In partnership with Google, Adobe is now offering Photoshop, its flagship photo-editing software, on Chromebooks.
But, and there is a but, that does not mean that all Chromebook owners/users will have access to Photoshop right now. More on that in a bit…
Access to Photoshop, for the lucky chromebookers, will be via Adobe’s Creative Cloud program, a fee-based membership program that gives members access to Adobe’s suite of desktop and mobile apps.
Chromebook users who have a paid Creative Cloud account will have access to a streamed version of Photoshop, which will always be “up-to-date and fully integrated with Google Drive, so there’s no need to download and re-upload files — just save your art directly from Photoshop to the cloud.” That’s a quote from the official announcement from Google.
But, and here’s the but part, the program, at this time, will be limited to individual and institutional Creative Cloud members who meet certain eligibility requirements. For individuals, the eligibility requirements are:
- Must reside in North America and be 13 years of age or older
- Must be a qualified Creative Cloud education member
- Have either an active Creative Cloud Individual or Complete Membership
- Be a member of the Adobe Education Exchange
- Individuals who are also students must be home-schooled or enrolled at one of the following:
- A university or college – accredited public or private university or college (including community, junior, or vocational college) that grants degrees requiring not less than the equivalent of two years of full-time study
- A primary or secondary school – accredited public or private primary or secondary school providing full-time instruction
- An individual who is also an educator must meet one of the following requirements:
- Be a Faculty or staff – employed by an accredited primary or secondary school, public or private university or college, school district, or board of education (including emeritus status professors)
- Be a teacher of a home-schooled student
You see, it’s not just enough to own to Chromebook to use Adobe Photoshop, but you must also be a regular money-contributor to Adobe. The complete list of eligibility requirements for Project Photoshop Streaming, as the program is called, is available here. A friend of mine who has a Creative Cloud account thinks that it’s actually a good bargain, so there must be something to it.
If you own a Chromebook but don’t have a Creative Cloud account and want to take advantage of Project Photoshop Streaming, you may apply for membership here.
