The industry standard for image editing

Photoshop is the standard software for graphic design and image editing. It provides the best creative experience for both professionals and amateurs with a variety of tools and features. Layer-based editing, advanced brush settings, and excellent filters and effects make Photoshop a unique image editing tool.

Main Features

Layer-Based Editing

One of Photoshop’s greatest strengths is its layer-based editing feature. This allows users to stack multiple layers while editing images. Each layer can be manipulated independently, increasing the flexibility of the work. For example, in other image editing tools, reverting changes applied to a single image can be challenging, whereas in Photoshop, each layer can be easily modified.

Advanced Brush Settings

Photoshop offers a variety of brush settings. From basic round brushes to textured brushes, users can fine-tune the size, shape, and transparency of the brush. This is very useful for digital painting and detailed image retouching. While other image editing tools also provide brush functions, few allow for as precise adjustments as Photoshop.

Filters and Effects

Photoshop comes with numerous built-in filters and effects, allowing users to easily transform and style images. For example, the ‘Gaussian Blur’ filter gives a soft blur effect to specific parts of the image. Additionally, Photoshop’s filter gallery allows users to preview and apply various effects, enhancing work efficiency. This feature is especially useful for editing images for social media platforms like Instagram.

Smart Objects

The Smart Object feature significantly improves the workflow of Photoshop users. By using Smart Objects, you can edit while preserving the original image, allowing for non-destructive editing. This is very useful for reverting to the original image or readjusting edits later. While other image editing software also supports non-destructive editing, Photoshop’s Smart Object feature stands out for its versatility and convenience.

Auto Correction Tools

Photoshop’s auto correction tools allow for quick and easy optimization of images. Using features like ‘Auto Tone’, ‘Auto Contrast’, and ‘Auto Color’, you can improve brightness, contrast, and color in one go without complex adjustments. This is particularly useful for beginners in photo editing, enabling them to achieve professional-level results in a short time.

Content-Aware Features

Photoshop’s content-aware features revolutionized image editing. For example, the ‘Content-Aware Fill’ tool allows you to remove specific objects from an image and automatically fill in the background. This saves a significant amount of time compared to manually handling complex backgrounds with other software. This feature works accurately in most situations, greatly enhancing editing efficiency. Additionally, Photoshop’s AI-based features provide more accurate results through image recognition and analysis, predicting and supporting the intended editing direction of the user.

AI Features Based on Adobe Sensei

Photoshop provides several advanced features through Adobe Sensei, an AI technology. Adobe Sensei utilizes machine learning and artificial intelligence to analyze the user’s work and help produce better editing results. For instance, the ‘Sky Replacement’ feature automatically recognizes and replaces the sky, and the ‘Select Subject’ feature automatically selects the main subject in an image. This reduces the user’s working time and improves editing accuracy.

Other Tools and Features

Besides the major features mentioned above, Photoshop offers numerous tools and functionalities. For example, selection tools, pen tools, and text tools allow for a wide range of graphic tasks. Additionally, Photoshop supports seamless collaboration with other Adobe software through Adobe Creative Cloud integration. Thus, Photoshop stands out not just as a simple image editing tool but as a comprehensive graphic design platform.

Neural Filters

Adobe Photoshop’s Neural Filters are AI-based filters that allow users to automatically adjust various elements of an image. For example, you can easily change facial expressions, age, and hair color. This innovative tool, which is hard to find in other image editing software, is very intuitive and produces remarkable results. For example, changing facial expressions with a simple drag was done very naturally.

AI Automation Tools

Photoshop’s AI automation tools simplify complex image editing tasks. Tools like AI Select Subject automatically select the main subject in an image, and Content-Aware Fill naturally fills the selected area with the surrounding environment. While other software like Affinity Photo offers similar features, Photoshop’s AI tools excel in accuracy and ease of use. For instance, separating a person from a complex background was completed in seconds, proving highly efficient.

Sky Replacement

The AI-based Sky Replacement feature allows you to replace the sky in an image with just a few clicks. Users can choose from various sky images, and Photoshop automatically adjusts colors and lighting to provide a natural result. Although similar features are offered by software like Luminar AI, Photoshop’s Sky Replacement stands out with more options and higher accuracy. For example, replacing the sky in a sunset photo yielded very natural results.

AI Restoration and Repair Tools

Photoshop’s AI restoration and repair tools offer the ability to automatically restore and repair old photos. Using the ‘Restoration’ filter in Neural Filters, you can remove noise from damaged photos and restore colors. This unique tool, hard to find in other software, proved very effective and easy to use in restoring old family photos.

AI-Based Background Removal

The AI-based background removal feature allows you to remove the background of an image with a single click. When used with the Select Subject tool, it provides precise results even with complex backgrounds. Although online editing tools like Canva also offer background removal, Photoshop’s AI tools provide higher precision and quality. For example, processing a portrait with a complex background using the background removal tool yielded very clean and accurate results.

Comparison with Alternative Image Editing Programs and Features

Photoshop is the preferred software for image editing, offering a powerful set of features and numerous tools. It stands out in advanced features like Smart Objects, Auto Correction Tools, and Content-Aware Fill, areas where other software lags behind.

Resource Usage

Photoshop provides powerful features and performance but requires high system resources, making it suitable for high-spec systems. On the other hand, GIMP and Krita provide sufficient functionality with lower resource usage, ideal for low-spec systems. Lightweight software like Pixlr is advantageous for quick installation and minimal resource use, making it favorable for simple image editing. Affinity Photo and Pixelmator Pro offer a balance of functionality and resource usage as alternatives to Photoshop.

Plans and Pricing

User Reviews

Learning Curve and Learning Materials

Photoshop is a powerful tool but can be complex for first-time users. Many users experience confusion when initially using Photoshop, and Reddit has numerous posts like “I’m having trouble using

Photoshop for the first time” (Reddit). There are various learning materials available for beginners. Notably, YouTube channels like Phlearn and PiXimperfect are highly recommended as they provide detailed explanations of various Photoshop tools and features, helping users learn through practice (Reddit).

Professionalism and Functionality

Photoshop is highly regarded for its usefulness in professional environments. Many users perform creative work through Photoshop’s various features like layer-based editing, advanced brush settings, filters, and effects. Particularly, Photoshop’s Smart Objects and content-aware features are highlighted as distinguishing points from other software (Reddit) (Reddit).

Price and Alternative Software

One of Photoshop’s biggest drawbacks is its high subscription-based cost. Many users express dissatisfaction with this and recommend alternative software like Affinity Photo and GIMP. Affinity Photo offers similar functionality with a one-time purchase, and GIMP, as a free software, is sufficient for basic image editing tasks.