By Mary J. Carey 
Photoshop started the revolution in digital photo editing more than 30 years ago, and Adobe’s groundbreaking app is still the best photo editing software that money can buy (or rent, to be more precise). If you need drawing, multi-layer photo editing, a variety of effects and typography, you will need Photoshop. It simply provides designers and photographers with the most advanced tools for their craft. Adobe also frequently updates Photoshop with generative AI features, innovative features that simplify difficult tasks, and support for new formats. Because of its top-notch features, workmanship and ease of use, Photoshop receives a rare five-star rating and our Editors’ Choice Award.
What’s new in Photoshop?
The recent features of Photoshop continue to use Adobe’s Firefly generative artificial intelligence and Sensei image analysis AI technology. The former drives neural filters such as color transfer, landscape mixer and sky replacement. The latter comes in the form of the generative expansion, generative filling and image generation tools. Firefly can generate images from text messages or from uploaded reference images.
The Adobe Max 2024 update, version 26 of Photoshop, adds even more generative AI tools (as you might expect). At the top is the new distraction removal feature, an option in the program’s removal tool. Generative expansion, generative filling and background generation also see improvements. Now they deliver more realistic images and better match the lighting and perspective of your source material. The update also provides support for OpenColorIO (OCIO), which is of interest to production teams that need to adjust colors on different screens. Support for 32-bit HDR images and improvements to Photoshop’s Camera Raw companion app (new AI features and more file support) round out the changes.
Before Max, the July 2024 update added a customization brush, bullets and numbering options for the input tool, a detail enhancement option for the AI-powered generative fill tool, and a selection brush. Some updates have impacted the Camera Raw Helper app, which offers the same lens blur tool and HDR editing and output features as Lightroom and Lightroom Classic. Other impressive current features include the AI-powered removal tool, the pop-up taskbar (improved in the recent update), Lightroom-like customization presets, and a smarter history tool.
The web version of Photoshop is approaching parity with the desktop app. It supports generative AI features and camera RAW files, and even works well on Chromebook Plus computers. However, some functions are still not found, such as pen and shape tools for vector paths and many filters.
How To Get Started With Photoshop?
To get Photoshop, you must first install the Creative Cloud desktop program. This takes care of installations and updates as well as the synchronization of your files online. It also provides information about Adobe, the creative social community Behance and stock images. The Creative Cloud utility also allows you to easily browse and install Photoshop plug-ins. Keep in mind that a lot of background processes will be installed on your system, many of which will run even if you are not using a Creative Cloud app. I counted no less than 11 processes in the Windows Task Manager that were running, even if it seems that no Adobe software was running and after I quit the Creative Cloud Manager application. Another disadvantage is that the Creative Cloud app needs to be updated every time I open it.
A Surprisingly Understandable Interface
Despite the huge number of tools in the program, the interface is incredibly user-friendly. Adobe continues to make the interface of Photoshop more customizable and useful. You can choose from several targeted workspace layouts, including graphic and web, motion, painting and photography, or you can create a custom layout of panels and windows. You can also rearrange the button bar of the program toolbar as you like. A neutral color mode option (fortunately) changes the light blue Share button to a less distracting gray.