Adobe has begun testing a free web version of Photoshop and plans to open the service to the public so that more users can experience the application.

The company is currently testing a free version in Canada. Users can access the web version of Photoshop with a free Adobe account. Adobe describes the service as “free” and plans to eventually disable some features that will only be available to paid subscribers. That being said, there will be enough freely available tools to do what Adobe considers the core functionality of Photoshop.

“We want to make [Photoshop] more accessible and simple so that more people can try it out and experience the product,” said Maria Yap, VP of Adobe.

Adobe’s goal is to use the web version of Photoshop to make the app more accessible and potentially attract users who will be willing to pay for the full version in the future. The company has followed the same path with a number of its mobile apps, including Fresco and Express. The web version of Photoshop is a particularly important offering, as it provides access to one of the company’s most powerful Chromebook tools, widely used in schools.

Recall that the web version of Photoshop was launched last fall and offered a number of basic functions. For the most part, it was intended to work together. Over the following months, the service’s capabilities have been slightly expanded, although they are inferior to a full-featured standalone program.

Adobe did not specify when the free version of Photoshop will become widely available.

Additionally, Adobe has unveiled a new AI-powered filter coming to Photoshop. The new “photo recovery” filter can automatically remove scratches and restore some of the color in a shabby yellowed photo.

Source: The Verge