February 25 of this year marked the reveal of a huge update that would finally make the Adobe AI Photoshop app available on iPhone. This news was tremendous for photographers and graphic designers who can now leverage pro-grade editing tools right on their smartphone. For FixThePhoto experts like me, Ann, and Tetiana, this meant were no longer tied to our laptops or PCs when doing our work for Instagram.
Choosing the best mobile application for editing images on the fly was always a big problem. We tested a wide range of options, including Canva, Picsart, and Facetune, but none of them could match the functionality provided by a specialized desktop solution. They would always lack something, be it robust editing features, layer support, or integration with other software.
When Adobe revealed the release of the new Photoshop app for iPhone, everyone at FixThePhoto was at the edge of their seats. We installed the app as soon as we could to check if we could finally set all the other image editors aside and use it for all our daily creative needs.
Since I need to enhance images on the fly daily, I constantly have to deal with disappointing mobile applications. Before Photoshop came to iPhones, I had to switch between different apps – one for editing text and captions, another for applying filters, a third for deleting backgrounds, etc. This wasn’t very efficient and felt rather frustrating.
Thankfully, this new application was supposed to offer desktop-grade functionality on my phone, so I was eager to test if those claims were true.
The first thing I noticed when learning how to use Photoshop on an iPhone, is how intuitive the UI and controls were. Moreover, the user-friendliness isn’t limited to filters and simple edits like it is in other solutions. Whether I used the app to enhance real estate images or wedding pictures, I performed any edit I needed quickly and smoothly.
When juxtaposed against Photoshop Express, which has been available for many years now, this new app offers a much more complete experience, providing all the robust, pro-grade tools I need for my job.
The first tool I used was the Generative Fill and Expand, which leverages Adobe’s Firefly AI. I was enhancing a real estate picture, and Ann gave me a tip to try how the app would handle generating a completely different background.
Tetiana suggested I used the Distraction Removal tool when I said I wanted to clean up a wedding picture. I had an unnecessary distracting object in the backdrop, and it only took a tap to get rid of it without a trace. We were both surprised by how fast and efficient this tool was, particularly for editing on the fly.
Next, I decided to test the Adjustment Brush Tool to see how it can tackle smaller details. My colleagues recommended I apply it to a portrait photo to fix the lighting on the model's face without changing the rest of the shot. This feature provided the exact result I wanted, performing selection, masking, and editing in just one step.
Photoshop on iPhones offers impressive AI-based functionality. I’ve used a variety of similar applications in the past, including Photoshop Express, but the implementation of Adobe’s Firefly AI into Photoshop elevated it to previously unseen heights.
I started by using Generative Fill with some fashion photos I took. The pictures featured our Nata against a white wall, she asked for a last-minute change to have a colorful garden backdrop instead. Rather than redoing the photo shoot with a green screen, I opened the existing photos in Photoshop on my iPhone and wrote the prompt I needed.
The AI generated a realistic park that looked like a natural part of the original photo. The application’s capability to create expansive scenery in just a couple of taps has done wonders for improving my productivity.
The Distraction Removal feature was a lifesaver when I was editing family photos taken in a crowded park. The children were constantly on the move so taking pictures with a clean backdrop was very difficult. Rather than having to waste hours in a different app later, I employed Photoshop to delete random people and objects from the photos straight on my iPhone.
I also greatly enjoyed sharing the polished photos with the clients’ right at the park. They were stunned by how I managed to do it and I saved myself from hours of post-processing later.
Before the release of Photoshop for iPhones, I used a variety of alternatives. Besides, sometimes you need something more intuitive or cheaper than Adobe’s flagship product. My first step was to download Snapseed, and it turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It comes with an expansive set of advanced features, including selective adjustments and healing brushes, while also offering a user-friendly UI. I particularly appreciated the ability to quickly make intricate edits, which comes in handy when I need to make a social media post on the go.
I also decided to test Pixlr free, primarily because it’s a browser-based solution. I don’t always have the ability or desire to install new software on my PC, so such versatility is very appealing to me. Pixlr has layer-based functionality as well as blending modes, which make it suitable for more elaborate edits.
Even though it lacks many of the tools included in Photoshop, it’s still a great option for quick simple edits. However, it suffers from a small list of supported formats, making it impossible to use with some types of RAW images.
VSCO impressed me with its expansive filter library. In addition to applying basic looks, it also features film-like presets that add a professional, somewhat artistic, vibe to my photos without requiring any manual edits.
I like to use this application for images I upload to Instagram, as it simplifies the task of preserving a cohesive visual identity. That said, the free version of VSCO is very restrictive, as most advanced tools require a subscription.
Polarr photo editor was another solution I enjoyed using, as it offers a great balance between user-friendliness and functionality. It also has great AI-based tools that can automate the process of making basic edits. Moreover, the provided masking and layer support makes it a lot easier to tackle complex projects and compositions.
The final app I tested was Darkroom, which offers robust image and video editing tools. I tested it on a video that demanded professional color grading, and this application handled everything perfectly.
Darkroom has a professional toolset without feeling too complicated. However, this app doesn’t have many of the advanced retouching features I’m used to in Photoshop, making it very difficult to enhance intricate portrait photos.
