Adobe has just provided a gift to developers, by way of their latest Creative Suite 5.5 update. The Photoshop Touch Software Development Kit (SDK) will provide developers the means to create mobile and tablet apps which interact with Adobe Photoshop.
The Photoshop Touch SDK will be compatible with iOS devices, and other platforms as well. The SDK will release along with new scripting for Photoshop CS 5.5, allowing compatibility with the mobile apps.
The biggest question developers will be asking is; what kind of apps can be utilized after the update? Like many SDKs, the limits are really up to the ideas created by the developers. Adobe has released a few apps of their own to demonstrate the power of their SDK: Adobe Color Lava, Adobe Eazel, and Adobe Nav. The apps are available on iOS devices, but the SDK is compatible with Android and Blackberry Playbook.
If you’re interested in utilizing the Adobe Photoshop Touch SDK, you can find it here.
The three apps released by Adobe showcase the range of the SDK, and provide a good variety of showcasing functionality.
Adobe Color Lava allows users to create custom color swatches and themes. You can use various methods of mixing colors, and create up to five unique themes. After putting together the swatches and themes, users can then access them on their desktop. The connectivity doesn’t end there, as you can also interact with Photoshop in real time by tapping a swatch to make it the foreground color in the color panel.
Adobe Eazel shows how the update will allow real time connectivity between the app and desktop program. Using a mobile device’s touch screen, users can paint on Eazel and the paint has a real life quality to it that dries over time. There are tools and settings which allow for greater customization using Eazel. When a user is done painting, they can then send their works to Photoshop on the desktop.
Adobe Nav acts as a customization tool which provides users the opportunity to change their toolbar and appearance on their desktop. You can save up to 16 different configurations, and access them quickly. Adobe Nav will also allow users to open and browse through documents on their desktop, and then transport them around.
The apps all vary in price, and will be available in early May. This will allow developers to get an early start on releasing their own apps and getting them to market before the official Adobe releases.
