.
    Something that can both can function as a drawing tablet, but also manipulate the view, and also put the appropriate commands for whatever task is at hand under your fingertips.
    It would be nice if it would switch apps, copying/pasting text or layers with it, and of course actively manipulate whichever CS app was in front.
    I think that most of the work to make this a great app would be in researching interface combinations. It would have to be laid out better than what we currently use (keyboard, Mouse, Wacom), and be intuitive right out of the “box”.
    It would obviously come with useable interface presets, but also allow you to create or modify custom layouts.
    Then when your creation is complete, you could hit a send to iPad button, it would load the file/s onto your iPad, and you could go visit your client with your native files.
    I think the ability to move objects, and edit text (especially in Indd. docs) would be essential, as most client revisions involve that. Even if they can’t render until you get the file back to your computer, at least being able to put the changes directly into the file (Like maybe a story editor like interface).
    I’ve noticed not many people talk about the potential of the iPad to manipulate a computer, but it seems like half of it’s potential lies in this area. Especially as they inevitably grow bigger in the future. It’s basically a really powerful Wacom Cintiq, just without pressure sensitivity (Though speed seems to kind of replace sensitivity in terms of creating natural looking strokes).
    One last thing…
    Ideas is great, but what I’d really like in a simple vector program is the Blob brush and the eraser tool from AI. I’ve also seen a vector app that has basic shapes, and basic pathfinder functionality. It also has great big finger size path handles. This with the two brushes could essentially replace Illustrator for 90% of vector work.

  99. To have a PSD and JPG version around on my iPad and iPhone is already possible and easy in many different ways.
    How about a DREAMWEAVER app?
    it would be much useful.

  100. of course you should do it – should have started on this long time ago. adobe needs to stop being lazy
    [Bite me, moron. (Or rather, try not being intellectually lazy while calling people “lazy.” Like most epithets, it tells us more about its user than its target.) –J.]

  101. I already posted a comment on macrumors when they aired your blog. Here is what I said:
    A photoshop light for the ipad (maybe like photoshop elements – as that is what I use) would be cool. then I could get rid of about 3-4 different apps that I have now, that do different things. Also would need to have the simple enhance feature that iphoto has (I use that one a lot to fix lighting and color issues – mostly for pictures taken with an iphone; where the lens tends to darken on real sunny days. Don’t have that issue with my Nikon).
    If they did, that would be cool – as then I could get rid of another application on my macbook. This keeps up, then all I will need is my ipad and a mini LOL.
    It does need to be more advanced than their current offering for the iphone:
    http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photo…331975235?mt=8
    I would not want it to be a service (monthly charge) or in the cloud. But I would pay for a real app on my ipad. if they make it along the lines of photoshop elements (I am still using version 6 for mac and had not had a need to upgrade) – then I would consider paying upwards of $30 or so. I mean elements right now I can get for $79 or less (depending on version, distributor, instant savings, and rebates). so $30 for a feature rich app is not really over priced.
    How would I use it?
    When I am out on vacation, I take a lot of pictures. I would be nice to be able to edit them when I am back in my hotel room, without having to lug around a macbook. I am at the point where all I need is my lightweight iPad, great for hiking, camping, kayaking trips where you camp out mostly. It needs to have the ability to save the jpg to the photos app on the ipad for email, sharing on facebook, etc.

  102. I would LOVE the following 2 products (and use them extensively):
    1- a free PSD reader app that simply display your project.
    2- A Photoshop lite that allows you to read /write psd files.

  103. No interest in iPad apps. As a photographer I’ve got PS CS4, PS CS5 and Aperture 3 on my MBP. Obviously I need a real computer. I see no advantage in getting an iPad.
    When I need to take example shots to a job I load iPhone JPGs since even when shooting outdoor sports I always carry my iPhone.

  104. A lightroom based app would be good…and the ability to switch on and off layers.
    A flag system to allow clients to pick shots that could then be used to slot into a shooting schedule for a wedding/event etc. The schedule could start with a template of shots required for different purposes or user definable.
    That way I could take the iPad to a client when discussing a wedding, by the end of the evening…I have an outline of the day…selected by them and automatically generated.
    A desktop partner app would then allow me to sync back and print it out.

  105. Why stop at a viewer?
    Look at AutoDesk’s Sketchbook Pro, it can handle PSD’s and create documents.
    How about bringing Photoshop to the iPad to compete?

  106. The iPad doesn’t have the horsepower to run anything like Lightroom or Photoshop so forget about that direction.
    Viewing PSD’s may be useful but we can already save them as jpgs and view them so I’m not sure how much use it would be. Saving a few layer comps as jpegs will take up an order of magnitude in less space than a PSD.

  107. A PSD Reader for e.g. iPad will be great!
    As well as a reader for NEF (CR2..) files. But this is too much I think.
    I like showing pics on the iPad. Its so easy. And when it’s possible to show PSDs with basic functions (darken, lighten..), sync via iTunes or Dropbox or so …
    …I will pay up to 20$ I think.

  108. A PSD Reader for e.g. iPad will be great!
    Why? It’s nice and fast to show the JPEG files. But when I’ve h edited PSD, it can be helpful to show such files on the iPad.
    As well as a reader for NEF (CR2..) files. But this is too much I think.
    I like showing pics on the iPad. Its so easy. And when it’s possible to show PSDs with basic functions (darken, lighten..), sync via iTunes or Dropbox or so …
    …I will pay up to 20$ I think.

  109. i would LOVE this feature.
    i’d gladly pay up to $10 for a swell viewer that lets us interact with layers and layer comps.
    i’d glady pay to $20 for a iPad scaled PhotoShop app, or Illustrator app: layers, vectors layer masks, et al.

  110. Yes! I agree with the price points that seem to be stabilized for iPad… $5 to $10 for a “reader” app would be appropriate, and more, for a scaled-down PhotoShop. Bring it on, so we can see these files native, rather than in a format like “GoodReader”.

  111. I’d love to see an iPad viewer for panoramic and object VR movies, whether in QuickTime format, Flash, HTML5, etc.
    Since Photoshop is supposed to be able to stitch these panoramas, it would be great to be able to export them as interactive movies from within Photoshop and then be able to use (play) them interactively on the iPad.

  112. I’d prefer to see lite versions of the Adobe apps. To me the iPad’s potential is unlimited. Production apps should be just around the corner!
    I do think though that being able to simply browse different file formats while at home, networked to a computer or hard drive, is something that should be native to the iPad.
    As for portfolio use, Jpegs all the way.

  113. Cian, I think the issue is HOW you interface with the iPad. If you haven’t tried it, it’s hard to explain, but it’s much more collaborative and intimate than a laptop since there is no “right side up”, it’s not a barrier and does not dictate a certain posture to use it, it has a huge viewing angle, and you physically manipulate stuff — heck, two people could poke at the screen at once.
    It is much more like a sheet of paper or a stack of photographs than a laptop (which is a convenient-form-factor desktop, really). It can be shared like a photo, while a laptop is shared like a pair of binoculars (unless you’re projecting).
    And it is quite small and useful for keeping your calendar, etc, anyhow, so throwing some photos on their is an easy step. Not to mention that, as a non-laptop you will not be expected to modify the images live, sort of an embodiment of PDF.
    The glossy screen and the fact that it’s not calibrated are issues. You can use the VGA adapter with programs that are designed to work with it, but that’s probably not a real win.

  114. I would love also to see a version of lightroom on the iPad. It would be sweet also to see eventually a mini version of Adobe’s collections on the iPad where you could start your work and if you have to sync to your computer and finish the work their. Sort of like iWork apps. For an iPad app, if the app was good I’d pay up to $100 for it. My main focus would be close to the ability that lightroom provides or element.

  115. This is awesome!! Definitely a huge advantage to look at designs on the go. Maybe it would make more sense to build a mobile version of Bridge – an Adobe file viewer.

  116. I’d like to see a stand-alone version of ACR (smaller/lighter than LR), but I digress.
    I second that. It would be very nice to have a slick viewer for RAW/DNG files on the iPad (with a loupe function) and the ability to edit would be a boon. I would pay, but as I’ve already bought Photoshop, I’d be displeased to see a $25+ price tag on it.

  117. Yes – I would like to be able to view PSD, AI, INDD, PDF, EPS, TIFF, JPG, DWG (I know it’s not Adobe’s format, but still.)
    In regards to PSD, I know the iPad doesn’t have the horsepower for heavy graphics processing, but turning layers on and off would be great. Heck… Even just using Layer Comps would be amazing.
    Annotating a file or files (text or audio) would be an amazing thing as well.
    I already use my iPad as a portable portfolio so when I’m meeting with clients I can show them JPGs of my work. This goes for Logos, Websites, Brochures, etc. In the last month I have had the iPad I’ve been able to get 3 new clients because of the iPad.
    In most cases when I use my iPad showing a client work I do not have WiFi connectivity, so a “Dropbox” function doesn’t help. But it would still be nice.
    However, local syncing would be a necessity.
    Essentially I wouldn’t want to pay for such software, since I would figure it would be included in the price of Creative Suit, but if it worked with my CS3 and had some great functionality I would be willing to pay between $10-20. Depending on the feature set.

  118. The people here who don’t own an iPad seem to have the most opinions about what the iPad can and caanot do versus its capabilities.
    As an iPad owner and an admittedly amateur/casual photographer, I use the iPad for a number of editing and creation, using a number of fantastic third party apps (Photogene, Filterstorm among them) and my clients can tell whether their photos were edited in Photoshop on my desktop or my iPad while I sipped on a pomegranate juice in Caribou Coffee.
    Bottom Line: I would welcome a lite version of Lightroom or even an iPad version of (the excellent) Photoshop for iPhone with the ability to work with .psd files.
    People who can’t see ” the need” for something for themselves often make the mistake that what’s not useful to them must apply to everyone.
    Submitted via my 32GB WiFi iPad

  119. I’d love the ability to use .PSD or layered .TIFs files – and infact near full Photoshop capability on the iPad. My entire workflow is around layered .TIFs for use in artwork and publishing work for roleplaying games.Most of my work is done on the go. I’d love to do this on a truly portable device like the iPad. My MacBookPro is still too big, and my old HP 1100TC is getting too old – and I want a pure Apple environment to cut cost overheads.
    Cost will depend on features. Some great offerings exist on the iPad already. It would be nice if Adobe let registered users of PHotoshop have lower cost iPad apps, effectively as extensions of their desktop licence.If you tried to sell an iPad version at prices like desktop Lightroom, Elements or full Photoshop, I’ll probably consider switching to someone else.
    I also don’t want more cloud based apps. I’m in New Zealand and free wifi hotspots almost don’t exist. 3G data is about $1 per MB, and our broadband also is expensive – I regularly exceed my allowance just due to the massive number of OS and software updates each month from various vendors. Any tablet software for use outside the US needs to be realistic in terms of affordability for users.

  120. I would live a Lightroom like application. I travel often with my camera and don’t care to carry a notebook. I do carry an ipad and would be great to download certain images and work on them. Even better if you can upload, share and sync back to main computer. Would pay for something like this. Thanks.

  121. Awesome…
    I’d pay for sure!
    But i would like to have acess to key resources in the photoshop.
    Image efects, crop, rotate, resize and layer mask especially.
    I’m using SketchBook com my iPad, and i love it! But i can’t import PSD files, only export.

  122. I would very much like to be able to view PDF layers on an iPad.
    So a PDF / AI / PSD viewer that could handle layers would be fantastic.

  123. Would I like to view PSD files on the iPad? I can do that now. I would like to have a working Photoshop on my iPad so I can CREATE PSD’s!
    The company I own creates 3D game based training for mac and PC and we are also targeting the iPad for development in the near future. It is our plan to outfit each of our employees with an iPad for BD, demos, and productivity. I use it to do all my presentations, with out even touching a computer or PowerPoint (ugh). If I had a light version of Photoshop running on my iPad I could combine images on a layer do some editing, drawing, airbrushing and output it without ever having to return to my computer. I own all the art application for the iPad and not one of them really get it. I want Photoshop to run on my pad!

  124. Would I like to view PSD files on the iPad? I can do that now. I would like to have a working Photoshop on my iPad so I can CREATE PSD’s!
    The company I own creates 3D game based training for mac and PC and we are also targeting the iPad for development in the near future. It is our plan to outfit each of our employees with an iPad for BD, demos, and productivity. I use it to do all my presentations, with out even touching a computer or PowerPoint (ugh). If I had a light version of Photoshop running on my iPad I could combine images on a layer do some editing, drawing, airbrushing and output it without ever having to return to my computer. I own all the art application for the iPad and not one of them really get it. I want Photoshop to run on my pad!

  125. I agree with the first comment about a mini-lightroom. I would much prefer just to tweak photos then to be able to view PSD files, there still isn’t a stellar photo editing app on the iPad.

  126. Sorry your post seemed to get hijacked John…. But I’ll throw in that I can’t really imagine wanting to do any serious editing on my ipad. But I would LOVE (and so would many others) the ability to edit, sort, proof, and organize on the ipad. So not really LR, but maybe the Library module from LR?

  127. I would love to have either Photoshop or Lightroom Lite on both the iPad and iPhone. The features I would like most are levels and temperature adjustments. Yes, I would pay.

  128. I purchased an iPad rather than a laptop because I prefer to do my Photoshop work in my studio rather in client locations. However, the iPad does allow me to effectively display my images.
    It would be very helpful to me, to be able to demo layered images and to display the layers in differing order to arrive at the effect my clients will like.
    I would certainly pay for an app that would allow this function.
    Demonstrating would do the trick. If I wanted to be able to do the completions in Photoshop on site, then I would carry a laptop with full Photoshop capabilities. Just demos on the iPad is what I want.
    I expect to buy this App. The cost for this limited but useful function should be less than Elements on a laptop.

  129. I purchased an iPad rather than a laptop because I prefer to do my Photoshop work in my studio rather in client locations. However, the iPad does allow me to effectively display my images.
    It would be very helpful to me, to be able to demo layered images and to display the layers in differing order to arrive at the effect my clients will like.
    I would certainly pay for an app that would allow this function.
    Demonstrating would do the trick. If I wanted to be able to do the completions in Photoshop on site, then I would carry a laptop with full Photoshop capabilities. Just demos on the iPad is what I want.
    I expect to buy this App. The cost for this limited but useful function should be less than Elements on a laptop.

  130. John, the thought of a version of either PS or LR on iPad is very exciting, I would like the ability to tether directly to my DSLR and also print wireless. I use iPad for portfolio as well as connecting to a projector for seminars I conduct. Much easier to travel with than a Laptop. Also the ability to edit images on the road then sync to either Bridge or LR when back in my office would be a benefit.
    Thanks

  131. John, the thought of a version of either PS or LR on iPad is very exciting, I would like the ability to tether directly to my DSLR and also print wireless. I use iPad for portfolio as well as connecting to a projector for seminars I conduct. Much easier to travel with than a Laptop. Also the ability to edit images on the road then sync to either Bridge or LR when back in my office would be a benefit.
    Thanks

  132. Some light Adobe apps for the iPad would be great, but with small footprints. I love the fact that most of the apps for the iPad are so small, like the mac in the early system 7 days. Also I love Adobe products they are absolutely the best but the prices are really high, its like there using Microsoft for a business model. Slim down the code and the price and you have a winner!!!

  133. Most media are now small files for web applications. I would love to see ultra-thin iPad versions of:
    Photoshop
    Illustrator and
    Dreamweaver.
    These apps exist already (for the most part) via 3rd party developers, but Adobe could do it better with full file format compatibility. Stop fighting this silly battle over web tech from 2000 and build tools for this decade – thin, portable apps with easy sharing built in.

  134. Most media are now small files for web applications. I would love to see ultra-thin iPad versions of:
    Photoshop
    Illustrator and
    Dreamweaver.
    These apps exist already for the most part via 3rd party developers, but Adobe could do it better with full file format compatibility. Stop fighting this silly battle over web tech from 2000 and build tools for this decade – thin, portable apps with easy sharing built in.

  135. I would love something to view CS files on iPad. Turning on/off layers would be nice. Personally, I would pay just about anything for it, since it would allow me to leave my laptop at home.

  136. I’d love to have a Photoshop or even create suite for iPad.
    The bare minimum things I’d need is photo import, layer manipulation and printing capabilities.
    Illustrator even more so! It would be incredible to have a multitouch illustrator.
    The ability to integrate between any adobe iPad apps would be vital though, as almost everything I do uses at least two or more parts of CS4/5 per project.
    I know things aren’t great with apple about flash and all but I’l love a HTML5 tool from adobe.(such as a standalone HTML5 CSS3 and webkit animation tool rather than dreamweaver plugins)
    Or at least Apple and Adobe could co-operate better again, together you’d be unstoppable if you collaborated on projects for the future.

  137. Yes, i have recently got an iPad and would love to see these capabilities to view my progress of my work when i’m out of the house. Everything i do on my computer anyway can be done on my iPad accept photoshop editing and of course premier pro editing. Obviously premier pro for iPad would be a far shot and would only expect it in the next year or so… but i think adobe should definitely get into the app world for iPad. Viewing PSD files would be great but editing would be amazing. Say i am editing images at home and have to go out to visit a client (work world) or need to show my teacher (school kids) my progress at home, i can simply wip out my ipad and show them on the big screen and in good quality. I am actually in school, i do photography as a yr 12 subject but i could see myself using it if i was in the work world. Depending on how well it would be depends on the price i would pay.. If it was a PS editing app that was a portably version of PS and could do basic PS needs (more the better)- for this i would pay $20 about, for that price i expect be able to create and edit a PSD and work with it, then go home and do final and hardcore touches to it on PS on computer. the next app you could build is Premier Pro for iPad.
    overal, i am begging for Adobe to make some great PS or PR apps, anything would be great but try make it as good as possible, for a reasonable price.

  138. I would be more interested in paying for an app to view Adobe DNG files natively on the iPad. They would be images downloaded from my Leica M8 and M9 cameras. I have a 64GB WiFi iPad arriving on Monday (TNT too lazy to deliver it on Friday), which I will be using a lot as a portable image storage and viewing device.
    I would prefer not to have to take DNG and JPEG images, as that is a pain, when downloading into a DNG developer and slows down in-camera processing by about 40%. However if you take and download DNG only, the iPad can only display the thumbnail internally generated in the DNG. This is of very low quality in the Leica cameras. To get reasonable viewing of the downloaded images, one is therefore obliged to take DNG and JPEG.
    Wilson

  139. “Bite me, moron”?!
    Is that the level of professionalism of an Adobe Product Manager these days?
    [No. But playing human pincushion month after month for hundreds of ignoramus fanboys gets really old, and I’m human. –J.]
    As for your query, I would only be interested in PSD support if it was complete. Not a watered down version with flattened layers. There are other file formats for that.
    Being able to load and view a heavily layered PSD, toggling layers on and off, re-arraging layer order, etc. would make for interesting portfolio options.
    Would I be willing to pay for this? Not if I already owned any Adobe products capable to authoring PSD’s. If I didn’t it would be another matter… perhaps.

  140. I would love to see a Photoshop Lite app, as others have said. I think some of the other creative apps on the iPad have shown it is practical to offer.
    You could even make it activate full functionality via “modules” that could be either bought or would be included with CS. Other apps do this sort of thing to work around the limitations of app store pricing. Certainly, something that would avoid charging CS users a lot more would be nice and further inspire our loyalty. Tying it in with Dropbox and MobileMe (and maybe even FTP/sftp would be great), as others have said.
    Perhaps even allowing it to tether to a computer running CS5 and turning the iPad into a way to manipulate the current document would be really handy and bring a new way to interact with the suite.
    A PSD viewer I would say would also be nice, but not surely should have little or no price attached to it, since virtually everyone using it is already your customer.

  141. I’m not sure viewing PSDs are necessary for viewing unless they offer interaction. Perhaps a freebie viewer for PSDs in DropBox.
    I bought an iPad rather than a laptop as a light productivity tool. I’m using Adobe Ideas, Pages, Keynote, iMockup. An app that allowed me to create would be fantastic, though difficult with a touch screen.
    I agree with many of the photographers here that an app that can be used to adjust photos would be great: levels, hue, cropping, that new smart fill, rubber stamp, etc.
    Adobe would be smart to create light versions of Illustrator, Acrobat Pro (editing and signing PDFs? Awesome!), InDesign, Dreamweaver, even Photoshop with PS4 functionality.

  142. I’m frequently sent PSD’s that I need to look through. The ability to view and selectively switch layers on and off would be extremely useful. I would pay for it.
    Rich

  143. I personally would love to see a file viewer that communicates with a network. I work for a photography studio and we have purchased iPads for clients to view photos on post 1st round edit. We would ideally love to have the ability to open the photos that are network based, be able to flag them on the network and then later be able to browse the final jpgs that are also on the network via the app.
    I personally think that a full featured psd editor is a silly idea, the computing power doesn’t seem to be present to me, but a enhanced “bridge like” app that can turn on and off layers of multiple adobe file types would be fantastic.
    Bottom line:
    The ability to show clients PSD files would be fantastic. PSD files with layers, even better! We would be using this app to view the files within our building as somewhat a proof/presentation layout, not for print. (With our needs we would like to be able to view them via a wifi network.) We’d probably be willing to pay up to around $20 maybe a stretch at $30….it would really have to be a complete app with many functions to go beyond that.
    Thanks for all you guys are doing!

  144. The iPad is for consumption, not creation, the Wall Street Journal very perceptively pointed out. My wife’s Air has creation power, as does my 17″ MBP.
    However there still is a good use for PSDs in marketing presentation. You can turn layers on and off to show things so effectively. I use Photoshop and Bridge in lectures in preference to PowerPoints, and it makes very powerful and engaging presentations. How cool is it to show things to a client on an iPad using Adobe’s PSDs?
    Seeing Apple and Adobe at it is like watching my mother and father arguing. I’m dependent on both, and hope they both just kiss and make up.

  145. I’ll own up to not having read all the comments, John, but having an iPad version of Photoshop does not seem a good use of Adobe’s time.
    Being able to show a portfolio, being able to have a live view from a DSLR and shoot, being able to show PDFs created from Photoshop Layer comps, and be able to cut out a laptop when controlling a DSLR would all seem worthwhile pursuits, but may well need some additional hardware device to perform either WiFi and/or Bluetooth connecting link.
    Such a system would be welcomed and thus prove viable.
    Good luck with your new direction, it has been an enjoyable time working with you and your team, all the best,
    Rod

  146. I want a Lightroom plugin that will export selected images, resized for iPad display, along with the relevant catalog info. Copy the resuling folder to the iPad where the app can display images filtered using the catalog info – star ratings, colour ratings, keywords and metadata.

  147. I can view flattened PSDs on an ipad (or iphone for that matter) now. they just have to be saved in a format that any other photo would be saved in. Why would I need an app to view flattened photo files?

  148. Thus, finding an app that 50% of the users will all want is going to be tough. Finding multiple apps that 5% of the users will find useful is going to be much easier.
    The concept is well understood and is called the long tail. You are right in that the problem will be solved by lots of little apps. The big issue not trying to find an app for the iPad, but trying to find a problem that the iPad uniquely solves. If it doesn’t naturally solve a problem, then it is probably a waste of money.

  149. Hey John
    I am an Apple fanboy admittedly but I haven’t spent more than $9.99 on any app so far. If Adobe would push out a lean version of Photoshop for the iPad, it would be the first app that I would pay $99 for. It would let me leave my macbook behind and use the iPad primarily. PSD viewing utility would be the bare minimum that help me carry my portfolio around.
    Technically I already carry it around via my Dropbox app, so this would help me show it with ease.
    A hopeful Adobe fan.

  150. Hey John
    I am an Apple fanboy admittedly but I haven’t spent more than $9.99 on any app so far. If Adobe would push out a lean version of Photoshop for the iPad, it would be the first app that I would pay $99 for. It would let me leave my macbook behind and use the iPad primarily. PSD viewing utility would be the bare minimum that help me carry my portfolio around.
    Technically I already carry it around via my Dropbox app, so this would help me show it with ease.
    A hopeful Adobe fan.

  151. Absolute yes! Even just viewing them would be great, from Dropbox. Perhaps some sort of commenting feature? So you could show a PSD to a client, then collaborate and write little notes on it.
    Of course, limited to the power restrictions, but still – anything would be amazing!

  152. I think this is a no-brain’er – a leaner version of Lightroom or Photoshop as an app for iPad is something that I would pay for….

  153. I do not know if this idea has been broached yet, but aside from a light room like app, which would be fantastic, I would really like to see an app that would facilitate porting the photoshop workspace onto the iPad screen when it was connected to my computer. I would gladly spend $20+ on an app that let me have the current picture I’m working with on my iPad and let me use the multi-touch interface to edit it with the tools from photoshop running on my PC. A similar type of thing could probably be done with a RDC app, but I would gladly pay extra for a streamlined, optimized app that worked well.
    [Thanks for the feedback, Ben. What PS operations in particular would you like to control via multitouch? –J.]

  154. Yep, great idea. I’d use it as a client presentation tool for website concepts. It would need layer comp support as well as the ability to write notes and comments. This could also be achieved though by making a version of Acrobat Pro for the iPad which might have wider appeal.

  155. John:
    Following these comments, it seems there are two basic needs (perhaps 2 different apps):
    1) Simple photo editing and export
    2) Photo portfolio & display. My contacts in the movie biz seem to be all over the iPad for viewing photos (for approval, portfolio, etc.) Many of these people in the comments seem to be talking about Dropbox for synchronization, which would be great.
    So, some sort of interactive viewer+cloud storage that talks to Lr and/or Br would be an awesome solution.

  156. I would be IN LOVE WITH YOU if there was a CS5 Suite for iPad. I know that there is only so much you can do with 1GHz and half a gig of RAM, but maybe a scaled down version? But FAR FAR FAR more powerful than PS.com. Not unlike Apple with their iWork Suite, I would expect a WAAAAAAY reduced price, especially if you had a CS app on your computer. I would (if possible) like a much more advanced file sharing thing. Like a hierarchal file system within PS for iPad. Also, has adobe ever considered making a slightly more powerful PS app for iPhone? that would also be great. I think I would find PS for iPad justification enough to upgrade from CS4 to CS5.

  157. A few things I’d like:
    1. Cropping.
    2. Adjustment layers, ideally with paintable masks for non-destructive dodge and burn (even just Curves+Levels+Hue/Sat would be great)
    3. Dropbox integration.
    4. Tethered shooting to a Canon SLR.
    With at least 1+2, a photographer could leave the laptop at home for a simple job on-site where fast low-res turnaround is required, and have a head-start back in the studio.
    Personally, viewing full-size PSDs is not important; if it’s not Photoshop on the iPad then I don’t need full support. But starting a project on the iPad to be finished elsewhere — that would be great.
    Dropbox integration would be very useful to make this work.
    Tethering would be great as the iPad screen is better than most laptop screens — but is probably the hardest to do.

  158. Yes, I totally second all motions on this blog to create a CS5 Suite for the iPad.
    I am, indeed, and Apple fanboy as well. However, not only for “fanboy’s” sake. I am a digital media artist, and believe that the Apple products are the best products for the trade.
    Owning a MacBook Pro 15″, I have declined to purchase an iPad. It doesn’t do CS5. It doesn’t do iLife. It doesn’t do FCP. Why should I get one?
    I also own an iPhone, and an Apple TV.
    I do believe that multi-media creation could potentially be done faster with just the touch, instead of the keyboard, and mouse. Don’t know…?
    It seems as such, though.
    How much would you charge? Well, let’s see here….
    Apple charges $9.99 for each piece of iWork. I think that perhaps $19.99-$29.99 (depending upon the app’s complexity), and perhaps $199 for the entire suite would be competitive.
    And, finally, Mr. Nack, I am not sure if you had anything to do with Flash Catalyst? I am LOVING that program! It is my new favorite program!!!
    Lastly, I have not as yet explored the new 3-D text tools in Photoshop CS5, but am looking forward to it. Content aware fill, and scale are AWESOME, though!

  159. I don’t see the point. PSD files would be too big. At this point, space is a premium with the iPad. Not that many movies, audio books and a music collection and all the space is used up. It’s perfect for showing photos. But there’s no reason not to optimize photos when placing them on the iPad. I’d concentrate on that. If it’s a PSD on a Mac or PC, convert it to jpeg or png and optimize it for the screen. More pictures to show in the same space.

  160. John, as many experts recommend using TIFF rather than PSD, for different reasons (speed -for opening/saving uncompressed tiffs- for some; 4 gigs vs 2 gigs max size; I don’t remember why Bruce Fraser and Jeff Schewe preferred it (universality?), I hope that whathever functionnality is offered for PSD would be replicated for the layered Tiff format.

  161. I think it’s a great idea, I would love to be able to make changes to psd files, however would not see much point in only being able to view them on the iPad. Wow a CS5 suite for the iPad now that would truely be the icing on the cake!

  162. if you ask this question to the people that today use a macbook pro ora a desktop mac they will say to you that it’s great working with the stuff they already have. but for making a REAL revolution you have to re-invent the way of the photoshop use. it will be great shoot ,y photos, upload them on the ipad, making some changing andsave and export them in a easy way. not right now, but i think in some months we will see a real revolution of the use of the personal device, and adobe must be one of the first company to stay around this change.

  163. I think it’s a great idea, I would love to be able to make changes to psd files, however would not see much point in only being able to view them on the iPad. Wow a CS5 suite for the iPad now that would truely be the icing on the cake!

  164. If I had any say, I would want to see an iPad CS5 suite released; I really find myself not taking my laptop with me anywhere, and why would I? …the iPad can do presentations and display over a projector with Keynote, it has a pretty good word processor with Pages, and if I ever need to use advanced software on the go, there’s also LogMeIn.
    Sure there are third party Photoshop and Dreamweaver like apps on the App Store, but they do not even come close to Adobe’s product – and I would love to see Adobe release an iPad version of Photoshop and Dreamweaver.

  165. I think that only a viewer is not helpfull, I hope to see an CS5 lite suite for iPad: PS,AI,ID,Acro Pro,PR. Can be a good solution for the rough job on the way, not for replacing the standard suite on a desktop or laptop.
    I would like to remember taht in the past all of us worked with desktop not so far from the iPad hardware equipment.
    Obviously there are some rules for to work properly:
    keep the number of the layers low as possible; Image size and resolution not so big; and so on.
    Anyway I think that is possible to achive a good result if yuo consider that on this kind of device the work will be focused on one file for time.
    I am an industrial designer and already use SketBook HD on my iPad, the developpers did a very good job.
    I think taht Adobe can give us a special tools designed better and better and better tahn others.
    Price not more than 7€ for each app

  166. In order of priority…
    1. At a minimum, Adobe Bridge capability with Camera Raw will make me happy. That way I can make edits on the road that will transfer to PS on my MacPro when I get home or my MBP when I get back to the hotel room at the end of the day – $25
    2. Lighroom Lite – $50
    3. PS & AI Lite – $100
    4 Wireless camera tethering for any of the above – +$25

  167. I would totally pay $100 for an iPad version of Photoshop. It would just need to be a light version of Photoshop. Allow me to crop, scale, and do other editing that would make sense on the iPad and then Save for Web.
    In the perfect world, it would be able to pick out email attachments (see GoodReader) and allow images to be sent out via MMS/email.
    Additionally, FTP support would make it complete.
    Do this, and you’ve hit upon a target market…web developers/bloggers.
    I’d think you’d also be able to do things like red-eye, healing brush, etc… that would be great for photographers on the go.
    I guess the key here is to add functionality not in the desktop version that would make the iPad version useful for a set group of users and removing functionality present in the desktop version that would work or make sense in the iPad version.

  168. An iPad version of Lightroom would do. Tethered/ Wi fi untethered shooting on location with an iPad would be very cool. I could make basic corrections email jpegs to clients and upload via ftp to my online storage backup. That I can really use. Pretty much what Kevin Edwards said.
    The way I work with Photoshop an iPad is just not big enough nor has enough horsepower for my file sizes. I’d rather do that back at base with good coffee and decent sounds on.
    That said I see iPads increasing in size (A4?) and grunt so Photoshop for iPad will eventually make sense.
    Price hopefully cheaper for greater market penetration and some form of reliable universal format for image makers.
    Sorry to see John moving on from Photoshop his comments on the Beta testing was always informative and witty too.

  169. I’m a professional photographer and I would definitely use Photoshop on an iPad. I use Photoshop and Lightroom heavily on a regular basis and would pay $9.99 each for iPad versions of these apps. I have moved from Palm Tungsten to an iPod Touch and will be purchasing an iPad in the nex month. I use a MacBook for portable image manipulation but hope to augment with the iPad. I think Adobe can provide a serious solution with Photoshop and Lightroom for the iPad

  170. I am a professional photographer and I would like to see functional portfolio abilities such as side by side comparison of at least two images. This could be helpful to conduct in person sales type sessions so that the client can clearly see two images at the same time to make a choice. It would be great to have a photoshop “lite” version that would allow limited functions such as cropping, adding text and some layout capabilities. I’m not concerned with seeing RAW files as in order to process them I would want to be on a calibrated monitor anyway. For on the fly sales I could shoot RAW + JPG.

  171. I will buy the ipad when it will be possible to use a light version of photoshop (Elements?) on it, with layers.
    And I am obviously ready to pay for it.
    For the time being the ipad is a reader, not a maker.

  172. I use Photoshop Elements to tag and organize my photos. I would love to have an app on the iPad that would use the albums, tags, ratings, etc. No serious editing, just for organizing and displaying albums.

  173. I WANT a reason to buy an iPad, and what I have been waiting for is a POWERFUL fully thought out Multi-Touch UI to do image capture and quick editing on, instead of lugging around a Mac Pro on a cart, I could carry just an iPad… PLEASE make my dreams come true!

  174. I agree, a free “viewing only” app for the adobe common formats would be useful for quickly looking at stuff that a designer has dropboxed and wants an opinion on. Then a very simple cut down photoshop app in the $15-$20 range that allows you to view / toggle layers and perhaps add layers with simple edits on them.

  175. I don’t really see myself using Photoshop very much on an iPad… (RAM imitations etc. have all been mentioned already).
    And there are enough apps already to showcase images.
    I would really like to see an app, though, that enables a user to fill out Acroforms and XFA-forms on the road.
    Taking surveys or doing form-based audits would be a natural use for an ultra-portable device such as the iPad…

  176. In Full PSD give me a ‘save copy for iPad’ option. Then I’ll place the file via airsharing on paste in into an evernote.
    Let me choose the downsample level and then on the iPad give me access to layercomps and eventually layers themselves. Then give me a limited toolset to add markup/annotation.
    Honestly i think tweaking adobe ideas will almost get you there.
    I’ll pay $25 happily and $50 bitching 🙂

  177. In Full PSD give me a ‘save copy for iPad’ option. Then I’ll place the file via airsharing on paste in into an evernote.
    Let me choose the downsample level and then on the iPad give me access to layercomps and eventually layers themselves. Then give me a limited toolset to add markup/annotation.
    Honestly i think tweaking adobe ideas will almost get you there.
    I’ll pay $25 happily and $50 bitching 🙂

  178. this app would be a must have for all photographers, and designers alike! imagine if you went out to a possible client and were able to thumb through all of your recent drafts and projects, without losing any quality of image or surface? What would be even better is if you could make notes on different files to make changes or suggestions that different clients or colleagues may have. The possibilities for this app are endless. I have had many discussions with people since the first word about the iPad, and how much more effective of a machine it would be if we could view files as though we were in Photoshop. I personally want to have that same interaction and feel of my work when I am on an iPad. Even on a Macbook Pro Apple’s software for Raw image processing just falls short to Adobe’s. The colors are different and the detail seems dumbed down. I would keep going on and on but this is the most exciting news i have heard of since the Content-aware Features for CS5! please please release an App and consult us professionals who want to use it!

  179. Thank you for asking John,
    So from my point of view, you need to pick 5 things that people cannot wait to do at their PC. They will be basic, but view is not enough, and levels is too complicated for most.
    Here’s my catch:
    1 – basic stuff (contrast, saturation, exposure).
    2 – fill–>content aware and polygonal lazo.
    This is 80% of basic PS users’ tasks.
    Price it 50-100$ and you’ll make millions of happy photographers out there 🙂
    Good luck

  180. Thank you for asking John,
    So from my point of view, you need to pick 5 things that people cannot wait to do at their PC. They will be basic, but view is not enough, and levels is too complicated for most.
    Here’s my catch:
    1 – basic stuff (contrast, saturation, exposure).
    2 – fill–>content aware and polygonal lazo.
    This is 80% of basic PS users’ tasks.
    Price it 50-100$ and you’ll make millions of happy photographers out there 🙂
    Good luck

  181. Thank you for asking John,
    So from my point of view, you need to pick 5 things that people cannot wait to do at their PC. They will be basic, but view is not enough, and levels is too complicated for most.
    Here’s my catch:
    1 – basic stuff (contrast, saturation, exposure).
    2 – fill–>content aware and polygonal lazo.
    This is 80% of basic PS users’ tasks.
    Price it 50-100$ and you’ll make millions of happy photographers out there 🙂
    Good luck

  182. As a photographer, the most vital function of the application for me would be the ability to edit the file I was working on with the toolbar via multi touch on the iPad. Dodging and burning, spot touching, layer editing, etc. would be incredibly easy to do quickly and accurately with single finger gestures when you had the ability to zoom in and out, change brush size, and move around a photo with multi touch gestures( i.e. pinching/expanding, moving one finger towards or away from a stable finger, and two finger swipes). The ability to interact with transform, liquefy, and distortion operations via the multi touch interface could also be quite useful. The ability to draw with the toolbar operations via the multitouch screen could also be quite useful for graphic artists who didn’t already have advanced touch-based inputs.
    If I were to envision the perfect app, I would see an interface that would allow you to drag any photoshop window/s you wished onto to the connected iPad (or have a shortcut key to send it there) and then use the iPad is an input for that window. All of the above mentioned gestures and functions would be necessary when working on files via the iPad, but I could also see the iPad working well as a quick selection input in different situations in which you were editing on the PC screen. It could allow you to flip between layers quickly just by reaching over and taping them on the iPad and change tools, tool settings, etc. on the fly by moving the appropriate windows over to the iPad.
    Essentially it sounds a bit like a advanced RDC, but if the previously mentioned features could be implemented in an app that worked with a minimum of latency I could see it being a must have for any digital photographer or graphic artist that owned the iPad. Compatibility with previous versions of PS would also be a must for me (and I’m sure many others) as I am running CS3 and, being a student, don’t really have the money to upgrade at the moment.
    I hope this helps and gives you guys some good ideas to get rolling with. I really see a lot of potential for this type of app and if anyone can pull it off it will be Adobe!

  183. Not for the current iPad. It’s too limited to be useful for much except (as my son says) browsing the ‘net while you’re watching TV.
    With (a lot) more memory and a USB port, an iPad-like tablet has potential for shooting tethered and for preliminary sorting/filtering images in the field. Otherwise… meh.

  184. I don’t know if I’d like simply to see the PSD format with the iPad, I preferably would like to interact with the new online services of the CS5, in particular with the review process.
    It would be useful to participate on the go to a review from InDesign or Photoshop.
    Another way to use iPad with photos should be for creating slideshow and presentation, even with the access of some online photo libraries like Flickr, Photoshop.com, etc. as sources for the photos to present.

  185. I don’t know if I’d like simply to see the PSD format with the iPad, I preferably would like to interact with the new online services of the CS5, in particular with the review process.
    It would be useful to participate on the go to a review from InDesign or Photoshop.
    Another way to use iPad with photos should be for creating slideshow and presentation, even with the access of some online photo libraries like Flickr, Photoshop.com, etc. as sources for the photos to present.

  186. I’ve never used lightroom but from what I’ve read on the adobe website it sounds like the sort of thing I am looking for on the ipad. I’m less bothered about the image management / searching side (but it would be nice to have). The minimum I would be looking for would be to nondestructively change contrast / brigtness / saturation / colour temp / highlights / shadows / levels etc. These changes would be done on RAW files and would be saved to a (non-image) data file so the changes could be edited later before producing a JPEG. I would pay £10 to £30 depending on features. I might pay more if it did exactly what i want. Oh and can i have it tomorrow? 🙂

  187. Frequently designers send PSDs instead of PDFs to my e-mail, and, of course, there are always a ton of PDFs on our drop-box. I often find myself needing to open them in a meeting for a quick review. I simply need the ability to open a PSD, and preferably enable/disable layers. No printing etc. is required as I can remote to other machines for that.
    I would happily pay for an application to do this on the iPad and dependant on the feature set would expect to pay no more than £50 to do so. We spend a fortune on Adobe software and this is quickly becoming a gaping hole in our daily workflow.

  188. LR:Mobile (Light Room)!
    Tethered/Wi-fi capture
    Batch editing/ exporting
    *Heal Tool
    Doge/ Burn
    *Curves
    *Presets
    mobile me interaction
    layers Yes!
    DNG?
    Include a good PDF reader and you have a winner!
    PS the current PS Photoshop app is a really sick joke!
    *Already available in other apps. None cost more than $10

  189. I’d like to be able to keep a layed .psd file on my iPad with a watermark on one layer, so that if I generate an image on my laptop, or if I import an image from my camera, I can create a watermarked final file to e-mail or upload to my blog/website. Many programs can create layered files compatible with Photoshop once you get them off the device, but I have yet to see something open a .psd file. Really frustrating.
    Thanks guys, don’t miss the opportunity here with these smaller devices… I have several programs (Brushes, Sketchbook Pro, Layers, Photogene) that I’ve gladly paid $10-$20 for, and are completely dusting your own ‘Photoshop for iPhone’ app. It’s sort of disgusting, actually. I’ve been using Photoshop since the beta came out in the 80s, on my Mac IIcx, so I only laugh when I see people here claim that the iPad doesn’t have the horsepower to run a version of Photoshop – it’s more capable than my first 2 or 3 computers that I ran Photoshop 1, 2, or 3 on. Of course I don’t expect to be editing 40-layer 1.5 gig files, but within reason, I know the iPad could create or edit files.
    I regularly buy the CS packages, so why not drop, say, $30-$50 on a tight, useful Photoshop app? Big thing missing from many of the competitors is a selection tool/selection mask. I’d love to see that from you guys.

  190. Hi John
    I might have come to this posts after a while but I do like the idea of having Photoshop on iPad. one of the features I would like to have are accessing layers. I am a web developer and I would really like the option of creating custom shapes for designing logos and banners and I think with the touch interface it would be a really good thing. I would like to have the ability to create the web layouts on the move because I find that I can get more creative on my way back home rather than working from an office and the iPad with Photoshop would be a great addition to my tools. The price should be justified on the quality of product and I am prepared to spend anything on a quality product.
    Regards
    Fahad

  191. Just switched to MACs and got free ipad touch – and I was amazed that there is no way to put pdf files on the ipod and read them. Just being able to read them and show them would be great. Editing might p[resent some problems, but the ability to carry psd files that I need for reference around in my ipod would certainly up my ability to have things at my fingertips and in my pants pocket!

  192. hi John
    i like to see my design in my ipad and do what i like , i hope you will do it and i love my photoshop and my work whene i design the web.
    and about the price it’s your team work and you will not lose any thing if they do it .
    with my best wish to you and to your team .

  193. Get illustrator on the iPAD.
    Right now I am using a WACOM SCREEN TABLET and ILLUSTRATOR to do my vector illustrations.
    A light version of photoshop with, layers, brushes and color palette… AS WELL AS… a light version of illustrator with brushes, stroke, layers and color palette, would put myself and every one else I know… in production heaven! An awesomely easy to carry iPAD with photoshop and illustrator running on it is a PERFECT ARTIST’s TOOL!
    BUT… along with finger painting, include a STYLUS PEN with the option to switch ON/OFF the touch interface, so only the STYLUS PEN registers on the screen…
    Thanx.
    GPG

  194. thanks for eliciting such feedback. My wife and I plan to purchase an Ipad for meeting with clients to show them their photos. What we’d LOVE to see is a photoshop app which can take jpegs on the ipad, do simple edits to them (crops, filters, etc.), with a history of actions associated with each image. Upon syncing with the computer, a set of working “notes” could be generated based on the history for each photo… along with the final and original image… giving a “cliff notes” for the actual work to accomplish this using the brawn of actual photoshop on the actual, full resolution files…
    If you build a connection between photoshop proper and the ipad app, then you’ve added to the marketability and usability of photoshop for professional photographers… one of your big customers….
    Thank you again, and Merry Christmas
    Stillpoint Photography

  195. This would be an app that I would pay a great deal for. I’m currently trying to arrange it so that I never need to take my laptop on the road with me again. I want to be independent with my iPad. I think that I’ve accomplished this on the coding and database fronts, but design is definitely lacking. An app capable of making basic edits to .psd files would be of tremendous help. Layers is a must. Dropbox support is a must. I’m looking forward to seeing this functionality in the near future.

  196. This would be an awesome app! Develop photoshop and illustrator for iPad and I would buy a copy right now! It would only need a few things for the iPad:
    Layer editing
    Colors
    Creating new layers
    Embedding photos from an SD card using the camera kit
    Those features would be awesome!

  197. I’d use it allot it’d be like a mini wacom tablet!!
    Photoshop, llustrator even a same dreamweaver would rock.
    The ability to quilt edit a file for a client via the iPad would be fantastic.

  198. We view our entire shared projects directory remotely on our iPads when on the road through various cloud services. (Have used SugarSync in the past, changing to PogoPlug soon.) Currently we can’t view PSD files at all, so anything above that would be great.
    – View flattened: Certainly useful, would hope this would be free as a core need for Photoshop users.
    – View layer comps: I would probably modify my work habits to take more advantage of layer comps if I had this ability on the iPad. Currently we habitually just store exported jogs of various states, which we can view today. I would hope this would be free too, though I could see it being a feature of a paid app with other capabilities. Price point would depend on capabilities and practicality of using them on an iPad (ease of use being paramount).
    – Interact with layers: I’m not sure I’d really want to do any editing, but it would be great to be able to set visibility of layers, so I didn’t need to change my work habits and use layer comps more than I do now. Assuming that this came as part of a more capable app, I would probably not hesitate to plunk down $10 based just on this feature. Might go higher depending on what else was offered, but would have to think about it at the time and also definitely might not.
    My dream app for Photoshop iPad would support my most likely use case, sharing of views for psd files I hadn’t created pngs of back at the office. It would probably include:
    – Set layers (above)
    – Export pngs based on visible layers. Ideally, the export process would let me go through multiple png exports, saving the pngs to a collection that I could share with a single action. (Not have to add each of the pngs individually after I saved each individually, though checking them from a matrix of thumbnails ala Photos app would be ok.)
    – I would expect the png export to support email as well as saving to the more popular cloud services like Dropbox or iCloud, with initiation of an email containing a share link to the cloud location I export the file to. (I would never, ever, ever, ever sign up for some paid Adobe cloud service to host the saved files. There are already lots of multipurpose cloud services with more flexibility, the last thing I need is one more with weird Adobe-specific capabilities.
    – I wouldn’t ever want to have to do real psd work on a touch device, but if the app did everything above plus basic create/edit operations for emergency work, I could see paying up to $50 for it. For our work, that would include the full suite of layer effects.

  199. Not sure how live this now is since I see it is a couple of years old, but since I have now updated my macbook pro to retina and also taken the plunge with the new iPad, I am finding it truly bizarre that the traffic seems to be intended to be one way from the iPad to the computer. I am still exploring ways to overcome this (and size and colour change issues) and I will probably use the iPad more as a portfolio, so my initial view is that JPEGs would be OK, but I should obviously prefer greater compatibility with CS6. (I also intend to explore more thoroughly how I can persuade Camera Connector that finalised JPEGS from PSD files are from a camera – it doesn’t yet….)
    M

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