Photoshop Touch 1.2 relaxes image size limits, but with a catch

Adobe has recently issued updates for its Photoshop Touch app on both the Android and iOS platforms, bringing a number of updates and new features, and taking the version number up to v1.2.

Key among these is a change that answers criticisms that the app could previously handle images only at resolutions below 1,600 x 1,600 pixels (2.6 megapixels in a square aspect ratio; 1.9 megapixels in the more common 4:3 aspect), rather limiting its utility. Now, Photoshop Touch will allow a slightly more generous 2,048 x 2,048 pixels (4.2 megapixels max. in square aspect; 3.1 megapixels in 4:3 aspect). There's a catch, though: this has been achieved by simultaneously reducing the number of layers possible in an image, and therefore the larger size isn't the default setting. 1,600 pixel images allow 16 layers, but 2,048 pixel images are restricted to just ten layers. The image size is also still far below the resolution of many phone and tablet cameras, so while there's certainly been an improvement made, we're sure there will still be calls for more.

Other changes in Photoshop Touch include four new effects (Watercolor Paint, HDR Look, Soft Light and Soft Skin), automatic sync with Adobe's Creative Cloud, two new tutorials, and ability to export to PSD and PNG via email. On iOS, you can also export via the Camera Roll, and transfer images to the desktop via iTunes.

More details and the apps themselves can be found on Google Play for Android devices, and iTunes for iOS devices. Regardless of platform, the app costs around US$10.