Adobe unveiled Creative Cloud, a suite of apps and services for tablet-based creativity. Image: Adobe
Adobe unleashed a suite of services aimed at the growing mobile crowd at its Adobe MAX 2011 Conference today. The apps and services allow creative professionals and hobbyists to do what they do best without being tethered to traditional digital creative tools like desktops or laptop PCs.
It’s all part of Adobe’s so-called Creative Cloud initiative, which provides apps, services and (in the near future) a community surrounding them. Adobe will be releasing six iPad and Android touch apps for Creative Cloud, including Photoshop Touch, Collage, Debut, Ideas, Kuler and Proto. Adobe is also introduce Digital Publishing Suite, Single Edition, an iPad publishing platform for freelancers and small businesses.
The introduction of Adobe Photoshop Touch is especially exciting for aspiring artists who want to move away from using the usual digital tools. The app will feature Facebook and Google integration, as well as a tablet-only “Scribble Selection Tool” that will let users scribble on areas they want to keep or remove. The app syncs with Adobe’s “Creative Cloud” so files can be worked on both in the app or in Adobe’s Photoshop program on the desktop.
Digital Publishing Suite, Single Edition will let designers use InDesign CS 5.5 to design page layouts, which they can then use to publish a single, custom iPad app.
It’s even more exciting for the non-iOS fans in the creative community. Although there are a number of drawing and vector graphics apps for the iPad, few have been ported over to the Android platform. Sketchbook Pro is one notable exception, as was Adobe’s Photoshop Express app. It’s a sign of Android’s success that a tablet-based app isn’t launching as an iPad exclusive.
Pricing for the entire Creative Cloud package will be announced in November, but the Single Edition Digital Publishing Suite will cost $400 and individual touch apps are $10 each.
