New Delhi: In a bid to make Adobe Photoshop service accessible to all, software giant Adobe has started testing a free online version of the popular photo editing software. The Verge reports that the company is currently evaluating a free version in Canada, where customers with an Adobe account can access Photoshop online for free. The service is referred to by the software giant as “freemium”. However, the platform will discontinue some premium features for the users. Such facilities will be available only to paying users. The company will provide enough free tools to provide basic functionality with a free account.
“We want to make (Photoshop) more accessible and easier for more people to try it out and experience the product,” Maria Yap, Adobe’s VP of digital imaging, said in the report. (Also read: Markets fall after two days of respite amid weak global cues)
In October last year, Adobe first made Photoshop available on the web. The American multinational computer software company began offering a simplified version of photo editing software that could be used to handle simple modifications. (Also read: How much does RBI cost to print Rs 10, Rs 100, Rs 500 notes? See here)
Although the free-to-use app offered layers and basic editing capabilities, the service fell far short of offering the full range of functions seen in the app, according to the report.
Instead, Adobe positioned the platform as a collaborative tool, allowing artists to share an image with others, have them participate, add some comments, and make some minor adjustments.
Incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in San Jose, California, the company is currently headed by Indian-origin CEO Shantanu Narayen. In addition to the photo editing platform, the company sells a range of software including the popular video editing platform – Adobe Premiere Pro.