There are only a few downsides to looking out for what is otherwise a brilliant operating system. First, fans of Chrome OS acknowledge that they get unrivaled speed, simplicity, security, and now a ton of functionality out of their laptops like never before. Second, Chromebooks get stuff done—period—and they’re now getting picked up more and more all across the spectrum, especially since outclassing Macbooks in 2020.
One major gripe that people have had with Chrome OS for a long time now is the absence of Adobe and all Adobe-related software, specifically Adobe Photoshop. Unfortunately, this sole factor has prevented many from taking the plunge and owning a Chrome OS laptop. Instead, Linux-installed applications like OpenShot Video Editor and Play Store offerings such as PicsArt have supplied Chromebook users with just enough tools to process images lightly.
Putting it simply, the news at hand has to be one of the most prominent ones for the development of Chrome OS as a full-fledged operating system. First, the company made the big revelation at Adobe MAX 2021. Subsequently, it announced earlier in a blog post that web-based versions of Photoshop and Illustrator will become a part of Creative Cloud, the software giant’s suite of photography applications.
What does this mean for Chromebook fans?
Both Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator are coming to the web, which is no less than a green signal for Chromebook users to jump on the hype train as well. This project is currently in its open beta phase, so it’ll take a couple of days before Creative Cloud subscribers can catch these programs in action online.
Speaking of which, Photoshop and Illustrator making landfall on browsers do not mean that the whole affair will cost you nothing. As mentioned earlier, the web-based version of both of these programs will be coming to Adobe Creative Cloud. The latter is a full-blown software collection filled with applications used for graphic designing, video editing, web development, photography, and many other goodies.
Adobe Creative Cloud has multiple purchasable packages to its name, with the base “Students and teachers” plan costing $19.99. There are other offerings in this respect, all of which you can explore on the official Adobe website.
How to use Adobe Photoshop on Chrome OS
The first step is to get yourself a subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud if you don’t have one already. Once you’ve subscribed, it’s time to get into the “Your Files” area on the platform. Here’s a direct link for doing that (you might have to sign in again). Below is how the user interface of Creative Cloud looks like.
Creative Cloud interface
Once you’ve done that, it’s time to view a Photoshop file that you already have in your library. When that PS file is being viewed, you can click on the “Open in Photoshop on the web beta” button at the top of the screen. After you do that, the file should open up in the Adobe Photoshop web-based editor. It’s only smooth sailing from there on out.
Since the whole project is in beta, for now, not all Creative Cloud subscribers can access Photoshop online presently. So expect a delay of two-three days until everyone can try this crisp program on their trusty Chromebooks.
An important point worth mentioning here is that the online version of Adobe Photoshop won’t be as feature-rich as its desktop counterpart on Windows and Macbooks. In addition to that, you won’t be able to start a new project on the web-based Photoshop version. Thus, a somewhat arduous process is warranted here, where you first have to create a new Photoshop file on a desktop PC and then move it to Creative Cloud. It’s only then you can fire up your Chromebook and move forward with lightweight editing, collaboration, and sharing.
With that duly understood, it’s logical to assume that Photoshop coming to Chrome OS is nothing but nascent. It’s not even in its beta phase properly, so do expect significant changes moving forward. Hopefully, we’ll eventually get to a point where creating new projects directly through the web client of Photoshop is no longer impossible on Chrome OS. The hardest part of achieving anything is its beginning, and it appears that Adobe has finally come far from that now.
The future now looks brighter than ever for Chromebooks. Here’s wishing to a lifetime of more desktop-grade functionality and even beyond that for Chrome OS!
