Photography (20GB)
US$9.99/mo
Lightroom on desktop and mobile, Lightroom Classic, and Photoshop on desktop and iPad. Learn more
Photoshop vs. Photoshop Express: When to use each app.
Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Photoshop Express can both make photos look amazing. Learn the strengths of both Photoshop apps and how to use the best one for the job.
Different apps for different needs.
When it comes to transforming your images, you have options. Photoshop and Photoshop Express are each tailored to different types of photo editing in different situations. Deciding on which photo editing software to use is all about what device you have, how extensive you want your edits to be, and what type of photographer you are. Decide which app to use for your situation.
When to use Photoshop.
Photoshop is the world’s leading image editing app. It’s used by creative professionals like photographers, designers, architects, and artists. The desktop version can handle large, complex files that contain multiple layers and a lot of information. Photoshop has many more tools and features than Express, and a skilled photo editor can perform extensive, comprehensive transformations in Photoshop. Express can enhance a photo, but Photoshop can completely transform it.
Layers
Photoshop files are organized into layers, which allow you to preserve information and work nondestructively while making dramatic changes to an image. Layers are the powerhouse vehicle for most Photoshop editing capabilities. They’re the secret sauce behind digital double exposure photos, composites, surreal photomontages, and landscape photos constructed of several exposures.
With layers, you can combine several versions of a photo into one final amazing image, or break an image into layers to work on different elements individually. Make layer masks (i.e., a layer that hides part of the layer underneath it) to change everything from lighting to sky color to level of blur, and then easily go back to the original image if you need to.
Interoperability
Photoshop is part of Adobe Creative Cloud and works with other Creative Cloud applications, like Adobe Illustrator and Premiere Pro. Images you create in Photoshop can be video backgrounds in Premiere Pro, movable objects in Adobe Animate, or the building blocks of graphics in Illustrator. Likewise, visual elements from those apps can seamlessly be pulled into Photoshop.
When to use Photoshop Express.
Photoshop Express is a mobile app for iOS and Android and is available in various app stores. It works with your mobile device’s camera roll. The app is built for smartphone photography, and its editing tools are made for fast changes on your phone. It’s ideal for applying quick edits like filters and overlays and effects like text and light leaks. Users can change opacity and tonal coloring, as well as edit exposure, shadows, brightness, saturation, and more.
A fast app for social networks.
Many of the features in Photoshop Express are templates, which makes it easy to pick up and use. It’s ideal for making quick social media content when all you have is a mobile device. If you need to do a small retouch, like getting rid of red-eye or blemishes, you can make that fast fix on your iPad or iPhone. You can also apply filters that change color and lighting or turn color photos to black and white.
Import Express files to Photoshop.
If you want to make more extensive edits on your image, you can import your Photoshop Express files to Photoshop or Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. What starts as a simple change to a mobile image can end up as a more comprehensive transformation on the desktop apps.
However, given how large Photoshop files tend to be, you usually can’t import Photoshop files into Photoshop Express.
Learn more about fast edits.
Quick fixes and great photos are just clicks away.
Retouch in a flash.
Explore Photoshop Express retouching features, such as content-aware healing and skin smoothing.
Try quick desktop edits.
Go beyond the mobile experience and do easy edits on desktop with Adobe Photoshop Elements.
Find the Creative Cloud plan that’s right for you.
Photography (20GB)
Lightroom on desktop and mobile, Lightroom Classic, and Photoshop on desktop and iPad. Learn more
US$9.99/mo
Adobe Photoshop Single App
US$22.99/mo
Get Photoshop on desktop and iPad as part of Creative Cloud. Learn more
Adobe Photoshop Single App
Get Photoshop on desktop and iPad as part of Creative Cloud. Learn more
US$22.99/mo
All Apps
US$59.99/mo
Get Photoshop on desktop and iPad, plus the entire collection of creative apps. Learn more
All Apps
Get Photoshop on desktop and iPad, plus the entire collection of creative apps. Learn more
US$59.99/mo
Students and teachers
US$19.99/mo.
Save over 60% on the entire collection of Creative Cloud apps. Learn more
Students and teachers
Save over 60% on the entire collection of Creative Cloud apps. Learn more
US$19.99/mo
