With the arrival of Live Co-Editing, Adobe transforms Photoshop into a real-time creative platform. From now on, several users can work simultaneously on the same file, with updates visible instantly. A major evolution, currently in beta phase, which positions Photoshop as a serious competitor to collaborative tools such as Figma.
Since Adobe Max 2022, Photoshop offers a collaborative feature with Share for Review. This tool allows designers to share their designs for feedback without leaving the working environment. Today, Adobe is taking another step forward with the introduction of Live Co-Editing, currently in beta phase, marking a new stage in the collaborative evolution of the application.
This innovation brings Photoshop closer to the real-time collaborative features for which tools such as Figma, which the company was unable to acquire, are renowned.
Real-time collaboration at the heart of Photoshop
If Sharing for Review facilitates the collection of feedback, Live Co-Edit takes collaboration to another level. Multiple users can now work simultaneously on the same file, with modifications visible in real time. This feature, still experimental, transforms Photoshop into a true co-creation platform.
This makes it possible to work simultaneously on the same file in parallel, and updates are displayed live and visible to all collaborators on the file.
What’s more, it will be possible tointegrate comments directly into the file, rather than in a sidebar, for even more in-depth feedback.
Finally, this function makes cursors appear in the interface, Figma-style, so you can follow the actions of others in real time.
Adobe challenges Figma
For several years now, Figma has been the benchmark for collaborative design, thanks to its fluid web interface and advanced prototyping capabilities. With Coédition en direct, Photoshop, historically perceived as an individual tool, could regain ground with creative teams.
Adobe’s live co-editing functionality in Photoshop takes over one of Figma’s flagship features. This decision comes at a particularly opportune time, since Adobe’s attempt to acquire Figma for $20 billion recently failed in the face of regulatory hurdles.
The addition of this collaborative functionality to Photoshop, similar to what Figma has long offered, can be interpreted as a strategic response by Adobe to close the gap with its competitor and maintain its dominant position in the design tools market.
A new era for Photoshop?
For Photoshop users, this live co-editing tool promises to simplify version management, speed up workflows and strengthen creative teams with real-time communication.
For the moment, this feature is only available in beta on the web and desktop. To test this feature in advance and contribute to its development, Adobe invites its users to register for the beta by following this link.
