Adobe launches free online Photoshop

Adobe has launched a free online version of its well-known Photoshop app.

Photoshop Express - currently in beta - is essentially a basic version of the firm's high-end Adobe Photoshop CS app. Express allows users to upload, store and edit their digital snaps via any web browser, provided they have Adobe Flash Player 9 installed on their PCs.

"Photoshop is a trusted technology that has changed the visual landscape of our world," stated Doug Mack, Adobe's vice president of consumer and hosted solutions. "Now Photoshop Express allows anyone who snaps a digital photo to easily achieve the high-impact results for which Adobe is known."

The web-based app offers users ‘standard edits', such as removing blemishes and redeye, cropping and resizing, and converting snaps to black and white. Express also boasts numerous Sketch effects, along with a special ‘Distort' feature to help users create caricatures.

Moreover, registered Photoshop Express users can access up to 2Gbytes of free storage space. Snappers can also upload and download pics from social networking sites such as Facebook and PhotoBucket - a feature industry folk reckon will make the service popular with online netizens. During the public beta stage, Adobe will solicit feedback from users on the app's features and functionality, which will "continue to evolve over time".Adobe revealed that in the near future it will launch a desktop version of PhotoShop Express with a host of new features.

Photoshop Express currently competes with services such as Picnik, Phixr and Splashup. Click here to try out Adobe's new release.