Can You Create a version of Photoshop Online?
I hear a lot of designers say that they wish that You should be able to use Photoshop online as a Browser app. While that would be super cool and handy as could be, unfortunately, it’s wishful thinking. Using the full version of Photoshop online in in your browser would be a bad idea. There are a few reasons why you can’t have Photoshop online as a browser add-on. After you hear these points, it will make perfect sense why this is a bad idea.
Processing Power
The full version of Photoshop requires too many resources. To run filters and effects, you could never handle production-quality image editing in the browser. Professionals edit high resolution images that are 300+ ppi at 4000 and 5000 pixels in width and height dimensions. Sometimes, they get even bigger than that, and those are just stock photos.
Plugins
How would essential plugins work inside the browser? How would you install Photoshop plugins and manage them? It would be tough to bring Photoshop online if you still wanted to use plugins and extensions like Guide Guide, etc.
Photoshop Actions
If you were using Photoshop online, how would you run actions? Where would they be stored, and how would you run them? I don’t see how this would work to do things automatically in the browser. You would have to completely rebuild Photoshop from the ground up to work inside the browser.
Custom Brushes & Shapes
Painting with brushes could work easily inside the browser. Other apps do it using html5 canvas and some custom coding. However, how would you install, manage, and use custom brushes or shapes? You wouldn’t have the level of control or customization that you do with Photoshop. Consider the layers of customization that are available when creating your own custom brush.
Overall Performance
Using Photoshop online isn’t realistic, because of the amount of resources it consumes. Can you recall the last time you tried to use Photoshop as a native app on a machine that didn’t have enough RAM? Yikes, it was likely slower than Christmas. You likely received the beachball of doom if you’re on a Mac, or the hourglass of frustration if you’re on Windows. Now, take Photoshop online and think about the resources it would need to run smoothly inside your browser. I can see Firefox and Chrome crashing and burning like an airplane without wings.
What do you think?
We’ve seen Adobe adapt Photoshop to be used on your tablet, with less features, etc. The last thing you want is a lack of performance, or a terrible experience. I also don’t want a lack of features. Do you think they could bring Photoshop online? How would it work? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please leave your responses in the comments section below.
